As one of the first in Washington’s Woodinville Wine Country “warehouse district,” restaurant industry vet, sommelier and Tennessee native Chris Sparkman started his winery in 2004, centered around his family. Naming his wines after his children and his children taking titles at the winery like “chief mischiefmaker” and “chocolate thief,” along with mom/wife Kelly Sparkman working as assistant winemaker, Sparkman Cellars is a full-fledged family operation. Although it is not necessarily a family moniker, the 2012 Pearl Sauvignon Blanc is noteworthy nonetheless. Described by the winery as the “lovechild of the Loire Valley and New Zealand” in the style of Sauvignon Blancs, this particular rendition is dazzling and daring with grapefruit, gooseberry, guava, lime zest and a dusting of flinty mineral aromas. Pulled from prominent Yakima Valley vineyards (see: Boushey and Spring Creek) in stainless steel for lees contact and later in neutral French oak for mouthfeel, the wine is vivacious, balancing between a creamy lemon custard mid-palate and bites of acidity.
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