Sleight of Hand, The Archimage, Walla Walla Valley

Last bottle and still drinking great.

2014 vintage

Cool to find a bottle with some age in a resto. Solid wine and nicely mature. Light nose with fig leaf and a mesty vibe. Fruit shadow. Upfront is dark fruit with more black figs, potting soil. Picks up an old pipe jag. Nicely balanced. Has a cool backbeat lurking too. Really dig it

2014 vintage

Upon removing the cork, I got aromas of potting soil and minerality. 30 minutes later, the Merlot took over. Aromas of cherry, blackberry, plums, and slightly floral notes. Flavors of blackberry and cherry immediately, mint, chocolate, and a particular smoothness came on the backend. The texture was silky smooth with mild to medium tannins.

2014 vintage

The 2014 The Archimage Is just lovely, with a mix of wild blueberries, blackberries, spiced citrus peels, white pepper and cigar box. This is silky and textural to the core with a saline-mineral tinged that saturates as dusty tannins and nuances of graphite mount toward the close. It finishes long and potent, still packed full of vibrant yet tarry fruit and a sour cherry and blood orange twang lingers. The Archimage is a pleasure bomb yet full of zesty character, …

2014 vintage

In this blend of Cab Franc and Merlot, I am getting all Merlot on the nose! The palate shows strong Merlot character (black cherry!), but some of the CF sneaks through with notes of raspberry/strawberry, gravel, and a bit of funk. Supremely resolved tannins. This is ready to go. A great value.

2014 vintage

Outstanding cab franc/merlot blend. Best all by itself. Huge fruit and smooth tannins.

2014 vintage

Ripe dark fruit , oak and spice on the nose. The palate has lush blue and black fruits and ripe berries, herbs, smoke and spices. Medium acid and velvety tannins make for a lingering finish.

2014 vintage

Wow. This was fantastic. This followed a vertical of two great BC blends and it was turning the fruit-o-meter up a couple of notches! Great complex nose of dark fruits, tobacco and molasses. Very vibrant for twelve years old. Bravo Washington!

2009 vintage

This wine rocks it! And is moving into the meat of the drinking window. Another 2 years at BIG and SMOOTH, then another 2 years at MELLOW and SMOOTH. Delish any day of the week!

2014 vintage

Enjoyed with pasta bolognese alongside a similar makeup Spring Valley Uriah, the SoH Archimage was the clear favorite. Dark cherry cordial, licorice, good acidity and black pepper spice on the finish. Very nice!

2014 vintage

Takes about 30 minutes to open up, but after that this is a very good fruit forward, easy smooth drinker. Tannins are well integrated, drink now.

2014 vintage

A Washington classic, tasty well assembled grapes. SOH makes good wines, the assertiveness of a Cab Franc really shows through, bright proper. Full bodied.

2009 vintage

Delicious! Had it with salmon burgers. Yum.

2014 vintage

Deep dark reddish-purple in color, essentially opaque. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & plums with overtones of earthy/dusty, olives, exotic spices, anise, dark cocoa, herbs, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, lush & ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries & black plums with spices, cocoa, herbs & minerals. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present …

2014 vintage

Taste Our Wine of the Month & Other Newbies! (San Diego Wine Co.) : “53% C.F. & 47% Merlot predominately from our Estate vyds at Blue Mtn. Vyd (Walla Walla AVA) & Red Mtn. Vyd. Aged in 33% new FR oak barrels; 14.9% ABV, 0.53g/100ml T.A., & 3.97 pH;” N: Slightly closed; Tom leaf slightly atop pyrazines & vanilla with undertones of cherries? P: LM body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance …

2014 vintage

50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Franc. Seven Hills, Blue Mountain, Red Mountain, and Chelle den Millie vineyard. Aged 23 months in French oak (50% new). 14.8% alcohol. 300 cases produced. Decanted and showing moderate sediment. Aromas show notes of red cherry, dried cranberry, plum, and currant laced with notes of rubbed herbs, leather, tobacco, mocha and whiffs of cedar, earth and pepper. The palate shows a velvety texture along with above moderate acidity and smooth integrated tannins. Flavors are well integrated …

2009 vintage

Serve with leaner cuts of meat such as filet mignon, smoked pork or a New York strip

2014 vintage

Delicious dark red blend, light smokey notes and bright fruit.

2014 vintage

A friend and I tasted this at the SoDo tasting room on 8/11/18. It had a soft, reserved bouquet of black cherry, plum, mocha, cocoa, tobacco, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was supple and elegant with flavors that followed the nose.

