Professional Ratings

• 96 James Suckling
  This flagship wine is designed to show the best qualities of the Denner estate. It evokes a Chateauneuf vibe, blended from 33% grenache, 32% mourvedre, 22% syrah, 5% cinsault, 4% counoise, 2% tannat and 2% carignan. Nicely layered red and black fruit with meaty, peppery accents. Full-bodied and moderately tannic, showcasing the vineyard rather than any new oak influence. Drink or hold.
• 96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The 2021 Ditch Digger is a blend of 33% Grenache, 32% Mourvèdre, 22% Syrah, 5% Cinsaut, 4% Counoise, 2% Tannat and 2% Carignan. It has kaleidoscopic aromas of wild berries, dried mint, mushrooms, forest floor and hints of floral perfume. The medium-bodied palate is notable for the concentration, definition and layering of its spicy fruit. It has a structure of chalky tannins, fireworks of fresh acidity and a long, dynamic finish.
• 95 Jeb Dunnuck
  The 2021 Ditch Digger is based on one-third each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, with the balance Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise, and other red varieties, and it was fermented with 35% stems and aged in used barrels, with a small portion in concrete. Rockingly good darker raspberries, mulberries, peppery herbs, and gamey, floral notes all emerge from this brilliant effort, a pure, medium to full-bodied, focused red that has ripe, nicely integrated tannins, a silky, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's a killer bottle of wine to drink over the coming decade.
• 94 Decanter
  It resembles the Ditch Digger Concrete but with some oak ageing in neutral puncheons and barrels. 33% Grenache, 32% Mourvedre, 22% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 4% Counoise, 3% Tannat, and 2% Carignan. The bright fruit aromatics and flavours noticeable in the Concrete-aged Ditch Digger are present, and focused with blackberry and black cherry, expressive cedarwood and brown spices, and cocoa nibs nuances. A wonderfully structured red blend with brambly red berry fruit, black cherry and pie crust spices with stony mineral underpinnings, pops of liquorice, wild herbs, and building tannins framed by cedar and toffee. It's worth seeking both of these to sample them side by side.
• 94 Vinous
  The 2021 Ditch Digger is dark and youthfully inward, mixing nuances of sage and crushed blackberries with earth tones and spice. This is remarkably fresh and energetic, with depths of mineral-laced black fruit offset by hints of sour citrus. The 2021 marries power with grace, tapering off with staining length and gentle tannins. A pleasantly bitter tinge lingers under a cascade of violet inner florals.
• 93 Wine Enthusiast
  Juicy aromas of baked blackberry, strawberry, clove and nutmeg show on the nose of this eight-grape, GSM-based blend. There's a sizzle of acidity to kick off the sip before diving into deeper tones of coffee bean, herb and plum fruits.
  Cellar Selection
• 93 Wine Spectator
  Tightly focused and energetic, with fresh cherry and raspberry flavors that offer mineral and spice hints as this speeds toward refined tannins. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsaut, Counoise, Tannat and Carignan. Drink now through 2032.