2016 Sparkman Syrah Ruckus
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Syrah Ruckus was blended with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Viognier and opens with a dark red-fruited core with elements of black pepper and savory spice tones. Medium to full-bodied, the wine drinks lighter in style than the Darkness Syrah of the same range and price point, and it ends with a straightforward finish with lingering flavors of bitter dark chocolate and spiced plum compote.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
A blend of 75% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Viognier. 209 cases produced. Smells of bloody meat and black fruits. White-pepper, blackberry and black-cherry flavours. Also there's a meaty umami character that is quite charming. Powdery tannins have a nice muscular firmness to them. Good acidity. Could be more dynamic. (AY)
The 2016 Syrah Ruckus checks in as 75% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Viognier all from sites on Red Mountain. It offers more Red Mountain cassis and darker fruits as well as notes of dried earth, pepper herbs, and new leather. Nicely textured, medium-bodied, and balanced, with ripe tannins, it's a solid, elegant effort to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years. I like the complexity of the Syrah Darkness slightly more, but this is nevertheless beautiful.
Bright red-ruby. Aromas of black raspberry, licorice and musky game, plus a strong element of toffee oak. Sweet and fine-grained, conveying good energy to its black raspberry fruit, but the wine's varietal character is mostly overwhelmed by oak today. Still, the building tannins are far better managed than those of the 2015 version, allowing for good lingering sweetness. (14.5% alcohol)