Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

10 years | My nightcap | Refined Speyside whisky for sherryheads — a month ago

Doug Powers

9.7

From a really fine, structured Napa vintage, this shows dark fruits and mineral notes aromatically, still has loads of Dunn Howell Mountain structure and tannin, long, lingering finish, but the finish suggests that it needs 10-20 more years of aging, simply an incredible, old school (13% ABV) Napa mountain Cabernet with amazing length and freshness, a true WOW wine (if you’re moderately unoffended by the enormous structure still remaining)!!! — a year ago

with Jim

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Deep inky in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose with black plums, black currants, blackberries, cedar, licorice, cassis, light vanilla, spices, tobacco leaf, herbs, light vegetables and chocolates.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruit forward on the palate with plums, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, peppercorn, light earth, dark coffee and light black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot-based blend from Bordeaux. Complex and interesting. Fruit forward and elegant.

This 6 year old Merlot will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. I had this vintage two years ago, and it would be nice to revisit it again in 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour in the decanter.

Easy drinking and well-balanced.
The high alcohol is nicely integrated now, so watch out.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will also pair nicely with barbecue meats.

A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Kosher and not Mevushal.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

Initial impressions - Earthy, Herbal, Soy. Cherry complex and long. Much intestinal fortitude ie. guts. Thankfully not overly menthol/eucalyptus (just a trace) as you often get with all Wendouree Cuvées. Amazing the intensity provided by those old vines going back to the 1890’s. Could easily last another 5 to 10 years but pretty much at its peak right now. This is as good as Australian Shiraz gets - up there with Grange and Hill of Grace and recognised as such by Langtons. With time in the decanter, like all great wines, they develop and change. I was getting raspberry and mineral after a few hours. An exceptional wine and in the top 5 or so wines I have had this year. In good vintages I don’t think Wendouree Shiraz should be approached at under 20 years of age. — 4 years ago

Somm 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. — 6 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.6

N: intense apricot. Complex.
P: intense apricot. Salt. Caramel. Persistent. Amazing. Spice. — 2 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

NV | 10 years | — a year ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It’s time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

A pretty nose of blueberries, black plums, stewed cherries, light cedar, wildflowers, chocolates, earth, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf, and black pepper.

Medium-plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Very dry on the palate with plums, cherries, light oak, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, earth, black tea, tobacco leaf, herbs, and peppercorn.

Medium length on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This six-year-old Merlot from Bordeaux is drinking very nicely now. Tangy and spicy. Interesting and complex. Soft and smooth.

I had this vintage 4 years ago, and it is drinking even better now. Drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Needs an hour in the decanter to open up, but improves significantly after 2 hours.

A very typical Right Bank Bordeaux. Easy to drink and enjoyable by itself or with food.

A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$20. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of red and black fruits with wood, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs and light black pepper.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, plums, cherries, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn and earth.

Long finish with round tannins and cherries.

This 9 year old Barbaresco is drinking beautifully now. Showing nice complexity and balance.

Soft yet rich, and delicious right out of the bottle.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$75. — 2 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.2

Every time i drink Madeira I try to remind myself I need to do so more often. Complex, fresh and vibrant. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from France.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, black plums, black currants, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, leather, spices, dark coffee, milk chocolates and peppercorn. Pretty, once it opens up.

Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and fruity, with blackberries, earth, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, light alcohol, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, leather, pencil lead, herbs and black pepper.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious 5 year old Right Bank Bordeaux. Drinking very nicely now, although still young.

This 2016 vintage is showing very nicely now. Well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Still a little hot at the back of the throat, at this point, but I love the cedar and sweet cherry notes.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly, so give it time. Good by itself once it opens up.

Will age nicely in the next 15 years, and has good potential to become even better.

Tasty, tangy and spicy. A delicious wine from a great vintage.

A good food wine too, that will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with cheeses and green olives.

A blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes are grown on limestone soil.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$55. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

Had this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon over a Zoom call with a friend from Washington.

This 6 year old is drinking very nicely now. Showing black fruits with chocolates, coffee, cola, cedar, spices, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, graphite, light earth and peppercorn.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Good right out of the bottle and much better after 3 hours of airtime.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

Delicious and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$65. — 6 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

N: tea toffee
P: sweet toffee. More sweet. Too much ? Not as bright. Marmalade. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose with a black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, dried fruits, chocolates, cedar, light vanilla, licorice, tobacco, light earth, herbs, light vegetables, indian spices and black tea.

Full-bodied and fruit forward with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, black currants, cooked cherries, plums, oak, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, earth and mediterranean spices.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 12 year old Single Vineyard Bordeaux blend from Chile is drinking beautifully now. Nicely balanced and complex.

I had this vintage 4 years ago, and it is still drinking beautifully. Rich and fruit forward with a nice mouthfeel.

Showing a very complex nose, at this point. Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Wine Spectator 91 points. Wine Enthusiasts 94 points.

Showing good structure and needs a couple of hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too. What a gorgeous sipping wine.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$100 (current vintage). — 6 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

10 years old | rich smell with nuts and currants, well balanced — 2 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Bottled in 2021. Tawny red/brown color. Aromas and flavors of raisins, plums, dates, caramel, orange peel and bitter chocolate. Bright acidity (very noticeable) and very nice balance. Soft texture and mellow. Ripe, supple and rich. Just a touch jammy but still quite the Crowd pleaser! — 2 years ago

Ericsson

8.9

Madeira served to perfection. Taste percent too. — 3 years ago

Carter White

9.6

Powerful and rich, carmelized nuts, old fashioned fruit, marsdchino cherry and orange zest, just a hint of maple syrup on a dryish satisfying finish 🎉 — 4 years ago

Mads Møller

8.9

Christmas port 2020 no. 1/2 — 6 years ago

Loren Gesinsky

9.1

Terrific value, especially given its versatility and pretty potent wow factor. — 6 years ago