Passing Time Wine Tasting with Special Guest Damon Huard

"I love waking up in the morning not knowing what I'm gonna do or who I'm gonna meet. Just yesterday I was sleeping under a bridge, and today I'm on the grandest liner in the world drinking champagne with you fine people. I'll have some more please."
Jack Dawson in Titanic (1997)

 

That is the beautiful thing about life the twists and turns that happen along the way.  If you told me 30 years ago that I would be drinking wine for a living I would have only hoped that could have been a possibility. 

And if you told Dan Marino and Damon Huard that they would own a winery 30 years ago they probably would have also looked at you like you were nuts.  These two were playing football and drinking wine but it is amazing how things evolve and change over your lifetime.  I have watched the Passing Time project come to life from the very beginning and have to say that we’re glad to have been big fans from day one as we have one of the biggest collections of their wines in the state of Florida!!

Now we can showcase every vintage of the Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon with our hosts the owners of Passing Time winery Dan Marino and Damon Huard and these wines are all coming from the Wine Watch collection along with a few special new releases coming from the winery and as always, a few surprises- you always get extra at Wine Watch!!

Over the last few years, I have discovered a number of incredible wines from Washington State by traveling to Washington’s wine country to see what is going on firsthand at the events surrounding the Auction of Washington State Wines in mid-August.  

One of the main events is the Picnic and Barrel auction at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery.  After seeing Damon Huard there the first two years that I attended this event I knew that he was serious about wine.  Most great new producers start out as consumers and that is what it takes to make great wines, you must know what great wines taste like.  Operating a winery is another level and this requires a passion for the wine business and Damon seems to have both.

 

The third year at the auction our stop before the Washington Wine Auction Picnic was with Chris Peterson Winemaker/owner of Avenna Winery and Damon Huard the next celebrity winery owner in Washington State along with fellow NFL quarterback Dan Marino.  They have a new project called Passing Time. Which has a dual meaning and although there is an element that refers to their carrier in football, it is not overdone, and this wine is by no means marketed as a celebrity sports star wine.  There is no mention of either of their names on the label just a decorative lace that appears to look like that of a football under the Passing Time name.

Damon and Dan became good friends while playing in Miami and Dan brought Damon along not only on the football field but also regarding fine wine.  Dan is a big wine collector and was at one time Wine Watch's largest customer!!  According to Damon, Dan was first to show the potential of his home states wines like; Quilceda Creek, Woodward Canyon and Leonetti Cellars.  Although he grew up in Washington State Damon did not realize that this was also home to some of this country’s greatest vineyard sites. 

When Damon went back home to visit, he made it a point to visit some of these top producers and to learn more about Washington's great vineyards.  Damon found out that it was the quality of the grapes that determines the quality of the wine.  He now has become an authority on Washington State’s top vineyard sites and after making friends with a few of these growers he has managed to secure some great fruit sources.  The next piece in the puzzle was finding a top-level winemaker like Chris Peterson and after 15 years in the making this 2018 vintage is the seventh release of Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon!! 

Join us as we experience every vintage of their iconic Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon along with a special five course tasting menu prepared by chef Toni Lampasone.  The fee for this tasting is $350 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com

 

 

 

Passing Time Wine Tasting at Wine Watch
With Special Guest Dan Marino and Damon Huard
Thursday, April 15th
7:30 PM

 

2012 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington

2013 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington

2014 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington

2015 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington

2016 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington

2017 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington

2018 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington

 

Menu

Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie

King Salmon with Ancho Chile BBQ Glaze over Forbidden Rice

Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras served with Sauteed Wild Mushrooms

Caramelized onion, Huckleberry, Apple and Rainier Cherry BBQ A5 Japanese Wagyu Filet Mignon served with Chocolate dusted mashed potatoes and Cabernet Natural Sauce accompanied by Avocado fries with Soy mayo and roasted pepper aioli.

Chocolate Fudge Cake with Huckleberry Sauce

 

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $350 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.  Please let us know when you make your reservations if you have dietary restrictions or if you just don’t like beef and chef Toni will be happy to make you chicken or something.

 

All the Passing Time Wines Available at Wine Watch:

 

All large format Passing time bottles are signed by both Dan Marino and Damon Huard!

