One of the outstanding stops in Woodinville, Sparkman Cellars is a consistently good producer of a huge range of wines — from crisp Rose to deep and layered Cabernet Sauvignon. Chris and Kelly Sparkman founded their namesake winery many yeas back in 2004. Chris has a diverse background formerly working in the Peace Corps and then as well as some top fine dining restaurants in Seattle. Sparkman sources from some of the best vineyards in the state including the Boushey, Klipsun, Sagemoor and Ciel du Cheval Vineyards.
I really enjoyed tasting with their winemaker, Linn Scott, who has been doing a beautiful job for them. We talked vintages and tasted through most of his lineup. I adored the 2022 Sparkman Cellars ‘Wonderland’ Grenache (OB, 94) which is fresh and vibrant with beautiful texture and a pure core of red fruits. Even better is the world-class 2021 Sparkman Cellars ‘Evermore’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is built to go for decades. Learn more about this outstanding producer at http://www.sparkmancellars.com/. Here are the great new wines by Sparkman Cellars.
2023 Sparkman ‘As You Wish’ Sauvignon Blanc- Coming from the Gamache Vineyard, this 2023 Sauvignon Blanc was stored in neutral oak as well as stainless steel drums, this was stored on the less prior to bottling. Freshly cut limes and bay leaf mark the nose alongside orange blossom water. This comes off very lithe and polished with a smooth texture. Nicely concentrated, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2031- 92
2022 Sparkman ‘Lumiere’ Chardonnay- Coming from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, the 2022 ‘Lumiere’ is a gorgeous effort from the Royal Slope AVA. Stored in 57% new French oak, this offers shades of poached pear and pastry crust all mark the nose alongside shades of vanilla cream. The palate is smooth and refined, with really nice tension and mid-palate richness. Delightful now, enjoy over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2031- 93
2018 Six Atmospheres Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine- The 2018 ‘Blanc de Blancs’ was disgorged in November 2024. Coming from the Bacchus Vineyard, this spent two years in tank and barrel as well as two years on the lees in bottle before disgorgement. This is marvelously yeasty with sweetened gooseberry and melon tones alongside salted peach. The palate is dense and ripe with serious finesse and good length. The silky mousse entices, as this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2025-2032- 93
2020 Sparkman ‘Ethereal’ Sparkling Wine- The 2020 ‘Ethereal’ was stored for two years in the barrel and then 20 months in bottle before disgorgement. The palate is fresh and lithe with a soft mousse. Salty minerals combine with Japanese pear and starfruit notes on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 91
2023 Sparkman ‘Salish Lodge & Spa’ Rose- The ‘Salish Lodge & Spa’ Rose combines 60% Syrah with the remainder Grenache. Stored in mainly neutral oak barrels, this delivers wild mushroom and cantaloupe notes on the nose alongside shades of cranberry and salty soils. The palate is plush and soft, loaded with juicy red fruits. Drink 2025-2030- 92
2022 Sparkman ‘Wonderland’ Grenache- The 2022 ‘Wonderland’ has 12% Mourvedre blended in. Mainly coming form the Sagemoor and Boushey Vineyards, this was stored in 19% new French oak before bottling. This comes off very pure in terms of bright red fruits alongside orange blossom and shades of red rose petals. The palate is elegant and refined and elegant. This is nervy with good flavor density considering the vintage. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2022 Sparkman ‘Greater Than Some’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Greater Than Some’ come from the Olsen Vineyards and is equal parts Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache. Fresh sage and rich red and dark fruits parade with suggestions of chocolate. The palate is fresh and polished with medium to full-bodied red and dark fruits. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2032- 93
2021 Sparkman ‘Darkness’ Syrah- The 2021 ‘Darkness’ comes from the Olsen and Boushey Vineyard and saw extensive whole cluster fermentation. This offers gorgeous aromatics of smoke and brisket tones alongside Kalamatta olive and shades of white pepper. The palate is rich and dense with fantastic finesse, showing espresso bean and chocolate notes. Enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2032- 94
2022 Sparkman ‘Untamed’ Syrah- The 2022 ‘Untamed’ comes from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard as well as the Discovery and Boushey Vineyards. The wine saw a small amount of Viognier co-fermented, as this offers beef drippings and black raspberry tones on the nose with scorched earth and black olives. The palate is fresh and smooth with lovely texture. This is a killer value at only 35 bucks. Drink 2025-2031- 93
