2021 Columbia Valley Red Wine
This wine features a brilliant nose of blackberry compote, boysenberry reduction, mountain flowers, cigar box, vanilla bean, and crushed herbs on the nose. The palate is perhaps the most concentrated and complete yet for this wine, with deep dark black currant, plum, violet, savory herbs, licorice root, and mocha powder. Due to its top fruit pedigree and heavy Cabernet component, this wine should age very well. Drink 2024-2040
Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Aging: Aged 22 months in 60% new French oak
Vineyards: 54% Andrews Vineyard, 24% Champoux, 12% Summitview, 5% Discovery, 5% Red Mountain vineyard
94 Points / Critics Choice - Northwest Wine Report (Sean Sullivan)
"This is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, with fruit coming from Andrews, Champoux, Summit View, Discovery, and Red Mountain vineyards. Aged in 60% new French oak, the aromas bring notes of dark cherry, raspberry, dried herb, chocolate, and graphite. Plush, pleasing red and black fruit flavors follow. Plump, accessible tannins support it all. The finish stretches out into the distance. It’s ridiculously good for the price. Decant."
94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
"Readers looking to understand the style and quality of this estate should check out the 2021 Columbia Valley Red Wine, which offers a similar level of quality at a slightly reduced price point. Red and black cherries, leafy herbs, gravelly earth, and floral notes all define the aromatics, and this plush, medium to full-bodied red has building, firmer tannins, terrific balance, and a great finish. The blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, raised 20 months in 50% new French oak."
93 Points - Owen Bargreen
"The 2021 Passing Time 'Columbia Valley' Red wine is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon with 14% Merlot and the remainder Cabernet Franc both sourced from the Champoux Vineyard. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and beautiful elegance. Rich dark fruits parade with chocolate cake, Asian spices and shades of nutmeg with coffee grounds on the palate. Rich and bold, with a smooth texture, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years to come."
93 Points - Wine Advocate
"Open and approachable with notions of dark cherries and spiced plums, the 2021 Columbia Valley Red Wine opens with notions of turned earth and baked clay with subtle notions of brown baking spices. A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine is medium to full-bodied and offers dusty dark red and black fruit flavors with firm tannic grip that makes way for a lifting alcoholic edge on the lingering, spicy and softly herbal finish. The wine rested for 21 months in 60% new French oak. Decanting is recommended. This is set to be released in May 2024. Only 315 cases were produced."
92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
"A potpourri of wild flowers and pine needles greets the nose, along with aromas of blackberries, dates and loamy soil. The full-bodied, Cabernet Sauvignon-driven blend coats the palate with flavors of blueberries, cardamom, toffee and a trace of strawberry. The wine's texture and tannins are equally plush."
