Steve Messinger

9.2

Black berry and cola aromas. Black fruit favors nice gripe w long rich flavors. Could use another 2-3 yrs — 6 months ago

Karla Petroskey

10

Cleveland with Dan and Michael. Jan 2o24. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Happy Valentines Day!

If you have not looked for this wine on WineSearcher.com or other, you should. Dan Standish has no American Importer. However, you can mail order off his list. Good luck with the Australian/United States import costs. Very prohibited.

Most quality Barossa wines take 15 years in bottle to show their ultimate beauty. Dan’s wines are no different. His Estate vines are 100 years old and produce 500 pounds of fruit per acre...very concentrated. Contrast that to extremely expensive & high quality Napa fruit, those Napa producers are at 2,000-2,500 pounds per acre.

We visited Standish in April 2017. We found Dan to be extremely talented & definitely marches to his own drum. He is salt of the earth and has traveled & worked in many of the world wine regions honing his craft and landing as Torbreck’s Winemaker in Barossa before starting, “The Standish Wine Company.”

As good as the 04 is tonight, it has 15 years of good life ahead...properly stored of course.

The nose is very intoxicating. It is a nice blend of purple, black & blue fruits. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, medium dark spice, black pepper, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender.

The body is full, rich, ripe, lush and creamy on the palate after a two-hour plus decant. The structure, tension, length and balance are a little short of its peak and will hold there for 5-8 years. It’s a glorious glide on the palate. The fruits are ripe & lightly baked. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, cherry kirsch, red & black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, the dark spices are heavier on the palate & bring just the right amount of heat, sweet, dark tarriness, black pepper, used, dark expresso roast grounds, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone, moist clay, with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender. The acidity is round, flush & perfect. The long finish is a unique even balance of; lush fruits, spice, herbs and earth that persists on the palate for minutes.

Photo on the left of Sofia’s 2 dozen long stems. Love you so much!

@Oswald — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

My notes against the first white were that this was more lifted and slightly lighter in body. In fact, I called this 2012 Aubert (one of their Sonoma Coast Vineyards) as I picked up lemon cream on the nose and palate. Sea salt, marzipan, honeycomb and lemon pound cake dominate the senses. Touch of heat on the finish. This is drinking marvelously right now. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

Bryan Kesting

9.4

Enjoyed my time with Shay, Dan, Keith and Brad at Classic Wine Storage.
Thanks for the Aubert, Dan. @Dan Fitzgerald — 7 years ago

with Shay

Shay A

9.5

I don’t think I have even gotten a note of banana bread pudding on the nose of a wine before. Wow! Mint and honeycomb. A slight waxy character note too. Viscous, large and in charge. Commands attention from everything else on the table. Candied vanilla marshmallow? So unique and incredibly delicious. Awesome bottle @Dan Fitzgerald . — 8 years ago

with Dan

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Massican – Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Massican’s take on Sauvignon Blanc is never about following trends, but about pushing boundaries. This 2016 proves that Napa whites—when crafted thoughtfully—can age with grace and finesse. At 9 years old, it’s still alive, structured, and fascinating, a clear statement that Sauvignon Blanc deserves a serious seat at the Napa table.

Aromas & Flavors
Zesty lime peel, grapefruit, and passionfruit weave together with subtle elderflower and a mineral core. Secondary notes of dried herbs, beeswax, and a hint of lanolin show its age but also add depth and intrigue.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, bright, and polished, with a spine of acidity that still carries energy. The texture is sleek yet layered, leading to a clean, lingering finish with citrus oil and gentle salinity.

Winemaking Notes
Fermented and aged with minimal intervention, Dan Petroski focused on preserving varietal purity while allowing the wine to develop gracefully over time. No oak heaviness—just pure Sauvignon character with a refined edge.

Food Pairing
Perfect with goat cheese crostini, seared scallops, spring vegetables, or even sushi. Its brightness and structure make it versatile across fresh, savory dishes.

Verdict
A rare aged Napa Sauvignon Blanc that stuns with its precision and longevity. Proof that Napa whites can stand tall in the cellar and deliver beyond their expected drinking window.

Personal Highlight
One of the most fascinating Sauvignon Blancs I’ve enjoyed from Napa—still vibrant after nearly a decade, and a reminder that Massican is rewriting the book on California whites. Cheers!
— 9 months ago

Shay A

9.5

A few fun bottles from last Friday.

