It was a great evening tasting with NFL legend Damon Huard last night as we chatted everything Washington wine and Washington football for well over an hour. “2023 is looking like a really good vintage” said Huard, who plays a major role at the winery. Huard actively participates in the winemaking process and even hand-delivers wines to wine shops. He is as personable as it gets in the wine industry.
Starting with the 2012 vintage, I have always greatly admired the wines by Passing Time — founded by NFL legends Dan Marino and Damon Huard. Chris Peterson is one of the great winemakers in the Northwest. He was the first graduate of the Walla Walla Community College’s Enology and Viticulture program and worked DeLille for eight years under legendary winemaker Chris Upchurch. His wines are big, bold and beautifully structured, with a beginning, middle and an end.
The new wines were incredible coming from the 2023 vintage which was another warm vintage, with a relatively even growing season. I love the new 2023 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot (OB, 95) which is a beautiful edition of this wine, with serious focus and structure. But the star of the show was without a doubt the 2023 Passing Time ‘Block 1311’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) which is seamless, pillowy and soft — a stunning rendition of the Wallula Vineyard. This is a total show-stopper that is a must for any serious collector of Washington wine. Learn more about this famed boutique winery at http://www.passingtime.com Here is my reviews of the future release 2023 Passing Time wines.
2023 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot- The 2023 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Merlot has a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon (12%) blended in. The wine comes mainly from the Klipsun Vineyard as well as a large portion from the Mercer Ranch. Stored in 60% new French oak, this opens with kirsch cordial notes alongside sandalwood, dried herbs and suggestions of graphite. The palate is rich and decadent with a smooth mouthfeel and great sense of length and underlying finesse. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2023 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Red Wine- The 2023 Passing Time ‘Columbia Valley’ Red Wine combines 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. Mostly coming from the Champoux and Pepper Bridge Vineyards, this delivers tobacco leaf on the nose alongside pencil lead, anise and shades of blackberry compote on the nose. This is fleshy and delicious, with great body and salty as well as stony nuances. Downright delicious, this is great to savor now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2023 Passing Time ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2023 ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ is a stunning wine that was mainly sourced from the Discovery and Wallula Vineyards. The wine is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon alongside 7% Merlot and the remainder Cabernet Franc. Garrigue aromatics combine with shades of blueberry compote, sweet pipe tobacco and milk chocolate tones all combine on the nose. The palate is deep and concentrated with a seamless texture, delivering a weightless drinking experience. A stunning wine to consume now, enjoy over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2025-2045- 97
2023 Passing Time ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Red Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal coming mainly from the Klipsun Vineyard as well as the Red Mountain and Kiona Heart of the Hill Vineyards. Stored in 75% new French oak, this comes off inky in the glass, delivering tar and tobacco leaf alongside scorched earth ripe fig and mocha notes. The palate is big and broad-shouldered with serious texture and a fabulous sense of weight. Fresh and vibrant, with marvelous decadence, this is already beautifully evolved stuff that will cellar well for another twenty years to come. Drink 2025-2045- 96
2023 Passing Time ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 Passing Time ‘Walla Walla Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes primarily from the Seven Hills Vineyard with the remainder from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard. Very dark in the glass, this delivers black tea and exotic spices on the palate alongside chewy tannins, dense dark fruits and dark chocolate shaving flavors on the palate. This has incredible potential. Try to save this beauty for another year. Drink 2026-2045- 97
2023 Passing Time ‘Block 1311’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Block 1311’ is a barrel-selection wine that was entirely sourced for the Wallula Vineyard. Stored in all new French oak. A beautiful bouquet greets you as toasted hazelnuts mingle well with violets, tar, sagebrush and shades of huckleberry compote. This is impeccably balanced stuff, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. The palate is singular and plush as this can only come from one site — the famed Wallula Vineyard with its incredible veil of decadent blue fruits. Gorgeous to consume now, enjoy this total stunner now and over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2025-2050- 100