July 2026 - International Wine Report (Jeremy Young)
2025 Magician’s Assistant Cabernet Franc Rose’ - Showing an accessible, medium-bodied weight, the 2025 Sleight of Hand The Magician's Assistant Cabernet Franc Rosé, grown in the Yakima Valley, delivers a wet-stone texture across the palate before tapering into a brisk, clean finish. This structural clarity is accented by an expressive bouquet of blood orange rind, white peach, and crushed pink peppercorn. - 91
2024 Enchantress Old Vine Chardonnay - Sourced from mature vines established in 1980, the 2024 Sleight of Hand 'The Enchantress' Chardonnay, Yakima Valley, immediately asserts itself with a deep, concentrated core and a seamlessly satiny mouthfeel. Delicate layers of yellow plum and ripe quince mingle with nuances of honeyed cantaloupe and preserved finger lime, all underlined by a striking vein of broken shale. The tension on the palate is driven by an electric, mouthwatering acidity that cuts beautifully through the weight of the old-vine extract. This tension extends effortlessly into a lingering, mineral-driven finish that remains focused and vibrant. = 93
2024 Magician Dry Riesling - The 2024 Sleight of Hand Cellars The Magician Riesling from the Ancient Lakes shows a pale straw hue with crystalline brightness. Aromas of white jasmine, lime zest, pear skin, and crushed stone lift from the glass, accented by a faint petrol note. The palate is dry and precise, offering flavors of green melon, starfruit, and citrus peel balanced by sharp, mouthwatering acidity. Medium in body, the wine feels both taut and refreshing, finishing with mineral tension and a lingering citrus edge. Thai food here I come! - 93
2023 Spellbinder Red Wine - The 2023 Sleight of Hand The Spellbinder Red Wine from the Columbia Valley boasts a muscular, full-bodied structure with grippy tannins that command immediate attention. This Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend (comprising 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot) unleashes a concentrated core of ripe black cherries and dark plums, accented by notes of damp forest floor, dried tea leaves, and cigar box. Evoking a hauntingly rich and soulful character, the bouquet delivers complex aromas of singed herbs, saddle leather, and crushed graphite that linger on a robust, savory finish. - 92
2023 Conjurer Estate Bordeaux Blend - Bright waves of wild raspberry and dark plum immediately captivate on the palate of the 2023 Sleight of Hand The Conjurer Red Wine from the Columbia Valley. A refined composition consisting of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 39% Cabernet Franc is rounded out with 14% Merlot, delivering superb symmetry on a medium-bodied frame. Subtle undertones of dried sage and crushed gravel add savory complexity underneath the lively, focused acidity. Polished, fine-grained tannins carry the vibrant fruit through a sustained, elegantly balanced finish. Best Buy. - 93
2023 Archimage Reserve Bordeaux Blend - The 2023 Sleight of Hand The Archimage Red Wine from the Columbia Valley opens with expressive aromas of mountain raspberry, black plum, and dried lavender. Comprising equal 50% shares of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this bottling shows a harmonious synthesis of both varieties, coating the palate with fine-grained, velvety tannins and flavors of tart red currant and shaved dark chocolate. Notes of damp forest floor, sweet tobacco leaf, and crushed gravel emerge on the mid-palate, imparting savory complexity that balances the lushness of the fruit. A bright vein of acidity provides lift, carrying the wine through a structured, expansive finish that promises rewarding cellaring through the next 8-10 years. - 94
2023 Illusionist Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Showing a medium-to-dark purple core that gradients to a light red rim, the 2023 Sleight of Hand The Illusionist Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley opens with concentrated aromas of fresh boysenberry, dark cherry, and purple potpourri. The full-bodied palate is richly layered, introducing savory undertones of cedar herbs, sweet tobacco leaf, and warm vanilla bean that add complexity to the bold fruit profile. A spine of moderate-plus acidity provides excellent drive, balancing the wine's rich weight while enlivening the structural framework. Firm, grippy, and wonderfully crunchy tannins assert themselves on the back palate, framing a structured finish that will allow a long, graceful evolution in the cellar. - 95
2023 Sorceress Reserve Grenache - Boasting a full-bodied depth, the 2023 Sleight of Hand 'The Sorceress' Red Wine, grown in the Columbia Valley, opens with concentrated layers of wild marionberry and bruised black plum framed by velvety, fine-grained tannins. This 100% Grenache is sourced from the esteemed Les Collines and WeatherEye vineyards, where the fruit from each distinct parcel is harvested, vinified, and matured independently. Utilizing 100% whole-cluster inclusion and traditional foot treading, the winemaking team coaxes unusual complexity out of the fruit. A defining, stony undertone of crushed basalt provides excellent tension and sweet tannin, guiding this powerful red to an expansive and deeply savory finish. -95
2023 Levitation Reserve Syrah - Sixteen months of aging in neutral French wood puncheons and concrete tanks, following a fermentation incorporating 23% whole-cluster inclusion, shapes the athletic, structural core of the 2023 Sleight of Hand Levitation Red Wine, Columbia Valley. This blend, drawing 60% of its fruit from Lewis Vineyard and 40% from Les Collines, unfurls with secondary nuances of roasted game, wild thyme, and crushed sage. Taut, fine-grained tannins frame a concentrated palate of wild boysenberry and tart marionberry, underpinned by a distinct iron-like minerality with a touch of dried lavender. There is a striking juxtaposition between the rustic earthiness of the Rocks District fruit and the bright acidity that carries into a remarkably savory, endless finish. - 96
