Judith Henderson’s Wine & Country Living

The 2012 Spring Release Weekend is planned for May 4 through May 6. Everyone in the wine business is currently maneuvering barrels, hiring musicians and ordering food to be offered to winery club members as well as the general public, invited to attend the yearly wine event.

Besides being an infectious personality, Walla Walla winemaker Tray Bush of Sleight of Hand Cellars, is a winemaker to watch during Release Weekend. His take on the magic of wine may be evident in the name of the winery, wine bottle labels and advertising copy, but this dedicated winemaker exhibits no tricks when it comes to creating his over the top wine portfolio.

Recently, I was privy to an early wine tasting of what I think will be one of THE wines of this year's Spring Release weekend; Sleight of Hand Cellars 2011, 100 percent, The Magicians Assistant, a Cab Franc Rose.

What Tray Bush has been able to capture in his Cab Franc Rose is a coral pink dream the California Monk's of Charles Krug Winery could only imagine. With nose buried deep in the glass, a romantic juicy melon tickles the nostrils, swooshing the cheeks in warm strawberry fields, a splatter of minerality draws across the tongue with a wet and wild ending in oodles of watermelon nuance. Now that's a Rose to remember! For wine tasting events and hours call Sleight of Hand Cellars: 509-525-3661

Tray, because your kindness in life transcends into your passion for winemaking, yours truly, Judith Henderson of Wine and Country Living, gives 98 points of wine perfection for the Sleight of Hand 2011, The Magicians Assistant Cab Franc Rose. Congratulations Tray, and all the hands at Sleight of Hand Cellar who have made this wine available!

Readers, until next week, "Eat Art, Drink Imagination!"

Strawberry Balsamic Napping Sauce

1 cup frozen or fresh cut strawberries

1 tablespoon each: sugar, balsamic vinegar, cornstarch, chopped fresh rosemary

1/8 cup chicken broth

In a sauce pan, add all ingredients and whisk to blend; cook on low until smooth and thickened. Nap over a pan fried almond encrusted breast of chicken, paired with a bottle of Sleight of Hand Cellars, 2011 Magicians Assistant Cab Franc Rose.

Hear Judith's food and wine commentary recipe and photos: www.chefjudithhenderson.com