Washington State's finest Wine Tasting including: Cayuse, Quilceda Creek, Woodward Canyon, K Vintners, Leonetti, Passing Time and More!

"It’s just booze - drink it!" Charles Smith

Every year we focus on the world’s greatest wines and our annual Washington State’s Finest wine tasting always bring back fond memories of my trips to the Auction of Washington State wines which I attended three years in a row at one time but have not been back since 2013. 

That was one of the trips that I had to cancel in 2020 but I will be back ASAP now that the crisis is almost over.  One good thing that came out of 2020 was realizing the benefit of zoom and I think we will continue to offer virtual events as the last year has really opened the door to the possibility of having our host be here with us virtually on zoom to present the wines if they can’t be here in person. 

Washington State's Finest Wine Tasting at Wine Watch
Thursday, March 18th
7:30 PM

2015 Sixto Frenchman Hills Chardonnay Walla Walla  

2009 Leonetti Reserve Columbia Valley

2010 Januik Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Columbia Valley Magnum

2011 Sleight of Hand Archimage Magnum

2011 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley  

2012 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills     

2012 Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Anniversary Bottling Magnum

2013 Horsepower Vineyards Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah Walla Walla

2014 Pepper Bridge Merlot Columbia Valley

2014 K Vintners Syrah The Hustler Columbia Valley     

2015 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Washington

Menu

Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie

King Salmon with Ancho Chile BBQ Glaze over Forbidden Rice

Caramelized onion, Huckleberry, Apple and Rainier Cherry BBQ Beef Short rib with Theo 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 $195 + 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.

A bit about Passing Time and an offering of their new releases:

There seems to be a connection to the Washington State wine industry and NFL Quarterbacks as there are now at least three that are in the wine business in one of the best regions in the United States of American for Bordeaux varietals.

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.

Dan Marino and Damon Huard

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.

Winemaker - Chris Peterson

Damon and Dan became good friends while playing in Miami and Dan brought Damon along not only on the football field but also in regard to 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 the 2012 vintage is the first release of Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon.   It seems to have been worth the wait because if this wine is any indication of things to come Passing Time this label will be an overnight success story and it has.  The newly released 2018 vintage may be the best to date and we have had them all. 
We have two great events coming up featuring these wines the first is to benefit the Dan Marino Foundation on Thursday. March 18th and the info on that is at the beginning of this e-mail.  Then, on April 15th we have an event here at the Wine Watch featuring every vintage of Passing Time and two very special guests.  Keep an eye out on our Calendar of events for more details on this event and everything that we have going on at the Wine Watch.

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

2017 Passing Time Chardonnay Columbia valley
Price: $22.50   Your Price: $19.80      Quantity in Stock: 12

The first release of a Chadonnay from Passing Time and this wine has a good amount of juicy fruit with a touch of oak spice and a clean refreshing finish. 

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: 120

(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: 60

(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: 24

(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: 7

(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