 

2018 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington 3 LITER
Price: $525.00 Your Price: $462.00    Quantity in Stock: 1

2018 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington MAGNUM
Price: $270.00 Your Price: $237.60    Quantity in Stock: 3

2018 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington
Price: $90.00   Your Price: $79.20      Quantity in Stock: 113

(92-94 Points) Checking in on a barrel sample of the 2018 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine wafts with a red and black-fruited profile, tones of graphite, pencil shavings, oak essence and a subtle soft herbaceous note to keep things interesting. Full-bodied on the palate, flavors of sweet tobacco and bitter dark chocolate linger with grainy tannins that should settle by the time the wine is released. It clearly has potential and displays an inky weight across the mid-palate. This will be another stunning release from Passing Time.  Issue Date, 22nd Oct 2020. Source- October 2020 Week 3, The Wine Advocate

 

2017 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington 3 LITER
Price: $525.00             Your Price: $462.00    Quantity in Stock: 1

2017 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington MAGNUM
Price: $270.00 Your Price: $237.60    Quantity in Stock: 6

2017 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington
Price: $90.00   Your Price: $79.20      Quantity in Stock: 54

(92 Points) The 2017 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon has splashes of 7% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc added in to round out the blend. The nose is lush with a clean expression that will age beautifully for the next decade. The wine has a blackberry and red cherry core, with dusty plum and soft savory notes that add to the complexity. The mouthfeel is still youthful and currently showing well, with a tight mineral expression and approachable tannins, ending with a long, spicy finish. The wine will be ready a touch sooner than the 2016s and will bring pleasure. Only 575 cases produced.  Issue Date, 30th Dec 2019.  Source- Issue 246 End of December 2019, The Wine Advocate

 

2016 Passing Time Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Washington
Price: $90.00   Your Price: $79.20      Quantity in Stock: 18

(93 Points) A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon has a clean and focused core of black fruit surrounded by dusty floral tones and sweet tobacco. Coming from the Champoux and Discovery vineyards, the wine is medium to full-bodied on the palate and has excellent mineral tension that gives way to building tannins. It ends with good focus on the long, contemplative finish that whispers with a quiet strength. 560 cases made.  Issue Date, 30th Dec 2019. Source- Issue 246 End of December 2019, The Wine Advocate

 

2015 Passing Time Columbia Valley Red Blend
Price: $56.50   Your Price: $49.72      Quantity in Stock: 12

(93 Points) Revealing aromas of crushed cassis, tobacco leaf and creamy new oak, the 2015 Columbia Valley Red Wine is a rich, medium to full-bodied wine with a good core of fruit and a chewy but ripe chassis of structuring tannins that avoids excess. Cellar this hearty blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc for a couple of years and follow it for the next decade.  Issue Date. 29th Jun 2018. Source- 237, The Wine Advocate

2015 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills
Price: $90.00   Your Price: $79.20      Quantity in Stock: 22

(96-98 Points) What I suspect will be one of the wines of the vintage, the deep purple colored 2015 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon offers sensational aromatics (cassis, crushed rocks, dark chocolate and lead pencil), full-bodied richness and a layered, multi-dimensional, stunningly pure profile. This beauty has nothing out of place, beautiful concentration, ripe, sweet tannin and blockbuster length. Count me as a fan.  Issue Date, 30th Jun 2017. Source- 231, The Wine Advocate

2014 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills Columbia Valley (3 Liter)
Price: $650.00 Your Price: $572.00    Quantity in Stock: 1

2014 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills Columbia Valley Magnum
Price: $350.00 Your Price: $308.00    Quantity in Stock: 2

2014 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills Columbia Valley
Price: $90.00   Your Price: $79.20      Quantity in Stock: 5

(97 Points) Another sensational red from this team is the 2014 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, and it’s easily the finest wine I’ve tasted from this team. Made from 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 5% Cabernet France brought up mostly in new barrels, it offers incredible purity and precision, building tannin, full-bodied richness and a tight, focused style on the palate. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, give bottles 2-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two decades or more.  Issue Date, 30th Jun 2017. Source- 231, The Wine Advocate

2014 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Magnum
Price: $350.00 Your Price: $308.00    Quantity in Stock: 4

(95 Points) The 2014 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot that was brought up in 60% new French oak. Its deep purple color is followed by a ripe, expansive Cabernet that has loads of plum and currant fruit, notes of leafy herbs and earth, a broad, expansive mouthfeel and a great finish. It has the texture and purity to shine today, yet is going to evolve gracefully for 15+ years.  Issue Date, 30th Jun 2017. Source- 231, The Wine Advocate

2012 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills Washington
Price: $120.00 Your Price: $105.60    Quantity in Stock: 3

2012 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills Washington (Magnum)
Price: $375.00 Your Price: $330.00    Quantity in Stock: 1

