The 2021 Sleight of Hand The Illusionist Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley, Washington, is a red wine that has garnered notable praise from various wine critics. This Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, is characterized by its complex profile and balanced structure.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate offers a glowing review, awarding the wine a high score of 96 points. The review describes it as "juicy, succulent, and dark red and black fruited," highlighting its "elegance and power" with "subtle hints of oak and brown baking spices." The Advocate notes the wine's "fine mineral tension" and "long, spicy and juicy finish."
Decanter also rated the wine highly, giving it a score of 95 points. The review praises its "elegance, finesse, and impressive restraint," noting the aromatic profile of "savoury desert scrub, dried lavender, and effusive blue fruits." The palate is described as having "spicy depth" with flavors of "clove and chicory root" alongside "deep blue and red berries."
James Suckling gives the wine a score of 92 points and describes it as "juicy, drinkable, and generously fruity." The review notes that the wine is "light on tannins" and emphasizes the enjoyment it brings with flavors of "raspberries, dark cherries, and blueberries."
Vinous, awarding it 93 points, highlights the wine's luxurious texture, noting its "silky and nearly creamy feel" with "depths of black currant and cherry." The review mentions a "sour twang" on the finish and suggests the wine will benefit from a short stay in the cellar.
Overall, the 2021 Sleight of Hand The Illusionist Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a well-regarded wine, appreciated for its complexity, structure, and enjoyable fruit-forward qualities.