2014 Denner Syrah, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, blueberries, spice, slight grilled meats and black pepper. On the palate, this is a bit more restrained than I expected but still outstanding. Black raspberries, blueberries, and slight earthiness. With air some charred earth as well. Nice texture. Some complexity. Enough acidity to work with hearty foods. Good finish. There is plenty of fruit and slight tannins; this seems like it might improve or it might just age out. Either way it easily has a decade or more left.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2014

Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

Read full article

2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. The 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008 was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective. Unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. The American wines were mostly from California (144 wineries), but a few examples from Arizona (2 wineries) and Washington State (5 wineries) were also included. While this is a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers aren’t represented, there is still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts. The events included two general tastings and a series of focused seminars.

Read full article

America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we discussed the white Rhone style wines offered at the 2008 Rhone Rangers tasting event at Fort Mason in San Francisco on March 18. This month we turn to the reds, of which we tasted 50. Among those we tasted were some old favorites and some wineries or bottlings with which we were not yet familiar. We don’t pretend that we tasted a representative group of wines, because our sample was skewed to wines we have loved in the past and others about which we have heard positive comments.

Read full article

2014 Denner The Ditch Digger, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2014

Score:

Grade:

60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault, 5% Counoise. Inky purple in color. The nose is great with black raspberries, leather, plums, slight earthiness, char and some black cherries. On the palate, this has a wonderful rich texture. Medium tannins. It is young but bursting with fruit without being over the top. Black cherries, black raspberries, underlying earthiness and char. Long finish. This is a big wine and needs either big or spicy food. It is still probably 7 years from maturity and will last another 10 after that (at least). That said, it is delicious and enjoy

2015 Denner The Dirt Worshipper, USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

Another winner from Denner. A blend of 96% Syrah, 2% Roussanne, 2% Viognier. Inky purple in color, a thin ruby rim. The nose is big and warm. Black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted meats, slight black olives. On the palate, this is delicious. Full bodied. Black raspberry fruit, roasted meats and herbs and a bit of black pepper. Lush texture. Long finish. This is easy to drink. On its own, this is perfect, however, it will continue to evolve over the next five to seven years and be more complex and food friendly. It will go well with roasts and meat casseroles.

2014 Denner Syrah, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Food and Wine Pairing Tool

Related Articles

Top Ten California Syrahs - 2016

2008 Hospice du Rhone Events: Highs & Lows of American Rhone-style Wines Tasted

America’s Best Rhone Style Red Wines: 11th Annual Rhone Rangers Tasting Reviewed

2014 Denner The Ditch Digger, USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

2015 Denner The Dirt Worshipper, USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles, Wine Review