2013 Denner Syrah Dirt Worshipper
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Tasting notes
Bright purple. Sexy perfume of dark berry liqueur, incense, violet and olive, with a smoky mineral nuance gaining power as the wine opens in the glass. Juicy, seamless and sweet, offering concentrated blueberry and floral pastille flavors and a strong suggestion of spicecake. Really stains the palate but comes off as graceful, with smooth tannins adding shape and grip to the wine's lush fruit.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
One of the top barrel samples I was able to taste during my trip through the region, the 2013 Dirt Worshipper is an incredible looking wine that doesn’t put a foot wrong. Almost all Syrah, with 1% Roussanne, it offers up a brilliant bouquet of cassis, violets and wild herbs to go with an awesome texture and level of purity on the palate. Full-bodied, deeply concentrated and with a layered, seamless integration of its fruit, tannin and alcohol, it should be approachable on release, yet evolve gracefully for 12-15 years. I was blown away by this barrel sample and can’t wait to taste it from bottle. As always, I had a great visit with winemaker Anthony Yount. The wines continue to go from strength to strength, and at this point, are a match for anything coming out of the west side of Paso Robles. These are high-quality wines that merit attention. Tel. (805) 239-4287; www.dennervineyards.com
The 2013 Dirt Worshipper might very well be the single most exciting, viscerally thrilling wine I have tasted from Denner. In this vintage, coastal sites comprise nearly two-thirds of the blend, and it shows in the wine's pulsating tension and minerality. Constantly changing in the glass, the 2013 offers a compelling melange of dark blue/blackish fruit, violets, lavender and black pepper, with intense varietal character and nuance. The 85% whole clusters are apparent but also nicely balanced. Personally, I can't wait to own the 2013.