Sleight of Hand Wines

Trey Busch, past winemaker for Basel Cellars, has started his own winery. Expect more of the big big big wine style he's known for, with some individual touches now that he's "freed up to make the style he likes. Trey makes his wine out of Saviah Cellars' winery in Walla Walla. Expect big things from this talented winemaker.

The Seattle Times' Paul Gregutt has this to say about Sleight of Hand (June 20, 2007):

"Winemaker Trey Busch, whose years as winemaker at Basel Cellars lifted that winery to prominence in the highly competitive Walla Walla winemaking community, has left (he still consults) to create Sleight of Hand, his own project. Sleight of Hand cleverly uses graphics and names culled from the world of magic a century ago. The tidy tasting room, right next to Ash Hollow's in downtown Walla Walla, is decorated with reproductions of magic posters from the era, and the wines bear names such as The Spellbinder and The Magician."

"The winery name was inspired by a Pearl Jam song (such wines are becoming an entire subset of the Washington wine industry), and the expressive imagery it conjures seems sure to catch consumers' attention. But it is really the stylish, clever and very approachable winemaking that sets this boutique apart from its competitors."

"The Spellbinder, a nonvintage blend of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and sangiovese, skillfully marries the strong, herbal tannin of the cabs to fat, buttery, oak-driven flavors softened with some light sangiovese. There is also a round, fruity gewürztraminer (The Magician) and a super-premium Bordeaux blend (The Archimage) made with old vine fruit from Champoux, Klipsun and Bacchus."

Magical Wines