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2008 Ink Check out our newest scores from Dr. Jay Miller, Robert Parker's Washington State Guru: 90 2005 Stella Mae Syrah The 2005 Syrah Stella Mae is purple-colored with a nose of spice box, pepper, black cherry, and blueberry. On the palate the wine is seamless, sweet, and forward, leading to a long, pure finish. It is a unique expression of Syrah. 90 2005 The Outlaw MerlotThe 2005 Merlot The Outlaw. The fruit was sourced from two Red Mountain vineyards and aged in 50% new oak. Deep crimson-colored, it delivers aromas of cedar, spice box, cinnamon, clove, and red currants. This leads to a wine with good depth and concentration, sweet fruit, and light tannin. This attractive Merlot should evolve for 1-2 years and be at its best from 2010 to 2017. 90 2005 The Darkness Syrah The 2005 Syrah The Darkness is a more classic version, purple in color, with aromas of meat, game, pepper, and violets. On the palate it has excellent depth, ripe fruit, spicy flavors, and enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years. Drink this lengthy effort from 2012 to 2020. 90 2006 Lumière Chardonnay The 2006 Chardonnay Lumière was sourced from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, fermented with native yeasts, and aged in 80% new French oak. Light gold-colored, it offers up aromas of toast, butterscotch, pear, spiced apple, and tropical fruits. Balanced with lively acidity, this tasty Chardonnay is ripe, full-flavored, and long in the finish. Drink it over the next three years. 90 The 2004 Outlaw Merlot is 100% varietal. It was aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months. It has an expressive bouquet of pain grille, graphite, tobacco, cassis, cranberry, and black cherry. Plush on the palate, there are gobs of spicy red and black fruits, ripe tannin, and outstanding length. This well-stuffed wine will continue to evolve for several years and drink well through 2022. 88 The 2004 Ruby Leigh Blend is composed of 44% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 16% Cabernet Franc aged 20 months in French oak, 50% new. The nose offers up smoky oak, vanilla, menthol, tobacco, cassis, black currants, and a hint of chocolate. Medium-to full-bodied, with flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and spice box, it has excellent depth, light tannin, and enough structure for several years of further development. It should drink well through 2024.87 The 2004 Stella Mae Syrah was aged 18 months in French oak, 20% new. Purple colored, it offers a pleasant perfume of grilled meat and spicy blueberries. This leads to a layered, supple-textured wine with forward flavors and soft tannins. Drinkable now, it should continue to provide pleasure through 2015.  The 2006 Lumière Chardonnay was chosen as #50 on The Seattle Times Top 100 Washington Wines of the Year.   Paul Gregutt also gave it 91 points on his website, www.paulgregutt.com. He had this to say in the April 2008 Wine Enthusiast: 91 Sparkman 2006 Lumière Chardonnay, Columbia Valley $35 This tight, precise, concentrated and focused Chardonnay comes from Stillwater Creek, one of the premier white wine vineyards in Washington. Winemaker Chris Sparkman rolled the dice and used native yeasts; the fermentation lasted over five months. Though loaded with tropical and stone fruit flavors, this retains its acidic spine and finishes with plenty of toasty, buttered nut, barrel flavors. 90 Sparkman 2005 Ruby Leigh Red Wine, Red Mountain $40 This Bordeaux blend is half Merlot, the rest an even split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc. It's lovely and light on its feet, with appealing floral scents rising above the tangy red fruits. Red Mountain flavors of gravel and graphite form a strong foundation, with lightly herbal, chocolatey tannins wrapping around the finish. It carries its 14.7% alcohol with grace and polish. 89 Sparkman 2005 Stella Mae Syrah, Red Mountain $40 The first edition (2004) of the Stella Mae was a big, jammy banger, its lush fruit buttressed with streaks of citrus. Though it hits almost 15% alcohol, this seems more refined, with more precision and texture. The citrus is still much in evidence, along with lighter red fruits such as pomegraqnate and wild cherry. You pickup some vanilla cream through the midpalate, and some heat on the finish.  Steven Tanzer also had nice things to say in his International Wine Cellar: 88 Sparkman 2005 Ruby Leigh Red Wine, Red Mountain Good ruby-red. Sweet, sappy aromas of bing cherry, dark berries and licorice, with an exotic element adding appeal. Fruit-driven and spicy, with good energy and cut to the wine's sweet fruit flavors. Very nicely balanced merlot that finishes with a brisk minerally element. 88 Sparkman 2006 Lumière Chardonnay, Columbia Valley Barrel-fermented with wild yeasts; aged on the lees with plenty of batonnage. Aromas of nectarine and nutmeg. Sweet, plump and easygoing, with enticing peach and apricot fruit flavors lifted by spicy and floral nuances. Finishes with good spicy length and complexity. 89 Sparkman 2005 The Darkness Syrah, Yakima Valley Good bright ruby-red. Varietally expressive nose offers black cherry, game, brown spices, menthol, oak char and a floral topnote. Lush, sweet and seamless in the mouth, with flavors of exotic dried fruits and spices. Finishes quite round, with suave, horizontal tannins and sneaky persistence. |
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