Passing Time

Yesterday I had the chance to taste with two legends in their respective fields — NFL legend Damon Huard and Washington Wine legend, Chris Peterson. Damon and Dan Marino had talking about owning a winery together for many years. They finally got the nerve to start a winery in Damon’s backyard and they have been crafting some seriously good Cabernet wines since their first release with the 2012 vintage. One of the great winemaking talents in the state, Chris Peterson was the first graduate of the Walla Walla Community College’s Enology and Viticulture program and working at DeLille for eight years under legendary winemaker Chris Upchurch. 

I remember being excited when Peterson was hired to be head winemaker at Passing Time as this would be a quite different project than his Avennia wines. The new wines from the 2018 vintage were utterly fantastic across the board. I was enamored by his 2018 Passing Time Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is sourced from some of the great vineyards across Washington and has tremendous texture and length without heavy-handed oak treatment. I was enamored by their 2018 Passing Time ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which is silky and elegant with very refined tannins and beautiful viscosity and length. This, like the other single appellation releases, has some outstanding cellaring potential.  Learn more about this fantastic  boutique winery at http://www.passingtime.com Here is my review of the new Passing Time wines.

2019 Passing Time Chardonnay- Sourced rom 1984 ‘Celilo Vineyard' plantings as well as Connor Lee, Boushey and Kenny Hill vineyards, this was aged for fifteen months in 50% new French oak prior to bottling. Right out of the gate this shows off toasty brioche with pear and marzipan tones all fill the nose. The palate is plush with a soft texture and wonderful brightness. Ripe Japanese pear and lemon zest dusted sourdough bread and a wonderfully long finish. This is incredibly well-balanced stuff that will cellar well over the next decade, picking up nutty and earthy tones as it ages. Drink 2021-2031- 94

2018 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Red Wine- The2018 ‘Red Wine’ is sourced from a host of great vineyards including Champoux and Wallula, and blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon with 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot that was aged for twenty months in 50% new French oak before bottling. The nose showcases a great core of black and blue fruits with coffee grounds and shades of green bell pepper aromatics that meld in the glass. The palate is silky and harmonious with a great core of blackberry liquor, black cherry compote, tar and anise tones alongside espresso bean undertones. This is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2018 Passing Time ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon (1984 plantings from the Klipsun Vineyard and Red Mountain Vineyard fruit) with just a touch of Bacchus Vineyard Cabernet. Franc, this saw 75% new French oak before bottling. The nose is downright hedonistic yielding rich cassis and creme de violette tones alongs with scorched earth and mocha. The palate is plush with a scintillating texture and gorgeous sense of place. Rich dark and red fruits collide with minerals, smoke and tar undertones. The bright acidity and wonderful sensation of viscosity makes this absolutely sing. Be sure to give this a two hour decant if enjoying win its youth. Drink 2022-2040- 96

2018 Passing Time ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A blockbuster wine, the 2018 ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a downright stunning wine by Passing Time. This is the first time that they have added just a touch of Champoux Vineyard Merlot. Nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (86%) with smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this shows off huckleberry compote and loganberry liquor on the nose with sagebrush and milk chocolate all combine on the nose. The palate shows great fruit weight and flavor density with a great wall of dark fruits that mingle with espresso bean and sagebrush tones. This is a dense but seamless expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. Still quite restrained and having massive potential, this outstanding wine really needs another year of bottle age before consuming. Drink 2022-2042- 96

2018 Passing Time ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards, this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that saw 60% new French oak for 21 months before bottling. The nose is downright hedonistic with blueberry compote and mocha tones that combine with shades of tar and dried herbs. Refined tannins line a massive core of black and blue fruits with Turkish coffee and violets on the palate. Muscular and dense, with a massive aging potential, this will live on for decades to come. Drink 2022-2042- 95

2019 Passing Time ‘Block 1311’ Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Sample (95-97