2022 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills
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From Wallula The Benches Vineyard, a high-density site planted in 2015 with the first vintage produced in 2017, the truly outstanding 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Block 1311 is a selection of the best complementary barrels and 100% varietal, from clone 685, with only 125 cases produced. The name comes from a combo of quarterback-owners Dan Marino and Damon Huard’s jersey numbers from their NFL days. The vineyard is south-facing over the river on a terrace and low-yielding. Saturated in dark color from the small berries with thick skins, this dense, full-bodied wine is classically defined in cassis, mocha, and dried herb, with a firm tannin structure that shows potential for aging a good 10-15 years. Drink 2025-2037.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is blended with 9% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Matured for 20 months in 80% new French oak, it has inviting aromas of cassis, milk chocolate, violet and pencil shavings. The full-bodied palate is ripe and concentrated without going over the top. It’s structured by soft, approachable tannins and refreshing acidity, and it has a long, nuanced finish. 450 cases were made.
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Block 1311 boasts a stunning bouquet of exotic spice, cedar box, dried roses and white pepper-tinged currants. This possesses a balanced inner sweetness and velvety textures, not a hard edge in sight, with ripe wild berry fruit and a web of sweet tannins that envelop the palate toward the close. It's staining and long, leaving a pleasantly bitter tinge and an air of mocha that lingers throughout the structured finale. Spellbinding.