(94 Points) The first vintage and a collaboration between football stars Damon Huard and Dan Marino, Passing Time’s 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon (14.5% alcohol) is made by Chris Peterson, of Avennia. A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc that comes mostly from the Discovery Vineyard, it was vinified in stainless steel and aged 21 months in 80% new French oak. Classic Cabernet on the nose, with ample blackcurrants, cassis, damp earth, licorice and mint, this beauty is full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has integrated acidity building underlying structure. It will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and have two decades or more of ultimate longevity. Hats off to this team for a killer first release!  Issue Date, 28th Jun 2015. Source- 219, The Wine Advocate

 

Some of Washington State’s finest also available at Wine Watch:

 

Big Bottles of Cayuse

 

2011 Cayuse Flying Pigs 3 Liter (Etched and Signed bottle)
Price: $3500.00           Sale $3080.00
95 Points. A Merlot-dominated blend, the 2011 Flying Pig checks in as 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 12 months in 50% new French oak before being moved to large oak puncheons. Deep-ruby in color, it has beautiful cassis, plum, licorice, olive tapenade and lead pencil shaving-like aromas and flavors that give way to a full-bodied, layered and concentrated 2011 that has beautifully integrated oak, plenty of mid-palate and a terrific finish. Enjoy it anytime over the coming 10-15 years. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2011 Cayuse Camaspelo 3 liter (Etched and Signed bottle)
Price: $3500.00           Sale $3080.00
95 Points. More Cabernet Sauvignon dominated, the 2011 Camaspelo incorporates 20% Merlot and was aged in 50-60% new French oak. One of the few 2011s that has some upside, it offers up a smoke-laced array of black currants, singed herbs, graphite and hints of spring flowers to go with a medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless character on the palate. Inky purple in color, with fine tannin and a big finish, it’s a smoking Cabernet that will evolve nicely for 15 to 20 years. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2011 Cayuse Syrah Armanda Vineyard 3 liter (Etched and Signed bottle)
Price: $3500.00           Sale $3080.00

98 Points. ...Spectacular, and one of the highlights of this tasting, bursting from the glass with aromas of dark chocolate, smoked duck, blackberries, licorice, cassis, burning embers, tapenade and cracked black pepper. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and mouthwateringly savory, with cool fruit tones, a lovely underlying line of acidity and plenty of youthful energy, concluding with a refined but gently tannic finish... this compelling wine that screams Syrah and Walla Walla—but also more than nods to the Northern Rhône. —William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

2011 Cayuse God Only Knows 3 Liter (Etched and Signed bottle)
Price: $3500.00           Sale $3080.00

96 Points. The 2011 Grenache God Only Knows is shockingly good in the vintage. Sporting a big, masculine profile, with notions of lite gunpowder, ground pepper, herbs and wild strawberry and blackberry fruit, it flows onto the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a full, rich mid-palate and a healthy dose of tannin that will require short-term cellaring to integrate. This knockout Grenache will be at its finest from 2016-2026. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

**All four of these 3 liters were purchases at the Washington State wine Auction and have been here at the Wine Watch since release!!  And they are all signed by Christophe Baron

 

Horsepower - another Christophe Baron project

 

2017 Horsepower Vineyards High Contrast Vineyard Syrah Walla Walla
Price: $199.50 Your Price: $175.56    Quantity in Stock: 3

2017 Horsepower Vineyards Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah Walla Walla
Price: $199.50 Your Price: $175.56    Quantity in Stock: 3

2017 Horsepower Vineyards The Tribe Vineyard Syrah Walla Walla
Price: $199.50 Your Price: $175.56    Quantity in Stock: 3

2017 Horsepower Vineyards Sur Echelas Vineyard Grenache Walla Walla
Price: $199.50 Your Price: $175.56    Quantity in Stock: 3

2013 Horsepower Vineyards Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah Walla Walla
Price: $159.00 Your Price: $139.92    Quantity in Stock: 1

 

Quilceda Creek

 

2018 Quilceda Creek CVR Red Wine Columbia Valley
Price: $81.00   Your Price: $71.28      Quantity in Stock: 12

2017 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Washington
Price: $221.25 Your Price: $194.70    Quantity in Stock: 6

2016 Quilceda Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
Price: $180.00 Your Price: $158.40    Quantity in Stock: 12

2015 Quilceda Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
Price: $180.00 Your Price: $158.40    Quantity in Stock: 16

2014 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Washington
Price: $237.00 Your Price: $208.56    Quantity in Stock: 10

2013 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
Price: $235.00 Sale Price: $180.00     Quantity in Stock: 2

2013 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard Washington
Price: $235.00 Sale Price: $180.00     Quantity in Stock: 7

2011 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
Price: $239.25 Your Price: $210.54    Quantity in Stock: 1

2004 Quilceda Creek CVR Red Wine Columbia Valley
Price: $69.00   Your Price: $60.72      Quantity in Stock: 1

 

Seven Hills Winery

 