2023 Light Years Syrah “Lewis Vineyard” - Pours with a dark, inky core fringed by an electric neon purple rim, the 2023 Sleight of Hand Light Years Syrah from Lewis Vineyard in the Yakima Valley immediately asserts its intense concentration and presence. Lifting from the glass, expressive primary aromas of ripe marionberry and wild blueberry intermingle with savory secondary notes of tapenade black olive and a distinct meatiness. The full-bodied palate unfolds with impressive breadth, framed by dynamic, perfectly tuned acidity and fine-grained tannins that afford stunning structural harmony. Savory iron-like minerality and smoked peppercorn gently surface on the late palate, carrying the lush purple fruit through a deeply satisfying and impressively long finish. - 96
2023 Psychedelic Syrah “Stoney Vine Vineyard” - Crafted with 56% stem inclusion and fermented entirely with indigenous yeasts, the 2023 Sleight of Hand Psychedelic Syrah, Stoney Vine Estate Vineyard, showcases a brilliantly detailed expression of this distinctive site in The Rocks. Bright aromas of wild raspberry, tart red cherry, and crushed blueberry intermingle with cracked Szechuan peppercorn, cured charcuterie, and a gentle earthy undertone. On the palate, a vibrant, light-to-medium-bodied frame is propelled by an energetic spine of acidity, rendering the wine remarkably nimble yet intellectually engaging. A savory, olive-kissed element highlights the remarkably long, lifted finish, which beautifully steers clear of any rustic excesses. - 96
2023 Funkadelic Syrah “Funk Vineyard” - The 2023 Sleight of Hand Funk Vineyard 'Funkadelic' Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, derives its complex framework from 33% whole-cluster inclusion, followed by a twenty-month maturation in neutral oak puncheons. Sourced from a warmer parcel situated at an elevation of nearly 1,000 feet, the fruit for this 100% varietal bottling achieves early physiological ripeness while retaining essential, vibrant acidity. This full-bodied red is remarkably dense and concentrated, exhibiting muscular structure alongside an integrated undercurrent of savory charcuterie and worn saddle leather. On the palate, intense layers of mountain huckleberry and ripe elderberry unfold alongside aromatic accents of cracked white peppercorn, roasted anise, and a faint hint of damp forest floor. - 96
2023 Badlands Syrah “Borderlands Vineyard” - The 2023 Sleight of Hand Badlands Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, grown in the Borderlands Vineyard, begins with a plush mouthfeel shaped by 20 months of aging in seasoned oak puncheons. Marking just the sophomore release of this bottling, the 100% Syrah is sourced from the stone-strewn southern boundaries of the Rocks District, where highly varied topography coaxes unexpected depth from the vines. An alluring nose unfolds in layered waves, beginning with fresh black plum and mountain raspberry, which seamlessly transition into rustic backdrops of roasted game, cracked black cardamom, and dried sage. Incorporating 50% stem inclusion during fermentation imparts a classic botanical tension, anchoring the medium-bodied frame with fine-grained tannins that feel remarkably controlled. Nuances of damp forest loam and cured charcuterie linger across a beautifully extended finish, pointing to a wine destined for substantial cellar evolution. Highly Recommended. - 97
2023 Spiders From Mars Syrah “Ziggy Stardust Block” - The 2023 Sleight of Hand Spiders From Mars Syrah, Ziggy Stardust Block, grown in the Walla Walla Valley, is sourced from a precipitous 45-degree slope in the Elevation Vineyard near Bionic's famed Hors Categorie plot. Perched at an altitude of 1,400 feet, the vines struggle in arid, splintered basalt under intense hydrological stress. Because this site experiences bud break nearly a fortnight ahead of the rest of the region, the fruit was harvested exceptionally early, delivering a particularly modest alcohol level. Utilizing complete whole-bunch inclusion, the winemakers have shaped a hauntingly delicate, highly singular profile where sheer density is translated into weightless energy rather than heavy extraction. Intense aromas of mountain raspberry and dark plum skin seamlessly interlace with savory undertones of cracked Szechuan peppercorn, cured game, and iron-rich earth before unfolding into dried lavender and black tea. Editor's Choice. - 97
2023 Higher Ground Grenache “WeatherEye Vineyard” - Incorporating 100% stem inclusion and resting for 20 months in seasoned oak puncheons, the 2023 Sleight of Hand WeatherEye Vineyard 'Higher Ground' Grenache, grown in Red Mountain's Weathereye Vineyard, is an extraordinary, full-bodied expression of the varietal. Densely packed and underpinned by assertive, fine-grained tannins, this formidable red is built for a two-decade evolution in the cellar. Heady aromas of mountain raspberry and tart red currant mingle with crushed hibiscus and a distinct graphite minerality. The high-altitude site, nestled alongside native desert sage, infuses the wine with a profound savory dimension of mountain herbs, dried thyme, and toasted Szechuan pepper. On the palate, a wild and resinous complexity unfolds, culminating in a driving, expansive finish that resonates with incredible purity and depth. Pair this muscular bottling with a slow-roasted rosemary rack of lamb; the wine's herbaceous undertones and structural grip are perfectly suited to cut through the rich, savory meat. Editor's Choice - 98
