2016 Passing Time Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills
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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.
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James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
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Beautifully delivered cabernet with freshness on the nose, in the form of blueberries and brambly, ripe, darker berries. The palate has a sleek and fresh feel with a succulent, composed impression that really makes for a regal style of cab. Drink over the next decade.
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, hitting 14.8% natural alcohol, that comes mostly from the Discovery and Champoux vineyards, with the Merlot coming from Klipsun Vineyard on Red Mountain. Its deep purple color is followed by a textbook Cabernet Sauvignon nose of crème de cassis, smoke tobacco, pencil lead, damp earth and spice-driven aromas. Developing beautifully with time in the glass, it’s full-bodied, incredibly pure, balanced, and multi-dimensional on the palate, with sweet tannins and an awesome finish. As with all these wines from Chris, it's seamless, silky, and beautifully balanced, and a fabulous wine. It needs 5-7 years of bottle age to hit prime time and is going to evolve gracefully over the following 2-3 decades. Tasted three times. Trust me on this one, it’s a magical wine.