Overview: We (Kelly, Mom/President/Founding Winemaker and Chris Sparkman, Dad/President/Founding Winemaker) launched Sparkman Cellars in Woodinville, Washington in 2004 to focus on our family. In Year One we made one baby girl, 12 barrels of wine (289 cases) and three labels in a tiny warehouse. In Year Three we made another baby girl, opened our first tasting room, made 1425 cases of wine and eight labels. We have now grown our annual production to over 12,000 cases in our shiny new winery, tasting room and event hall at the old Redhook Brewery in Woodinville. The babies are now in high school. We remain a family owned and operated winery committed to making wines that are considered among the finest in the world.
In 2005, on an icy cliff in the Horse Heaven Hills with only buzzards and coyotes around to watch, we drove with several barrels of what would become a new red blend, Wilderness. A tribute to our backgrounds in wildlife preservation and environmental policy work, we chose to make this wine an ever evolving, ever changing experiment and challenge to our assumptions of what grapes play best together. Typically produced with a core of syrah and other Rhône varietals, it has nevertheless included seemingly non-dance-partner-like varietals such as cabernet sauvignon, malbec, mourvèdre, tempranillo, sangiovese, petit verdot, petite sirah and probably a few we have since forgotten.
Tasting Notes: Hard candy, cherry, herb, fresh orange and plum aromas are out front. Soft, supple fruit flavors follow. It has a lovely mouthfeel and sense of acid balance that heightens the appeal. A lingering, warm finish caps it off.
Pairing: Grilled, roasted or smoked anything, including attitudes.
Points: 88, Wine Enthusiast
Format/ABV: 750 ml/14.5%
In certain circumstances, a specific vintage may not be available. If this is the case, a comparable vintage of the same wine will be substituted for online orders. If shopping in store, please check the bottle for the appropriate vintage. If you have a question about a specific vintage that is in stock, please email wine@kegnbottle.com
