Denner, Syrah, Paso Robles

Ripe and robust fruit. Smoke, earth, licorice and chalk. I will admit this is not a typical wine that I enjoy, but I did enjoy this wine. I usually prefer elegance and refinement. This wine is a big Syrah with high alcohol, but it carries it well. The fruit is prominent and is the primary component of the wine, but there is some depth and nuance. It is still youthful and not showing much brown characteristics. It really is a …

2003 vintage

Some find this kind of wine praise worthy. However, it is not my style. It is probably a good rendition of the style; big fruit forward, so much chocolate you almost have to chew it, extremely high alcohol. I agree that there is a chalkiness that I had not noticed in the younger bottles of this vintage. This wine is more balanced than previous trials, but it still does not enthrall.

2003 vintage

Nose was strong with cherries, smokiness, and chocolate. Also got some plum and juicy fruit. Palate developed well with fruit forward beginning followed by good balance of acid and tannin and with long finish. This is a very big and expressive wine, but doesn't come together in a way to make it a great wine, as others have intimated. The son was a little less impressed at 87.

2003 vintage

Massive nose of Black Cherry, and Compost like Earthiness. Huge Mouth-filling black fruits, Mocha, Coffee, and Cinnamon, and Kirsch Liquor. Chalky Mouth feel throughout - especially on the finish. Great tasting stuff!

2003 vintage

Deep and smoky syrah. Big full nouth with plenty of spicy fruit. Long finish with some leather and oak. Nice wine at this age.

2003 vintage

A nose of very ripe crushed berry (particularly boysenberry), licorice root, white pepper and a little caramel. Plummy fruit, rock dust, orange peel and brisk acidity on the palate. Initially the finish was very tight and hot. Settled down a little to show dark fruit and that Paso limestone vitality. Better than the last bottle but still a little OTT for me.

2003 vintage

Clean well made syrah with violets, blackberry, smooth vanilla and a lush yet silky midpalate. Texturally, this wine is compelling, but a bit more minerality could elevate it.

2003 vintage

Dark berry fruit nose. Tastes of boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry and leather. Full bodied. Excellent balance and acidity. Huge concentration and structure. Layered mid palate with an very complex finish that lasts for over a minute. Holding up very well. Could easily last 5 more years. No sign of heat despite the 15.7% alcohol. Not for the faint of heart. Stylistically very Saxum which is understandable since the winemaker was Justin Smith. Unfortunately the only problem with this wine was …

2003 vintage

Boysenberry, blackberry, cherry, earth, leather and tobacco. Mouthwatering acidity. Layered mid palate with interesting complexities. Finishing a touch hot but the fruit is still big enough not to make it a problem. 15.7% alcohol.

2003 vintage

Very ripe plum fruit, licorice, vanilla and a little chalky minerality. There is some heat on the nose. Very hot on the finish which reminds me of a cheap whiskey. I appreciate the dense fruit but this wine lacks balance and the alcohol is getting more prominent with age.

2003 vintage

Very dark in color. Nose is gorgeous. Big and full of cherries and vanilla with a hint of campfire smoke. Day 2 even more. Palate really wowed me too. Big full flavor of cherries, a little mocha, medium body, terrific balance and structure and a long finish. This is fantastic syrah.

2003 vintage

Blackberry, cherry, leather and tobacco. Firm tannins. Nice acidity and freshness. Well balanced. Great mid palate depth and a long, long finish.

2003 vintage

vanilla, cherry, tobacco. nice balanced mouth, slightly tart, dark coffee, with long finish. a very good wine.

2003 vintage

Big red fruit hides nice tannin and 15.7% alcohol. Some smoke, licorice, and earth. This bottle shows more complexity than a year ago. Baby Saxum may be a good name for it. Will hang in for another 5+ years.

2003 vintage

Wow! Nose of cherries, blackberries, caramel, tobacco and fruit loops. Tastes like a big bowl of sweet cherries. Nice blackcurrant undertones. Complex mid plate and knockout finish. Kudos to the winemaker Justin Smith of Saxum.

2003 vintage

Rich chocolatey-fruity goodness. Starting to mellow a bit--doesn't have as much bright fruit as it did initially, but there's a ton of dark fruit on the nose and it's nicely balanced on the palate. The chocalately notes linger on the finish. Denner is located in pretty much the ideal location in Westside Paso Robles--the same area as the famed Saxum vineyards. Even though these are young vines, they are producing phenomenal wines. After starting out with some notable "guest" winemakers, …

2003 vintage

Very dark purple. Huge wine, huge aromas -- smoke and licorice, with lots of blackberry and other black fruits. Very rich and full-bodied. Certainly drinkable for the ripe fruit, but there is enough tannin to let it age.

2003 vintage

Very ripe, almost pruney dark fruits. A strong chalky, mineral element keeps it interesting and adds freshness. The finish shows lots of black pepper and a little heat. Hopefully a couple of years will calm this one down, it certainly has lots of fruit.

2003 vintage

A nice big central coast Syrah with huge fruit, licorice, smoke, the whole bit. However, it is a little monolithic for my tastes. After the exciting initial mouth-feel, it seems to fall flat with little follow-on complexity.

2003 vintage

Excellent bottle. Huge and fruit-driven nose, very broad on the palate.

2003 vintage

Are you sure?

Denner, Syrah, Paso Robles

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews