Newcomer Dusted Valley Vintners Worth a Taste

Add Dusted Valley Vintners to your list of newer Washington wineries to try. They recently were named as the “Winery to Watch” by a media and trade panel at this years Washington’s Arriving Vintners Event.

You can’t help but feel like one of family while visiting the winery’s Walla Walla tasting room, which is currently located on the lower level of co-winemaker Corey Braunel’s home. Along with co-winemaker and brother-in-law Chad Johnson, these two are turning out some awfully nice wines that are really worth trying.

Among my favorites is the 2004 Yakima Valley Viognier (about $20). This is no wimpy Viognier, with more depth and complexity than most. Yes, there’s the faint aroma of peaches to start, but oak aging adds some nice toasty notes to the wine, accentuating the peach and apricot flavors with a creamy finish.

Also noteworthy are the 2004 Old Vine Chardonnay (about $20) and the 2003 Barrel Thief Red Super Tuscan (about $22), a full-bodied red with lots of dark fruit and ample tannins. Give this one a little time to open up and prepare to be dazzled.

Dusted Valley Vintners wines are not currently distributed in the Bellingham area, so its up to us wine consumers to email Braunel and Johnson and let them know we’re here. You can find their address, as well as information for ordering wines at www.dustedvalley.com.