2022 Sparkman ‘Wilderness’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Wilderness’ is mainly Syrah with Grenache and Mourvedre. On the nose this takes on a beautiful melange of red and dark fruits, with sagebrush and milk chocolate tones. The palate is soft and juicy with good flavor density and richness. Enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2025-2032- 92
2022 Sparkman ‘Rukus’ Red Wine- A near equal blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022’ Ruckus’ has evolved to being more like a Provence-inspired blend. The palate is fresh and smooth with serious texture and tension, showing loads of mouth-watering acidity. Heady dark fruits combine with espresso grounds and shades of scorched earth. Drink 2025-2037- 93
2022 Sparkman ‘Black Dragon’ Red Wine- A blend of Petite Verdot and Malbec, the 2022 ‘Black Dragon comes from the Sunset Bench, Dionysus and Red Willow Vineyards. Inky in the glass, this delivers smoke and tar notes alongside black currants, dark chocolate shavings and suggestions of pencil lead. Very luxurious on the mouth and textural, this is loaded with black and blue fruit flavors, as this hedonistic beauty is already drinking marvelously now. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2021 Sparkman ‘Preposterous’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Preposterous’ is mainly Malbec with 15% Syrah blended in. Stored in only 15% new French oak barrels, this delivers beautiful black florals that combine with cocoa powder, fresh thyme and suggestions of creme de violette. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured with a smooth mouthfeel. Medium to full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2021 Sparkman ‘Ruby Leigh’ Red Wine- The really good 2021 Sparkman ‘Ruby Leigh’ Red Wine is mainly Merlot (56%) with smaller parts Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Sagebrush and chocolate notes mingle well with wild blackberry and shades of black licorice on the nose. The palate is smooth and soft with a good sense of finesse. Drink 2025-2035- 93
2021 Sparkman ‘Stella Mae’ Red Wine- The 2021 ‘Stella Mae’ is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) with the remainder Malbec coming from the Columbia Valley. The palate is velvety and nervy with a refined texture and lovely sense of salinity. Elegant and showing great verve, with ripe wild blackberry and huckleberry fruit flavors, alongside salty soils and espresso bean, enjoy this now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2021 Sparkman ‘Rainmaker’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Sparkman ‘Rainmaker’ comes from the Olsen Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. It comes off very savory on the palate with bay leaf and garrigue notes alongside shades of black raspberry and copious minerals. Medium to full-bodied and full of mouth-watering acidity, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2021 Sparkman ‘Kingpin’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Kingpin’ comes from Red Mountain and has a touch of Petit Verdot blended in. A touch of green bell pepper marks the nose from the Petit Verdot alongside dark chocolate cake and shades of black licorice with scorched earth on the nose. The palate is smooth and generous with great minerality. A joy to consume now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 94
2020 Sparkman ‘En Theos’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2020 ‘En These’ comes from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard. It is very inky in the glass, offering dark currants, pencil lead and shades of sweet pipe tobacco on the nose. The palate is dense and heady with a silky texture and great sense of weight. Coming off clean and loaded with dark fruits, enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2025-2031- 94
2022 Sparkman ‘Holler’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Holler’ comes from a range of sites throughout the Columbia Valley and was aged in 48% new French oak before bottling. This is juicy and delicious stuff, loaded with black and red fruits alongside chocolate and tobacco leaf. This is some serious value. Drink 2025-2035-93
2021 Sparkman ‘Evermore’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ’21 Evermore old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from plantings that are more than 40 years of age from the Boushey and Dionysus Vineyards. Very complex and elegant with refined tannins, this is a stunning edition of this wine. Silky smooth throughout the drinking experience, this offers kirsch and tar notes that mingle well with red bell pepper, dark currants and dusty soils. A world-class bottling that shows excellent poise in this warm vintage, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95