2010 Denner Syrah Dirt Worshipper
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Tasting notes
(93% syrah and 7% viognier): Opaque purple. Heady aromas of dark berry liqueur, Indian spices, olive and potpourri show impressive intensity and delineation. Velvety and concentrated, with serious depth and surprising energy to its palate-staining blackberry and cherry-cola flavors. Offers a suave combination of sweet dark berry fruit and floral notes, with excellent finishing power and vivacity. About 40% of the syrah in this year's blend came from the Bassetti vineyard. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2010 Dirt Worshipper is one of the most exciting, viscerally thrilling wines I tasted in Paso Robles this year. It boasts stunning richness and power from start to finish, with expressive aromatics, intense fruit and fabulous overall balance. Varietal notes develop on the finish, but the wine needs at least another year to become fully expressive. The use of 25% whole clusters and the addition of 7% Viognier keeps the wine light on its feet (in relative terms), something the Syrahs from Paso often struggle with. The 2010 spent 16 months in French oak barrels, only 10% new. This is a great showing from Denner.
The 2010 Dirt Worshipper is one of the most exciting, viscerally thrilling wines I tasted in Paso Robles this year. It boasts stunning richness and power from start to finish, with expressive aromatics, intense fruit and fabulous overall balance. Varietal notes develop on the finish, but the wine needs at least another year to become fully expressive. The use of 25% whole clusters and the addition of 7% Viognier keeps the wine light on its feet (in relative terms), something the Syrahs from Paso often struggle with. The 2010 spent 16 months in French oak barrels, only 10% new. This is a great showing from Denner. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2020. I was deeply impressed with the wines I tasted from Denner this year. From top to bottom, these new releases capture the essence of everything that makes Paso Robles one of the most exciting wine making regions in the world. Tel. (805) 239-4287
A thrilling Paso Robles Syrah, the 2010 Denner The Dirt Worshipper (93% Syrah and 7% Viognier that was aged 16 months in 10% new French oak) delivers a drop dead gorgeous bouquet of black raspberry, game, violets, and ground pepper that flows to a medium to full-bodied, focused, and structured palate. There’s a decidedly northern Rhône like quality here, and the wine has riveting focus and precision on both the nose and palate. Picking up a saline like minerality, as well as building tannin, on the finish, this deserves 2-3 years of bottle age and should age gracefully for 12-15 or more years.