David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This small Calistoga producer falls largely under the radar. I am thankful. The 12 vintage brings such fruit. However, this 12 Sisters rides the fence of 12 & 13. Shows dark currents, concreted mouthfeel in addition to its ripe, rich opulence.

The nose ascends with rich dark, purple, blue fruits, dark spice, violets framed in lavender for days.

The palate is ripe, ruby, lush, concentrated fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, boysenberries, very dark cherries, creamy raspberries, in & out strawberries & blueberries. Big, heated, dark spice-box, round, meaty, sweet tannins cigar ash, led pencil, tarriness, anise, moist, fresh tobacco, black licorice & cola, dark, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, rich soil w/ dry leaves, dry, crush rocks/limestone, dry herbs-bay leaves, sage, parsley, notes of eucalyptus bark shavings, tree bark w/ hints of sap, touch of black sandalwood to barrel shavings, pepper, moist, volcanic clay, fresh & withering; dark, purple, red, blue floral bouquet framed in violets & lavender, excellent acidity with a lush, rich, big, round & meaty structure, still shows great tension, well balanced with endless polish & finish. 10 years of life ahead…properly stored. Wine post 4,600.

Such a deal at the Benchmark Bin Sale. @Paul T- Huntington Beach if you find any of this, just tell me about em, don’t buy em. 😂🤥 — 7 months ago

Richard Portes

9.6

18. Terrific fruit, balance, good length. Rich. Off-dry. A big wine. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

So, many of you have not had the pleasure of having Dan’s wines. It is largely due to the fact he doesn’t have a US importer. He sells all his mid production level wines through his mailing list. That makes importing from his mailing list as restrictive as the import fees. They are equal to the price of the wines you order. Not something you’ll do. I didn’t. You need to find his wines on the secondary market to be cost effective.

We had the privilege of visiting his Cellar Door in the Spring of 2017. What a fantastic visit and walk of his Estate with him. The age of his Estate vines are 100 plus years old and their yield is less than a ton per acre which, does not make for a lot of wine but, instead a very concentrated wine.

Dan traveled to and worked in many of the key wine regions before settling in as Torbreck’s Winemaker and then marching to his own drum doing his own thing as “The Standish”, his way. No compromises.

The first thing you need to know about Dan’s wines is you can drink them early but, that would be a huge mistake. This 03 is sensational now but, is worthy of more cellaring. It has 10-20 years of life ahead of it...proper storage of course.

This is a second night wine for us and it is still big.

The nose reveals smokey; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, blueberries, mulberries/boysenberries, baked/poached strawberries & some raspberries, sweet tarriness, dark berry cola, black pepper, steeped tea, eucalyptus, mint, tree bark with sap, herbaceous, dry crushed rocks, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, moist, forest floor with dry leaves with withering; dark, red, purple flowers framed in violets & strong lavender.

The body is full, round, lush & ruby. The tannins are still big, round, tarry & meaty. The structure, tension, length & balance are just there & yet still not there. It is still a monster on day two. Smokey; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, blueberries, mulberries/boysenberries, baked/poached strawberries & some raspberries, sweet tarriness, grilled meats, dark berry cola, black pepper, steeped tea, eucalyptus, mint, tree bark with sap, herbaceous-sage & rosemary, used charcoal, graphite, dark spice with palate heat, burned ambers, incense, rubber toy, dry crushed rocks, moist clay & top soil, dry stone, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, moist, forest floor with dry leaves with withering; dark, red, purple flowers framed in violets & strong lavender. The acidity is round and a rushing river. The extremely long finish is, big, round, elegant, floral, well balanced, runs juicy to dry with persistence for days falling onto earthiness & dark spice on the long set.

Photos of, a plaque that hangs above my kitchen sink that speaks to me always, Dan Standish, his Cellar Door and surrounding buildings. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose on all these 2020’s reveal it’s warm/hot vintage. The fruits are quite ripe, some over ripe vs many other vintages. #ClimateChange

The nose shows ripe, even slightly stewy & candied fruits of; blackberries, dark plums, dark cherries, plum framed in raspberries. Dark tarry notes, dark chocolate, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, light bay leaf, dark berry cola/licorice, powdered rocks, limestone marl minerals, spice, tarragon, hints of mint with ruby, withering dark red, purple florals surrounded by violets.

The palate is dark lush currants. Fruits of; ripe, even slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, dark plums, dark cherries, plum framed in raspberries. Dark tarry notes, dark chocolate, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, light bay leaf, dark berry cola/licorice, powdered rocks, limestone marl minerals, dry top soil/sand, dark spice, tarragon, tree bark, eucalyptus, hints of mint with ruby, withering candied, dark red, purple florals surrounded by violets. The acidity big and round. The long well polish finish is well balanced/structured that is fruity running to dry austere and lasts a minutes.

Lots of time needed here.

@Delectable I can post but can’t leave comments back due to error code 500 — a year ago

Lynn Gowdy

9.0

Medium plus intensity black berry and cherry that meet violet and herby pine. Palate is fine, pure, with a perfect balance of acid and silky tannins. More red fruit, tree bark and iodine hints, so fresh yet elegant ending with a big smile. — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

After having a 97 I wanted to check out a promising young vintage. Stunning nose or cigar, ash, beautiful herbals, tree bark, grassy field, black currant, smells like 1940’s St. Estephe. Very foresty. Love it. Palate is fresh and energetic and so young. Really young. Needs 10+ years. At least. Big tannins. Good red and black cassis fruit but so young and unformed. It’s all there. — 4 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Out of this world very ripe Cabernet Franc nose. Stunning depth. Cassis, red berries and so pure and almost glossy fruit. Lovely earthy lift. Tweed jacket, moss. Tree bark but that’s the background to the incredible ripe fruit. Huge florals as well. Big time violets. Wow. 9.7 nose. Sick! Palate is deep, structured and sappy with incredible depth and cut. So so pure and lovely hit of opulence in the mid palate. Drop dead purity and stunning length. Superb tiny berry fruit intensity and killer acids and freshness. Complexity starting already. So long. A stunning wine impeccably made. — 2 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.1

My buddy Ian brand coming correct. Sf chronicle wine maker of the year a few years back. Making a good name for our place Monterey. Listen to the bedrock podcast with Ian! It’s a good listen and the wine is super thoughtful. I can say im super thankful he and heather are keeping this going! Thank you heather brand for pouring and being the great host! Always gracious and kind. Ian and heather are bringing Monterey back up where it should be with the likes of Mark Chesebro (arroyo seco), tira nanza, russel Joyce and a few others. Big ups @Lee Lightfoot for letting me join you and Julie today. No doubt Carmel valley is on the rise again. Worth a visit! Contact me for appointments before summer — 3 years ago

ESF

9.2

@Lyle Fass thank you for this wine! Big, authentic intoxicating Medoc nose immediately upon opening w/Bing cherry, cassis, boysenberry and raspberry beautifully integrated with savory, bay leaf, mossy tree bark, mushroom, sweet damp Earth and vein of minerality. Seductive inky & opaque, mid to heavyweight, fluid luxurious mid palate with solid tannic structure clenching tightly on finish. Strutted w/roasted leg of lamb. Long life ahead - bump for QPR — 3 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

8.9

@Tree Kilpatrick got it right. A bit on the big side but good. — 4 years ago