A story of legends on the gridiron and the cellar, Passing Time was founded by NFL legends Dan Marino and Damon Huard, utilizing the talents of famed winemaker Chris Peterson. I have been really impressed with these Cabernet wines since their first release with the 2012 vintage. 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. He makes wines that are very well-structured and are built for aging. His unabashedly bold style for Passing Time makes these wines show good underlying poise, yet displaying rich concentration for aging. Having tried several older bottles, I can personally share that these cellar extremely well.
2020 as a vintage has been very inconsistent. It is a producer vintage and the new wines by Passing Time beautifully illustrate why this vintage is one to buy if you look carefully. I was so impressed with what Chris Peterson crafted in 2020. His Passing Time wines are clean and concentrated, loaded with dark fruits. Buy these with confidence.
I adored the new 2020 Passing Time ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which shows great underlying structure and tension, with a silky mouthfeel and gobs of deep dark fruits. This will cellar marvelously over the next fifteen plus years. Do not miss out on the highly collectable 2020 Passing Time ‘Block 1311’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is named after Marino and Huard’s jersey numbers. This inky and intense Cabernet has only begun to hit its stride and is the finest wine that I have tasted from this house. Learn more about this fantastic boutique winery at http://www.passingtime.com Here is my review of the new Passing Time wines.
2020 Passing Time ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Merlot- Coming from this famed site in the Horse Heaven Hills, the 2020 ‘Champoux Vineyard’ Merlot was stored in 50% new French oak for 20 months before bottling. The nose is rich and decadent with roasted dates, cigar ash, black currants and chocolate covered black cherry. The palate is soft and smooth with a velvety texture and good length. This is very clean, with great length and underlying salty finesse. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2036- 95
2020 Passing Time ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The gorgeous and also very generous 2020 Passing Time ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes fro mostly the Discovery Vineyard (61%) as well as the Wallula and Champoux Vineyard. Winemaker Chris Peterson has blended in 8% Merlot, as this was stored in 80% new French oak before bottling. Black florals with toasty oak, dark currant cordial and suggestions of black licorice all fill the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a silky texture and wonderful sense of weight. Very elegant, refined tannins frame a brilliant core of black plum, blackberry compote and espresso grounds. This is seriously good stuff that will age brilliantly over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2038- 96
2020 Passing Time ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge vineyards, this was stored in 60% new French oak before bottling. Freshly tilled soil aromas with dark chocolate shavings, creosote and roasted dates all meld in the glass. The palate is soft and inviting with a pillowy texture. Showing good weight and decadence with its chocolate, black fruits and coffee tones, the is seriously good Washington Cabernet Sauvignon that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2022-2037- 95
2020 Passing Time ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Very intense, the 2020 Passing Time ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes form mostly the Klipsun Vineyard (64% as well as the Red Mountain and Heart of the Hill Vineyards. Black cherry cordial aromas alongside Arabica bean, cassis liquor and suggestions of creme de violette all combine on the nose. The palate is seriously good, showing fantastic underlying freshness and impeccable balance. This effortlessly glides across the mid-palate, delivering hedonistic dark fruit flavors with coffee grounds and shades of tar. Already beautifully evolved, enjoy now and over then ext fifteen to twenty years. Only 250 cases made. Drink 2022-2038- 96
2020 Passing Time ‘Block 1311’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Named after Dan Marino and Damon Huard’s football numbers, the incredible, 100% varietal 2020 ‘Block 1311’ comes from the Benches Vineyard, as this was stored in 80% new French oak before bottling. On the nose this shows a very classic profile from this site near the Columbia River. Creme de cassis aromas with violets, espresso grounds and huckleberry compote all combine in the glass. The palate is plush and soft, with a seamless texture. With outstanding weight and underlying tension, this beautiful wine is drinking great now and will provide drinking enjoyment over the next twenty years. But why wait? Drink 2022-2040- 97