Flirt With Dirt

Chimichurri Flank Steak is one of the easier pairings I’ve had. It’s tough to go too far wrong here. Beef makes me go immediately to Red Wine – I wouldn’t suggest white here. Because of the herbaceous flavors with the parsley, and the tartness of the lime and garlic, you can be fine with a lighter red. You don’t HAVE to go big and bold – BUT YOU CAN!!! And boy did we. 

We’ve been sitting on this bottle for about 3 years now and I hesitated to bring out Denner Vineyards’ Dirt Worshipper even when it’s 6 years old. This wine ain’t cheap, and it’s kinda risky to drink it this young, since it still packs a big punch. This will age for another 10 years, I would imagine. (Thank goodness I have another bottle socked away.) But we rolled the dice and won big. 

It’s got a gorgeous deep ruby color, and some noticeable legs in the glass. It’s pretty high in alcohol content – 14.3% – but not outrageous for a California Syrah. What blew me away was the initial nose on this wine. Of course there was plenty of dark fruit, but then lots and lots of vanilla – clearly the result of some time aged in oak. Then came the pepper – black pepper. It was almost as if someone dropped a peppercorn right in the bottle. I was worried we’d opened it too soon. 

But on the palate the pepper was much more delicate. The tannins had mellowed a bit and there was nice blackberry and black cherry. Then the finish arrived with a hint of tar and licorice. Yes, Dirt Worshipper lived up to its name. This is a Parker 96 point wine, and deservedly so. It’s pretty tricky to find, but as of today, it’s available here.

We’ve visited Denner a couple of times, and it’s a lovely tasting experience if you’re ever in Paso Robles. They make other excellent wines, leaning toward Rhone blends. Time to get some dirt on your tongue!