Sleight of Hand The Illusionist 2015

Wines from Sleight of Hand Cellars are a cult following and rightly so. Sleight of Hand Cellars is located in Columbia Valley, Washington State.  Most the vines in Columbia Valley were planted in the 1970s but the AVA was established in 1984. It is located on the eastern side of Washington State and a small part of Oregon. Washington State is the second largest wine producer in the country, California being number one. The region contains 50,316 acres of vineyards representing 99% of Washington wine country, making it just a touch bigger than Napa Valley. Columbia Valley has 12 sub-regions including the well-known Walla Walla Valley, Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain, and Yakima Valley. If you’re into bold, fruit-forward red wines and good values = Columbia Valley AVA. The state has a long growing season, arid climate, water supply from the snowmelt of the Cascade Mountains and Columbia River and mineral rich soils all equating to ideal grape growing conditions.

The Sleight of Hand Cellars was founded in 2007 when Terry Bush joined Jerry & Sandy Soloman on a winelovers dream adventure. They combine fun with world class, exquisites wines. They love great wines and music, which is reflected throughout the winery. The tasting rooms are decorated with over 2,000 albums, turntables are spinning vinyl of all types of music while you sample their phenomenal wines. Their unique recipe of great wine and music creates an amazing experience for their visitors. In addition, their no fuss, no muss, let the varietal and terroir shine is evident in their wines.

The Illusionist is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, a Bordeaux Blend. The grapes are from the renowned regions of Walla Walla, Horse Heaven Hills and Red Mountain. The wine is aged for 20 months in 65% new French oak. The wine is a full bodied, complex with smooth tannins, pronounced flavors of tobacco leaf, leather, spice box, black cherry, blackberry, red plum, bramble, herbs de Provence, currant and vanilla. The finish is long and incredibly complex.

This wine begs to be paired with a grilled rib-eye steak, prime rib, beef stew with mushrooms and bacon, bison burger or decadent chocolate truffles.

My video review of this wine is available on Instagram SOH The Illusionist 2015