Dunham Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Dunham Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 XVI is a 750ml Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Dunham Cellars' flagship XVI program, made from 100% hand-harvested fruit. This vintage earned 93 points from Wine Enthusiast, placing it among the top-scoring wines in the winery's XVI lineage.

Quick Facts: Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington  |  Vintage: 2010  |  Producer: Dunham Cellars, Walla Walla

Production & Heritage

Dunham Cellars is based in Walla Walla, Washington, and the XVI designation traces back to the winery's inaugural 1995 vintage, labeled "I" in Roman numerals — making the 2010 the sixteenth release in this unbroken series. All fruit for the XVI program is hand harvested; Dunham Cellars has never used mechanical picking. The winery further refines grape selection through an optical sorter, which evaluates each berry by shape, size, and color, rejecting damaged fruit, insects, and leaf matter before fermentation begins.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with crushed sage and dried mint before shifting toward darker tones of coffee grounds and wild blackberry. There is an herbal thread running through the aromatics that gives the wine a savory, almost garrigue-like quality.

Taste: On the palate, the wine enters soft and refined, with blackberry fruit at the core supported by gentle sage and earthy undertones. Mid-palate structure is present but measured — this is a Cabernet that leans toward elegance rather than sheer density. The tannin framework provides shape without aggression.

Finish: The finish is moderate in length, with lingering coffee and dried herb notes that echo the nose. A fine-grained texture carries through, leaving a clean, savory impression.

How to Drink Dunham XVI

Given its age and refined structure, the 2010 XVI is best served slightly below room temperature — around 60–65°F — in a large-bowled glass that allows the herbal and dark fruit aromatics to open fully. This is a wine designed for the table rather than the cocktail shaker, and it rewards patient, unhurried sipping alongside food.

Best For

• Serving at a sit-down dinner featuring grilled or roasted red meats
• Gifting a collector who appreciates aged Washington State Cabernet
• Adding a benchmark Columbia Valley vintage to a personal cellar
• Pairing alongside a curated cheese course at a wine-focused gathering

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dunham XVI 2010 taste like? The dominant profile is soft blackberry fruit layered with crushed sage, mint, and coffee grounds, presented in an elegant, medium-bodied frame rather than a bold, extracted style.

How does Dunham XVI compare to L'Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon? Both wineries are rooted in Walla Walla and source Cabernet from the broader Columbia Valley, but Dunham's XVI tends toward a leaner, more herbally nuanced style. L'Ecole No. 41's Cabernet generally emphasizes richer, more fruit-forward concentration.

Is Dunham XVI 2010 good for cellaring? With over a decade of age already, the 2010 is drinking in a mature window now, showing developed aromatics and softened tannins. It can be enjoyed immediately and does not require further cellaring.

Where is Dunham XVI made? Dunham Cellars is located in Walla Walla, Washington, and produces its XVI Cabernet Sauvignon from 100% hand-harvested Columbia Valley fruit sorted through an optical selection system at the winery.

What foods pair well with Dunham XVI 2010? Herb-crusted rack of lamb mirrors the wine's sage and mint aromatics. Grilled ribeye steak complements its medium-weight tannins. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese highlights the savory, earthy undertones. Braised short ribs with a coffee-based rub draw out the wine's darker roast notes. Roasted portobello mushrooms with thyme match its herbal character.

What sizes does Dunham XVI come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Dunham XVI 2010 worth the price? The XVI program positions as a premium, limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon from one of Walla Walla's established producers, and the 93-point Wine Enthusiast score reinforces its standing as a strong value within that tier of Washington State Cabernet.

Why Dunham XVI?

The XVI lineage is Dunham Cellars' signature statement — an unbroken series of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon vintages stretching back to the winery's founding. The 2010 vintage's 93-point Wine Enthusiast rating validates its quality within one of Washington's strongest recent decades for red wine. The combination of entirely hand-harvested fruit and optical berry sorting reflects a level of selection uncommon at this price tier, and the result is a wine whose elegance and herbal complexity distinguish it from the more extraction-driven Cabernets that dominate Columbia Valley. For collectors of aged Washington Cabernet, the 2010 XVI represents a mature, ready-to-drink expression from a producer that helped establish Walla Walla's modern reputation.