2017 Seven Hills Merlot Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla
Price: $21.00   Your Price: $18.48      Quantity in Stock: 19

2015 Seven Hills Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
Price: $23.50   Your Price: $20.68      Quantity in Stock: 10

2015 Seven Hills Winery Ciel du Cheval Vineyards Red Mountain
Price: $54.00   Your Price: $47.52      Quantity in Stock: 3

 

K Vintners

2017 K Vintners Viognier Yakima Valley
Price: $26.25   Your Price: $23.10

2017 Charles Smith King Coal Red Washington
Price: $90.00  Your Price: $79.20

2016 Charles Smith King Coal Red Washington
Price: $101.25            Your Price: $89.10

2016 K Vintners Guido Sangiovese Washington
Price: $39.00   Your Price: $34.32

2016 K Vintners Syrah Royal City
Price: $149.00 Your Price: $131.12

2016 K Vintners Broncho Malbec Washington State
Price: $67.50   Your Price: $59.40

2016 K Vintners The Hustler Syrah Columbia Valley
Price: $105.00 Your Price: $92.40

2017 K Vintners Syrah Motor City Kitty Washington
Price: $43.50   Your Price: $38.28      Quantity in Stock: 8

2017 K Vintners Syrah The Cattle King Upland Vineyard Snipes Mountain
Price: $71.00   Your Price: $62.48

2016 K Vintners Syrah The Hidden COlumbia Valley
Price: $75.00   Your Price: $66.00      Quantity in Stock: 1

2016 K Vintners Syrah The Cattle King Upland Vineyard Snipes Mountain
Price: $71.00   Your Price: $62.48

2016 K Vintners River Rock Syrah Walla Walla Valley
Price: $48.00   Your Price: $42.24

2016 K Vintners Syrah The Deal Sundance Vineyard Walla Walla
Price: $36.75   Your Price: $32.34

2016 K Vintners Syrah The Beautiful Powerline Vineyard Walla Walla
Price: $45.00   Your Price: $39.60

2016 K Vintners Roma River Rock Vineyards Walla Walla
Price: $52.50   Your Price: $46.20

2016 K Vintners The Boy Grenache Powerline Vineyard Walla Walla
Price: $45.00   Your Price: $39.60

2016 K Vintners Rock Garden Syrah Walla Walla
Price: $56.25   Your Price: $49.50      Quantity in Stock: 6

2016 K Vintners El Jefe En Chamberlin Walla Walla
Price: $56.25   Your Price: $49.50

2016 K Vintners Charlotte Walla Walla
Price: $56.25   Your Price: $49.50

2013 K Vintners the Boy Grenache Walla Walla
Price: $50.75   Your Price: $44.66

 

 

2018 Leonetti Merlot Columbia Valley
Price: $108.00 Your Price: $86.40      Quantity in Stock: 6

2017 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla
Price: $132.00 Your Price: $105.60    Quantity in Stock: 6

 

 

2019 Sleight of Hand The Magician's Assistant Rose of Cabernet Franc
Price: $21.75   Your Price: $19.14      Quantity in Stock: 5

2017 Sleight of Hand Chardonnay Enchantress Columbia Valley
Price: $31.50   Your Price: $27.72      Quantity in Stock: 9

2019 Sleight of Hand Magician Riesling
Price: $22.50   Your Price: $19.80      Quantity in Stock: 4

2017 Sleight of Hand Conjurer Red Blend
Price: $31.50   Your Price: $27.72      Quantity in Stock: 16

2014 Sleight of Hand Archimage Red Blend
Price: $55.00   Your Price: $48.40      Quantity in Stock: 2

2015 Sleight of Hand Archimage Red Blend
Price: $55.00   Your Price: $48.40      Quantity in Stock: 37

2017 Sleight of Hand Levitation Syrah Columbia Valley
Price: $52.50   Your Price: $46.20      Quantity in Stock: 12

 

2014 Sleight of Hand Illusionist Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
Price: $55.00   Sale Price: $48.40       Quantity in Stock: 1

2015 Sleight of Hand Sorceress Grenache Syrah Columbia Valley
Price: $52.50   Your Price: $46.20      Quantity in Stock: 5

2016 Sleight of Hand Archimage Reserve Red Blend Columbia Valley
Price: $55.00   Your Price: $48.40      Quantity in Stock: 7

 

 

2018 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay Columbia Valley
Price: $45.00   Your Price: $39.60      Quantity in Stock: 12

2015 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay Columbia Valley
Price: $35.00   Sale Price: $18.75       Quantity in Stock: 23

2015 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Washington
Price: $112.50 Your Price: $99.00      Quantity in Stock: 10

2015 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series Washington
Price: $60.00   Your Price: $52.80      Quantity in Stock: 10