Friends, I think most of us are in love with a great pro football story. Passing Time was founded by NFL legends Dan Marino and Damon Huard, utilizing the talents of famed winemaker Chris Peterson. The wines have been amazing since their first 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. I love the bold style that he utilizes with these wines, which show great acidity and aging potential. Trust me, these age so gracefully.
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 love the new 2020 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Red Wine (OB, 93) which shows good flavor range and bright acidity. No reason to cellar this one. Even better is the incredible new 2021 Passing Time Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is very dense and shows nice underlying poise with a silky smooth texture. This is quite simply one of the finest Washington Chardonnays that I have tasted over the past year. Learn more about this fantastic boutique winery at http://www.passingtime.com Here is my review of the new Passing Time wines.
2021 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Chardonnay- Brimming with intensity and weight, the 2021 ‘Columbia Valley’ by Passing Time is an incredible effort in this warm vintage. Mostly sourced from the Bacchus Vineyard (75%) as well as the Boushey Vineyard (25%), the wine was stored in only 15% new French oak before bottling. A bright golden hue greets you in the glass, with a silky mouthfeel. Toasty brioche, lemon zest, nectarine, roasted pineapple and shades of cardamom dusted starfruit all wonderfully combine on the palate. Don’t serve this beauty too warm so you can take in the scintillating range of flavors. This is a knockout wine in 2021. Drink 2023-2031- 94
2020 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Red Wine- Dense, chewy and loaded with rich black fruit flavors, the 2020 ‘Columbia Valley’ Red Wine by Passing Time is a serious value from this challenging vintage. Mostly coming from the Discovery, Klipsun and Seven Hills Vineyards, this nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon wine (7% Merlot blended in) displays mocha, tar and violets on the nose with shades of menthol. The palate is smooth and medium to full-bodied with a soft texture. Copious minerals combine with the deep core of dark fruits and hints of creosote. Really good now, this will continue to evolve over the next five plus years. No reason to wait! Drink 2023-2028- 93