Over the past several years Sleight of Hand has been crafting some sensational Syrahs from the Walla Walla Rocks District. Sourcing from two premier sites, the Stoney Vine Vineyard and The Funk Estate Vineyard the Sleight of Hand winemaking team deftly creates a Syrah that marvelously showcases each special site. They have now sourced from the Elevation Vineyard, their special Ziggy Stardust Block which is a steeply sloped, dramatic site set on fractured basalt. Last year I visited this marvelous location at the North Fork of the Walla Walla River with Sleight of Hand co-founder Trey Busch, who smartly orchestrated a contract with this great site for Syrah.
Sleight of Hand has been consistently creating one of the great overall lineups in Washington wine. Their new Syrah, coming from the 2017 vintage, were outstanding across the board. The 2017 Sleight of Hand ‘The Psychadelic’ Syrah (WWB, 94) is rich, layered and has insanely good range, with its beautiful texture and stony character. The 2017 Sleight of Hand ‘Spiders From Mars’ Syrah (WWB, 92) has a lighter wet stone profile but is high-toned and really intriguing with its smoky and sour fruit profiles. I adored the 2017 Sleight of Hand ‘The Funkadelic’ Syrah (WWB, 95) which is one of the great Syrah wines I have tried this year. This limited production bottling has a flat out sexy mouthfeel and texture, marvelously showing off this special site in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. Learn more about these great wines at http://www.sofhcellars.com Here are the beautiful new 2017 Syrah releases by Sleight of Hand.
2017 Sleight of Hand ‘The Psychadelic’ Syrah- The 2017 ‘The Psychadelic’ Syrah by Sleight of Hand is a gorgeous effort from the famed ‘Stoney Vine Vineyard’ in the Walla Walla Rocks AVA. Aromatically quite complex, you are greeted with bacon fat, Umami, green olive tapenade, and potpourri with wet stone that all take their shape together in the glass. The palate is round and generous, offering a soft mouthfeel and lovely texture. Hoisin sauce, smoked brisket, wild blackberry cordial, and suggestions of Mandarin orange rind flavors with stony undertones all complete this marvelous new wine. While showing a good combination of weight and freshness in its youth, I can see this beautiful Syrah cellaring well for another eight to ten years. Only 70 cases made. Drink 2019-2027- 94
2017 Sleight of Hand ‘The Funkadelic’ Syrah-The 2017 ‘The Funkadelic’ Syrah is a stunning effort entirely sourced from The Funk Estate Vineyard, managed by Richard Funk. The wine was aged for twenty months in 33% new French oak prior to bottling and underwent 100% native yeast fermentation. The stony character is quite pronounced with damp stone aromatics that combine with bulls blood, horse manure, red cherry candy and exotic spices that all mingle in unison in the glass. The palate is generous, showing a flat out sexy mouthfeel and texture that lingers long on the tongue. Black fruits combine with teaberry, citrus zest, smoked pork shoulder and black olive tapenade flavors on the palate. A complete wine and sensational in its youth, this will continue to evolve for another decade. I think this wine will shine most brightly in its youth, while the wonderful combination of minerality and texture sing in harmony. Drink 2019-2027- 95
2017 Sleight of Hand ‘Spiders From Mars’ Syrah- The ‘Spiders From Mars’ is the first wine that Sleight of Hand has crafted from this dramatic site in the North Fork of the Walla Walla River. Sourced from the ‘Ziggy Stardust Block’ of the Elevation Vineyard, having visited this special vineyard on several times it is hard not to be impressed with the jagged terroir and soils rich in fractured basalt. Damp earth tones and blackberry cobbler with suggestions of black tea and smoked meats all come together aromatically. The soft and generous texture as well as bright astringency really entices as blackberry pie, blood orange zest, sour kirsch with suggestions of cardamom all combine on the palate. If enjoying in its youth, give this beautiful Syrah a few hours in the decanter prior to consuming. Drink 2019-2027- 92