2015

Blend: 96% Syrah, 2% Roussanne, 2% Viognier 

Vineyard: 45% Estate – Willow Creek District Paso Robles, 30% Duvarita Vineyard – Santa Ynez Valley, 15% Bassetti Vineyard – San Luis Obispo County, 10% Slide Hill Vineyard – Edna Valley 

Fermentation: Delestages with dry ice during five-day cold soak, then feral fermented with delestages and punch downs. Two-week total maceration. 60% whole clusters. 

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 20 months in 225L French oak barriques, 25% new and 20% once and twice used. Bottled unfiltered. 

Alc: 14.5% | pH: 3.90 | TA: 5.6 g/l

Bottling Date: June 8, 2017 

Cases Produced: 525

Tasting Notes
Violets, white pepper, charred ribeye, and sandalwood harmonize on the nose. A brooding palate of porcini, blackberries and muddled mint evolves into mounting chalky tannins that give this beastly wine a mouth-coating richness. Hold on to this wine for a year or pair with your favorite grilled steak if you just can’t wait. 

Awards: Wine Spectator - April 2018 Issue - 2015 Dirt Worshipper 95 pts and featured top wine.

2014

Blend: 95% Syrah, 3% Roussanne, 2% Viognier

Vineyard: 35% Duvarita Vineyard – Santa Ynez Valley, 30% Estate – Paso Robles, 20% Bassetti Vineyard – San Luis Obispo County, 10% Slide Hill Vineyard – Edna Valley, 5% Boulder Ridge Vineyard – San Luis Obispo County 

Fermentation: Foot stomped during 7-day cold soak then feral fermented with twice daily delestages. 3-week total maceration. 100% whole cluster.  

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 20 months in 225L barrels, 20% new. Bottled unfiltered. 

Alc: 15.0% | pH: 3.69 | TA: 5.7 g/l

Bottling Date: June 14, 2016 

Cases Produced: 1480 

Tasting Notes
Explosive notes of blueberries, white pepper, violets, and wet granite introduce this complex beast. The palate offers steak au poivre, graphite, black raspberries, and dark chocolate as the fruity and savory elements intermingle. Finishing with a seamless midpalate that is incredibly intense, yet nearly weightless in its laser-like precision.

Awards: Wine Advocate: 93+ | Vinous: 94 | Wine Spectator: 92 

2013

Blend: 99% Syrah, 1% Roussanne

Vineyard: 35% Estate – Paso Robles, 30% Bassetti Vineyard – San Luis Obispo County, 15% Boulder Ridge Vineyard – San Luis Obispo County, 10% Duvarita Vineyard – Santa Ynez Valley, 10% Kimsey Vineyard – Ballard Canyon  

Fermentation: Foot stomped during 7-day cold soak then feral fermented with twice daily delestages. 3-week total maceration. 90% whole cluster.  

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 16 months in 225L barrels. 25% new French oak and 10% new Hungarian oak. Bottled unfiltered.  

Alc: 14.0% | pH: 3.85 | TA: 5.8 g/l 

Bottling Date: January 21st, 2015 

Cases Produced: 1558

Tasting Notes
As this wine unfolds, the nose is packed with seared blackberries, gardenia, olive tapenade, white pepper and spent campfire. The palate evolves from blueberries and violets to smoked meats and rolling tobacco. The finish lingers like the still of a summer night, becoming denser, richer and more intense as it passes. 

Awards: Wine Advocate: 95-98 | Vinous: 94-96 

2012

Blend: 95% Syrah, 3% Viognier and 2% Roussanne

Fermentation: Fermented 50% whole cluster. 

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 20 months in 225L barriques, 85% used and 15% new French oak

Alc: 14.1%

Cases Produced: 1040

Tasting Notes
From a dark alley, you’re briskly ushered through an unmarked door.  Once inside you’re drawn to the inviting smells of violets, blackberries, and lemon peel.  But this is not all fruit and flowers, there’s sweat, smoke and white pepper lurking in the corners.  On stage, Louis Prima is wailing.  There are dancers and cocktails and bright colors.  You’ve never experienced anything like it, and your only hope is that you can find it again. 

2011

Blend: 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier

Fermentation: Fermented 35% whole cluster.

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged for 15 months in 228L barriques: 20% new French and Hungarian, 80% neutral. Bottled unfiltered. 

Alc: 14.2% 

Cases Produced: 650

Tasting Notes
Brimming with confidence, the 2011 Dirt Worshipper is both muscular and intelligent.  It balances black cherries and white pepper, warm spices and cool menthol, cured meats, and fresh violets.  It can roll its own tobacco and recite Shakespeare. Yet despite its worldliness, it is intensely focused, vibrant and full of life.

Awards: Wine Advocate: 92+ | Vinous: 93

2010

Blend: 93% Syrah, 7% Viognier

Fermentation: Fermented 30% whole cluster.

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged 16 months in 228L Barriques, 60% Neutral, 30% Once Used French and Hungarian, 10% New French. Bottled unfiltered. 

Alc: 14.3% 

Cases Produced: 700

Tasting Notes
Densely packed with loads of personality, the Dirt Worshipper has a beautiful bouquet of blackberry, violet, white pepper, and smoked meat.  The thick mid-palate balances between fruit and savory as strawberry and candy-striped fig play against bacon and black olive. This is approachable now but will reward those with patience.

Awards: Rhone Report: 95

2009

Blend: 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier

Vineyard: 65% Bassetti Vineyard, 35% Denner Vineyard

Fermentation: Fermented 30% whole cluster.

Cooperage & Elevage: Aged 18 months in 65% new French, 10% new Hungarian and 25% neutral barriques.

Alc: 14.5% 

Cases Produced: 533

Tasting Notes
Initially dark and brooding this blend offers explosive charred meat, tobacco, and leather aromas. Blackberries, vanilla, and sassafras brighten the palate, while the finish expresses a sophisticated richness that fully showcases this wine’s complexity.

2008

Blend: 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier

Alc: 14.2% 

Tasting Notes
This hedonistic beauty has upfront aromas of sarsaparilla, vanilla bean, and black raspberries. Undertones of eucalyptus and white pepper come through on second emanation. Coffee crusted steak, huckleberry compote and dried Provencial herbs pioneer a precise finish with chalky tannins and great length.

Awards: Wine Spectator: 97 — Read the article here!

2007

Blend: 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier

Alc: 15.0% 

Tasting Notes
The Dirt Worshipper offers vibrant boysenberry and pomegranate aromas with hints of sandalwood and white pepper. The core of intense black fruit on the palate is framed by earthy, spicy flavors and a clean, vibrant mouthfeel that persists on the lingering finish.