2014 vintage

Earthiness and smokiness - flavor was a little tight. Needs to open up a bit before drinking. B+

2014 vintage

50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Franc. Seven Hills, Blue Mountain, Red Mountain, and Chelle den Millie vineyard. Aged 23 months in French oak (50% new). 14.8% alcohol. 300 cases produced. Monitored decant 4 hours. Moderate aromas of cherry, pomegranate juice, cranberry and plum meet scents of mocha, herbs, pencil shavings, cigar box, dried flowers, black tea and toast. The palate is full bodied and robust showing medium-plus juicy acidity, full medium-plus tannins and moderate alcohol. Flavors show juicy red cherry, pomegranate, …

2009 vintage

Great wine. Very smooth. Nose is muted and that's my only drawback.

2009 vintage

great wine, tasting very nice right now

2009 vintage

Better than the '07 we just had. However, both were excellent

2009 vintage

I thought this was just ok tonight. Overshadowed by the 2008 Illusionist

2008 vintage

Still drinking great. No rush to drink my last bottle.

2009 vintage

Wow, great wine

2009 vintage

Sweet, dark fruit, with a touch of smokiness and cedar on the nose. Dark plum, dense black fruit. Rich and silky, with a full body and soft, fine tannins on the lengthy finish. Nicely balanced.

2009 vintage

Still drinking like a young wine. Lush berry flavors and firm tannins. Thinking a 6 year old merlot/cab franc would be a good after dinner wine, we were surprised. It would have been better with food.

2008 vintage

Nice medium fruit flavors, very smooth. Finished 2nd in a 4 person blind tasting of WA & CA reds. 1st 2009 Hourglass Cab, 2nd 2009 Sleight of Hand The Archimage Red, 3rd 2009 Mad Hatter Red and 4th 2009 Efeste Big Papa.

2009 vintage

juicy and fragrant, this was gone in a hearthbeat. Ripe red fruit, sandlewood, a hint of vanilla, tobacco and a bit of herbs.

2008 vintage

This a beautiful wine! Deep garnet; red fruits, plums, smokiness, a pleasant herbal tinge on the tongue; nice acidity, fine tannins, long finish. Unfortunately the last bottle in the cellar - everyone of them was enjoyed!!

2009 vintage

Lovely nose of red cherry, with hints of cranberry and spice, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, mouth coating, tasty, goes great with spare ribs, lovely and long finish.

2009 vintage

Great aromatics after a 1 hour decant. Spices with dark chocolate and smooth tannins that give a great pairing with an earthy (mushrooms), bacon, chicken dish. Had to stop eating but had another glass of this very nice wine.

2009 vintage

Lovely nose of red cherry, boysenberry, and hint of spice, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, mouth coating, tasty, touch simple, nice, long finish.

2009 vintage

Big dark fruit, great layers with spice, long finish. This was yummy.

2009 vintage

Big and lush with smoky dark currants and spices.

2008 vintage

Great wine, lots of structure and body. Cassis, blackberry pie, nice vanilla on the finish. Completely outshined a 2006 Monolith.

2009 vintage

Ok 3rd bottle

2009 vintage

this is really good stuff

2009 vintage

Not our favorite of the night compared to a Zanzibar or Seghesio Defiant. . Good, big, tart, nice finish but not as complex. Lots of dark fruit and a nice long finish

2008 vintage

Really great.

2008 vintage

Nice job Trey. Great stuff.

2008 vintage

PnP - 750ml; was unable to capture notes at dinner with friends. Remember enjoying this wine with dinner - good flavors and fairly ready to drink. Would buy again if in sale but not actively seeking this out...

2009 vintage

Now that's big powerful stuff.

2009 vintage

Decanted approx. 4 hours ... Purple and smells divine. Bright fruit up front, nice pop or acid and firm tannic backbone. Very dry with a medium-long finish. Very good, but not outstanding, though I think it will likely improve with time. I think all the Sleight of Hand wines are undeniably well made and drink quite nicely, but I've found none to be absolutely outstanding. And, based on the ever-increasing price point, I'm only slightly sad to say we recently …

2009 vintage

Friends brought this over on 2/10/13. It had a rich, fragrant bouquet of black cherry, black currant, toast, cumin and spice aromas. The palate was dense, ripe and extracted with flavors of black cherry, plum, toast, herb and spice. The finish was a little short.

2009 vintage

Color: Deep Purple Nose: Tart Cherry, with earth Taste: Spicy, with cassis, tar, cherry and cola This was a little hot at first in the glass. After the heat blew off, a nice elegant wine evolved with well integrated flavors, and the tart cherry turning a little sweet. Nice medium finish. Well crafted wine.

2009 vintage

opens up well with air, sweet cassis, herbs, smoke, mint and pepper on the complex nose, smooth and buttery really, creamy strawberries, cocoa, liquorish, dried sage and dark chocolate, complex and delicious by itself, good now but will be great for the next 5-7 years or more

2009 vintage

yummy stuff!

2008 vintage

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Sleight of Hand, The Archimage, Walla Walla Valley

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