I’ve had quite a few vintages of this wine and they all remain very consistent, so I won’t create a new tasting note aside from calling out the power and richness this highlighted next to a few other different Aubert’s on the table. Lauren is consistently my favorite offering from Aubert because of the profile it displays...so much concentrated fruit alongside honeyed sea salt, lemon cream and marzipan. This 2014 is still powering through and may even get better over the next couple years. Thanks @Dan Fitzgerald . — 6 years ago

with Dan and Mark

Shay A

9.4

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

The first of four Colgin’s served blind. Youthful notes abound here. More herbal on the nose when compared to the more fruit driven palate. Mostly a mix of black cherries, pomegranate, rhubarb tart and black pepper spice at the finish. I went back and forth with my guesses from Grenache, to pinot, to Syrah and couldn’t land on one. Delicious right now. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

Steve Anderson

9.4

Late add from a few weeks ago- courtesy of @Dan Blackwell. One of the best and most consistent Viognier out there IMHO. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

A stellar pull from @Dan Fitzgerald ! It has so much going on and it’s all harmonious. Dark chocolate drizzled raspberries and black cherries, smoked brisket and bacon fat and just a touch of funk. It was dense all the way through but had plenty of acidity to keep it from being flabby. Savory and mineral driven towards the finish. This has plenty of life but is in a wonderful drinking window. — 7 years ago

with Dan

Shay A

9.5

Jack & Arden put together a wonderful evening of delicious food and great wines, and a few of us attendees contributed some bottles to enjoy as well. Great night!

Dan was in attendance, which means so is a Marcassin! Incredible, especially after the older vintage wines enjoyed before it. The sheer power and acidity here has this still on its way to peak. Blackberry pie, rhubarb tart, & sandalwood on the nose. Lush and flavor packed without being extracted on the palate. Always a treat @Dan Fitzgerald — 8 years ago

with Arden, Jack and 3 others

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This 2010 is in tip-top form.

Beautiful, ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, plum/black plum for days, cherries, strawberries, raspberries & some pomegranate highlights. Cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg & soft vanillin, black teas, mid berry cola, both licorices, fresh tobacco, used leather, steeped black tea, limestone minerals, some charcoal, pepper, grilled meats, dark spice w/ heat, sandalwood to cedar, dark, withering flowers with violets, grand acidity and a balanced, well tensioned/structured, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on spice.

Even adding the plum reduction sauce, the 2011 Burnello is still the better pairing.

Photos of; Kosta Browne winery, founders-Dan Kosta & Mike Browne and their barrel & tasting room. — a year ago

Diederick Swagemakers

9.0

Beide lastige jaren maar 2007 veel beter dan 2013 — 6 years ago

Jared Stevenson

9.9

At dan and Marsha’s Xmas. — 7 years ago

with Erin

Shay A

9.5

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

The third of four Colgin’s served blind. This and the fourth were my favorites and both were different. This was much brighter and had a sweet core. Very perfumed...potpourri, violets, black cherry, cocoa dusted dates. Starts light at the entry and gains density as it hits the mid palate and finish. Retains fruit from start to finish but it’s not a show stealer, simply accompanies everything else. Total balance. My guess was between Napa Cabernet or Syrah. — 7 years ago

with joe, Dan and 3 others

Shay A

9.3

Wednesday Wine Committee hosted by Dan. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. Tasted blind as usual.

I guessed the producer was Aubert based on the power but also based on the signature sweet lemon cream notes. It didn’t have the Ritchie “nuttiness” I traditionally get, but it evolved more in the glass. More elegant than other Aubert chards and certainly less acidity. Lemon confit, marzipan, caramel apple. — 7 years ago

with Jeff and Dan

Bryan Kesting

9.4

Enjoyed my time with Shay, Dan, Keith and Brad at Classic Wine Storage. This was really drinking great. Very long finish. Thanks for sharing, Keith. @Keith Fisher — 7 years ago

with Shay and Dan

Joe Roth

9.4

Too bad Dan Kosta and Dave Browne doesn’t make these wines anymore. I don’t think the new winemaker gets it. This wine is beautiful and still has time in the bottle. — 7 years ago

with Jeff and Michael

Shay A

9.3

Weekly Wednesday Wine Committee lunch...always such a treat to attend. This week, Dan hosted. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All blind as usual.

These Carneros chards from Aubert always throw me for a loop. I pegged this as a west coast Chardonnay, but thought it was a Kistler. Very sharp mineral notes and acid...very different than Aubert’s other chards. I’ve not had the Hudson which is similar. This started off sweeter than expected and really transformed in the glass to show more floral/honeyed cashews that led me to west coast Chardonnay. — 8 years ago

with Dan and Weston