2012 TOP 50 WINES - Rank #16
The 2010 Denner 'The Dirt Worshipper' reminds me of a mix of Northern Rhone terroir and California fruit. It offers a generous serving of dark berries, sweet plum, cherry cobbler, violets, but then you get some salty black olives and irony mineral notes. Dense and focused with plenty of depth and concentration but remains fresh from the underlying acidity and minerality. The finish is long and persistent dosing out loads of fruit. Excellent right now, but would love to see this again after a few years in bottle. Composed of 93% Syrah, 7% Viognier, aged 16 months in barriques, 60% Neutral, 30% Once Used French and Hungarian, 10% New French. Fermented 30% Whole Cluster. (Best 2014-2022) - November, 2012 (JD)