2016 Sparkman Cabernet Sauvignon Rainmaker
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Tasting notes
Even more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, the 2016 Rainmaker comes all from the Yakima Valley and checks in as a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Malbec aged in 89% new French oak. Pauillac-like notes of lead pencil, tobacco, and cedary spice all emerge from the glass, and it has a core of ripe dark fruits, plenty of background chocolatey oak, medium to full body, and a great finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Bright red-ruby. Mellow, inviting scents of dark berries, plum, musky nutty oak and spices, plus a whiff of cedary cigar box. Plush, savory wine with red and darker fruits, graphite minerality and a strong element of new oak (89% new barrels). This easygoing Cabernet offers good very good material and breadth for early pleasure, with some varietally expressive herbs adding complexity without detracting from the wine's fruit. Tannins are ripe and supple. A rather forward style, but with decent grip and very good length. I like this!
A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Malbec, the 2016 The Rainmaker is juicy with dark red and black fruit around a subtle core of herbs, sweet spice and dark chocolate. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich, bold and dense, turning slightly tart toward the mid-palate, with good, grippy tannins on the lingering finish. This will work well with grilled fillet. Only 209 cases produced.