2016 Sparkman Syrah The Darkness
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Syrah Darkness opens to aromas of dark blackberry essence, spiced plum compote and dusty dark cherry skin on the nose, with a floral and red-fruited lift from the partial whole-cluster expression. Medium to full-bodied, the wine offers a spicy potpourri essence with elements of black raspberry and bitter dark chocolates, showing good balanced and lifting tannins that linger on the long finish. The wine rested for 18 months in 33% new French oak barrels. Just under 2,800 bottles were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Bright berry fruits, cassis, spring flowers, and peppery notes all emerge from the 2016 Syrah Darkness. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully balanced, it offers subtle background oak and ripe, polished tannins. It's beautifully done and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age. Made from 100% Syrah (25% stems) from the Boushey and Olsen Vineyards, which are both in the Yakima Valley, it spent 18 months in one-third new French oak prior to bottling.
Bright medium ruby. Musky scents of black raspberry, blackberry and smoke, plus hints of lead pencil and violet. Plush and seamless on entry, then supple and concentrated in the middle palate, with its dark berry and black olive flavors complicated by minerals, smoke and flowers. Substantial ripe tannins are nicely coated by the wine's strong mid-palate material, allowing the dark fruit flavors to linger nicely. Denser and richer than the Ruckus Syrah, and more varietally expressive too. This maintained its shape and freshness very well in the recorked bottle. (vinified with 25% whole clusters)