There are some wines from Paso Robles that are dang near impossible to get. These are small-production, high-scoring wines that only the lucky seem to find. Well... Denner's "Dirt Worshipper" Syrah is one of those wines! Planted in 1999, Denner Vineyards is a winegrowing estate on the far western border of the Paso Robles AVA. Their 156 acres press up against the Santa Lucia Range, giving the site great diversity of elevation, aspect and soil; the vineyards are planted in an East/West corridor where the marine layer can reach the inland valleys. As a result, they receive large diurnal temperature swings without high moisture pressure, creating a near perfect growing climate. The 108 acres under vine are comprised of 19 different varieties in 26 unique blocks.
Each block is farmed with painstaking attention to detail, allowing only for the best possible grapes to reach the winery. Aron Nevarez, their vineyard manager, is committed to environmentally friendly farming practices, using only sustainable inputs and minimal irrigation. Winemaker Anthony Yount has fashioned a wine that combines ripe, rich, intense fruit flavors with the peppery spice that Syrah is known for, and his wine delivers in spades!
JEB DUNNUCK 96+ POINTS - "The Syrah-dominated 2022 Dirt Worshipper (91% Syrah, with small amounts of Petit Verdot, Clairette Blanche, Graciano, and Viognier) displays a deep ruby hue and fabulous aromatics of darker berries, spring flowers, camphor, underbrush, and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, it has a seamless, layered mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Aged 20 months in 30% new French and Hungarian oak, it's one of the fresher, more focused, vibrant 2022s from Paso and should have 10-15 years of prime drinking. Drink 2025-2040."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 95 POINTS - "The 2022 Dirt Worshipper is enticingly dark and brooding in the glass. A whiff of exotic spice combines with peppery sage, crushed blackberries, lavender and ashen stone on the nose. Silken textures sweep across the palate while maintaining a lifted and graceful feel, as waves of tart red and black fruits saturate. Echoes of blue and purple inner florals linger as the 2022 tapers off long and potent, with a coating of sweet tannins framing the experience beautifully. This does not display the typical power of the Dirt Worshipper, yet it possesses an inner harmony that transports me to the Northern Rhône."
Each block is farmed with painstaking attention to detail, allowing only for the best possible grapes to reach the winery. Aron Nevarez, their vineyard manager, is committed to environmentally friendly farming practices, using only sustainable inputs and minimal irrigation. Winemaker Anthony Yount has fashioned a wine that combines ripe, rich, intense fruit flavors with the peppery spice that Syrah is known for, and his wine delivers in spades!
JEB DUNNUCK 96+ POINTS - "The Syrah-dominated 2022 Dirt Worshipper (91% Syrah, with small amounts of Petit Verdot, Clairette Blanche, Graciano, and Viognier) displays a deep ruby hue and fabulous aromatics of darker berries, spring flowers, camphor, underbrush, and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, it has a seamless, layered mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Aged 20 months in 30% new French and Hungarian oak, it's one of the fresher, more focused, vibrant 2022s from Paso and should have 10-15 years of prime drinking. Drink 2025-2040."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 95 POINTS - "The 2022 Dirt Worshipper is enticingly dark and brooding in the glass. A whiff of exotic spice combines with peppery sage, crushed blackberries, lavender and ashen stone on the nose. Silken textures sweep across the palate while maintaining a lifted and graceful feel, as waves of tart red and black fruits saturate. Echoes of blue and purple inner florals linger as the 2022 tapers off long and potent, with a coating of sweet tannins framing the experience beautifully. This does not display the typical power of the Dirt Worshipper, yet it possesses an inner harmony that transports me to the Northern Rhône."
