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Sparkman 2006 Darkness Boushey Vineyard Syrah (Yakima Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $50

A new wine for Sparkman, the Darkness delivers gobs of black fruits, tobacco, smoke, graphite and smoked meat flavors. Right now the fruit is amped up and the young, juicy flavors of raspberry, boysenberry and Bing cherry fill the mouth; but right behind are leaf, tobacco, Asian spice and sweet wood. An exceptional effort. — P.G. (3/1/2009)

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Sparkman 2007 Darkness Syrah (Yakima Valley)

Price $50

Sourced from Dick Boushey’s Birdhouse vineyard, this ink-black wine is threaded throughout with the good funk—seaweed, iodine, and salt flavors that a Japanese friend calls umami. Along with that come black fruits, hazelnuts and light barrel toast. — P.G. (5/1/2010)

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Sparkman 2009 Ruckus Syrah (Red Mountain)

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $38

Almost impenetrably dark, this juicy Syrah includes 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Red Mountain fruit brings a blast of boysenberry and black cherry fruit, heightened with citrusy acidity. It’s an expression of pure fruit power, with barrel notes of black coffee and tannins that taste of wet rock. This is a wine that should have a good decade of life ahead. — P.G. (7/1/2012)

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Sparkman 2008 Lumière Chardonnay (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $25

Native yeast, weekly batinage (lees stirring) in 50% new barrels, and, most importantly, a superb vineyard—Stillwater Creek—make for the best Chardonnay yet from Sparkman. Yeasty and young, dense and loaded with fresh pear, toasted nuts and butter, this is seductive and immensely enjoyable. — P.G. (5/1/2010)

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Sparkman 2007 Kingpin Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain)

Cellar Selection

Price $56

The most massive, dense and ageworthy of all the Sparkman reds, this Kingpin Cabernet is a barrel selection of the darkest, deepest wines in the cellar. Almost pure cassis fruit is matched to a firm, steely spine. Tannins are strong but not heavy, and the aging in two thirds new wood has not turned the wine terribly oaky. Hints of rock, tobacco and earth promise… — P.G. (5/1/2010)

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Sparkman 2009 Lumière Chardonnay (Columbia Valley (WA))

Online Exclusive

Price $25

Creamy and crisp—a nice trick—this refreshing Chardonnay livens up the palate with a mix of herb, celery, apple and Asian pear, rolling into a finish of caramel apple and toast. It has a light touch despite the 14.5% alcohol, and sits nicely in the back of the throat, inviting another glass. — P.G. (5/1/2011)

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Sparkman 2008 Ruckus Syrah (Red Mountain)

Price $32

A good amalgam of Red Mountain flavors—hard, tight tannins; dark, smoky black fruits; an underlayer of graphite and mineral. The wine is hard and compact, unyielding, but well-balanced and complete. In the nose are suggestions of moist earth, compost, soy, seaweed; the message is, stay tuned. — P.G. (5/1/2011)

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Sparkman 2006 Lumière Chardonnay (Columbia Valley (WA))

Price $40

This is just the second vintage of the Lumière Chardonnay from this rising star winery, and it is already causing a buzz. Washington produces very few high end white wines that would be natural companions to its reds on a restaurant wine list. This tight, precise, concentrated and focused Chardonnay fills that need. Though loaded with tropical and stone fruit… — P.G. (5/1/2008)

Most Reviewed Designations

Darkness Darkness Boushey Vineyard Kindred Kingpin Lumière Outlaw Pearl Ruby Leigh Ruby Leigh Red Ruckus Stella Mae Stella Mae Red

Most Reviewed Varietals

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Malbec Merlot Red Blend Sauvignon Blanc Syrah

2009 Russian River Vineyards Estate Grown

Rich flavors of cherries, persimmons, cola, anise and oak flood the…

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