2015 Denner "Ditch Digger" Paso Robles Rhône Blend
SKU #1432850
95 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A Grenache-based blend, the 2015 Ditch Digger is lovely, wafting from the glass with an expressive nose of dried flowers, wild berry fruit and orange rind. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ample and succulent, with a generous core of fruit, decent freshness and fine-grained tannins that make their presence felt on the finish. Given it a year or two in the cellar and then follow it for 6 or 7 more. Drink through 2026. (WK)
(5/2018)
94 points
Vinous
Inky ruby. Highly fragrant aromas of fresh red and blue fruits, spicecake and candied rose, joined in the glass by a building smoky element. Silky and seamless in texture, offering impressively concentrated and surprisingly lively black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Closes sweet, gently tannic and very long, featuring emphatic red fruit and lingering floral pastille notes. Drink through 2028. (JR)
(11/2017)
93 points
Wine Enthusiast
Black currant, warm chocolate and sultry spices meet with loamy soil aromas on the nose of this blend of 55% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 5% Counoise, 5% Cinsault and 5% Tannat. It's still a very young wine, but the palate offers elderberry, pepper and dried herbs. It's the mouth-coating texture that's most compelling; though very firm now, it will hold this wine for years. Drink 2020–2030. *Cellar Selection* (MK)
(6/2018)
91 points
Jeb Dunnuck
A Grenache dominated blend that includes 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 5% Counoise, and 5% Tannat, the 2015 Ditch Digger saw 50% whole clusters and spent 17 months in 20% new French oak. It ruby/purple color is followed by a peppery, black raspberry, plum and spice driven wine that has medium to full-bodied richness, firm tannin and a clean finish. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age to let the tannin chill out.
(8/2017)
91 points
Wine Spectator
Smoky and savory, with a muscular core of tannins bound by expressive crushed rock, dark berry and grilled anise notes that take on intensity toward the finish. Hands off for now. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Counoise, Cinsault and Tannat. Best from 2019 through 2027. (TF, Web Only-2018)
