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: 2009 Denner "The Dirt Worshipper" Paso Robles Syrah

2009 Denner "The Dirt Worshipper" Paso Robles Syrah

SKU #1150674 93 points James Suckling

Outer quote mark Nose is stewed beef and black licorice, like a baby Crozes-Hermitage. Palate is robust of licorice and beef, long lingering finish of fruit and spice. Made from 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier. Drink now. Inner quote mark (5/2012)

92 points Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark Both dense and concentrated, with a tart berry edge, this is firm, complex and concentrated. This being mostly Syrah, it's more linear, yet its focus on mineral, game meat and smoke is alluring. Syrah and Viognier. Best from 2012 through 2020. Inner quote mark (2/2012)

91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark Bright purple. Slow to open on the nose, eventually offering up scents of dark fruit preserves, olive, floral oils and vanilla. Broad, deeply pitched cassis and blueberry flavors stain the palate, with gentle acidity providing lift. Very rich but also lively, with impressive finishing thrust and a lingering note of candied violet. No way I'd open this one for at least another five years. 91(+?) points Inner quote mark (10/2011)

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2009 Denner "The Dirt Worshipper" Paso Robles Syrah

Price: $69.99

Quantity:

JS: 93

WS: 92

ST: 91

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Varietal:

Shiraz/Syrah

- One of France's noblest black grape varieties, Syrah is known for its intense and distinctive perfume reminiscent of briar fruit, tar, spice and black pepper and its firm structure. One of few black grape varietals frequently vinified on its own, the best examples of Syrah come from the Northern Rhône, particularly Hermitage, but also Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Crozes-Hermitage and St-Joseph. These wines are very astringent in their youth, though some Crozes-Hermitage and St-Joseph can be enjoyed young, relatively speaking. Given the requisite patience, though, these wines can reveal amazing complexity and secondary fruit characteristics like plum and blackcurrant as well as subtle hints of smoke and flowers. In the Southern Rhône, Syrah is used to add structure and complexity to wines dominated by Grenache and complemented by Mourvèdre, like the more immediately drinkable Côte du Rhônes, as well as the long-lived wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In recent years, plantings of Syrah have spread throughout the Languedoc-Roussillon where it is produced on its own or blended with other varietals. Outside of France, the most important Syrah growing country is easily Australia, where it is called Shiraz. Quality levels here depend greatly on yields and geography, and the wines range from bold, fruity and easy-drinking to intense and ageable, like the famed Penfolds Grange. Often bottled on its own, in Australia Syrah is also can be blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre, as in the Southern Rhône, and is increasingly combined with Cabernet Sauvignon. Syrah has also been steadily increasing in popularity in California, thanks to a group of advocates called the Rhône Rangers. Its most successful iterations come from the Central and Sonoma Coasts, where winemakers are pushing boundaries and creating some incredible wines. In recent years Syrah has also found a number of proponents in Washington State, which is definitely a region to watch for this variety.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Paso Robles

- Located about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this inland AVA enjoys a sunny and hot growing period while its seaside neighbors hang in the fog. Zinfandel is the traditional red grape of choice, though cabernet, chardonnay, and Rhône varietals are gaining favor. Most are made in a fruit-forward, early drinking style.