Sleight Of Hand The Illusionist Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine &
Spirits -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Illusionist Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from our Estate Vineyard blocks located in both the Walla Walla and Red Mountain AVAs. It was aged for 20 months in 54% new French oak, and has a classic nose of tobacco leaf, red and black cherries, Asian spices, cassis, earthy herbs, and leather. The palate is dominated by dense flavors of more dark cherries and plums, with herbal undertones. It is richly textured, almost decadent, with refined, mouth-coating tannins, perfectly integrated oak notes, and incredibly fresh acidity. This Cabernet could prove to be immortal! Enjoy now, after decanting, or lay down for the next 20-25 years!
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Loads of blue fruits, plums, tobacco, and leafy herbs emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon The Illusionist Reserve, which is a not yet bottled blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. Medium to full-bodied, soft, supple, and textured, its balance and purity are both spot on, it has polished tannins, and a notable sense of elegance. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 15+.
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Wine & Spirits
From Red Mountain and Walla Walla sources, this is a big wine with plenty of oak character at this young stage of its life, its fruit is very much in the red spectrum, cherry and plum, with impressive acidity for such a massive footprint. It has the stuffing to cellar.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon with 12% Petite Verdot and 7% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 The Illusionist opens to a dark ruby core with a juicy frame of fruit, fine oak and lifted floral essence of cherry blossom, graphite and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, the wine is firm, complex and layered with fine-grained tannins that sway on the palate as a delightful tertiary focus gains in amplitude before concluding with a tight tannic finish.
Other Vintages
2019-
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling -
Wine
Spectator
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling -
Wine
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Wine
Enthusiast
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Wine
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Robert
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Wine
Enthusiast
Born out of a chance meeting at the Sun Valley Wine Auction's trade tasting that developed into a deep friendship, and a shared passion for outstanding wine, rock and roll, and fun, Sleight of Hand Cellars is the brainchild (love child) of Trey Busch and Jerry Solomon. Following that initial meeting in 2002, Trey, Jerry, and the winery's third partner, Sandy Solomon, started doing annual wine dinners in Sun Valley while Trey worked as the winemaker at another local winery (a job he had taken after training under Eric Dunham of Dunham Cellars beginning in 2000). Those dinners continued for four years, until in 2006 Trey finally convinced Sandy and Jerry to come over to Walla Walla for a visit.
That visit proved to be life-changing for the three partners. In less than 24 hours after their arrival in Walla Walla, the Solomons had not only fallen in love with Walla Walla and its unique charm, but a deal had been struck to start the winery. In June of 2007 the winery officially opened its doors with a small storefront tasting room in Downtown Walla Walla, while renting space at another winery for production purposes. But great press, and outstanding scores from critics, soon changed those minimalist beginnings.
Sleight of Hand Cellars has two basic goals in its vision statement, to make world class wines and to have fun while doing it—a visit to the winery is all the proof anyone needs to confirm that the winery, and its partners, are succeeding on both fronts. The winery has been open for less than ten years, but in that time Sleight of Hand Cellars has been named one of "The Next Generation" of up and coming wineries in Washington State, as well as one of "The Next Cult Wineries" by Seattle Magazine. We have had numerous wines make the top 100 of Wine and Spirits Magazine, as well as Seattle Met Magazine.
Washington produces so many exciting wines, and that definitely includes Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. With over 10,000 acres under vine, Cabernet Sauvignon is now the most widely-grown varietal in the state. Terrific examples hail from sub-appellations like Red Mountain, Wahluke Slope, Horse Heaven Hills and Walla Walla Valley. One of the fascinations of these Columbia Valley Cabs is that they so often seem to have one foot in the New World and one in the Old. Representing the former are characteristics like the ripe, forward fruit that results from long sunny days during the growing season (up to two hours longer than in much of California). Old World similarities include an undeniable brightness from acidity, as well as notes of herbs, graphite and a dusty, sometimes gravelly minerality.
Whether you’re looking for a budget bottle for everyday enjoyment, or a stellar, world-class wine with tremendous aging potential, Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines can deliver the goods! Among the many fine options are bottles from Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle, L’ecole #41, Quilceda Creek and Leonetti.