Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2022 vintage. @ Mister A’s Restaurant, San Diego-Les Caves de St. Charles CDP dinner. 100% Roussanne-driven. Initial mineral indication of interest, broad mid-palate transition, yang-styled, white grape “fat” on the judiciously-honeyed finish. Wowzers. Grab you some if you can find it. 95 cases produced. Good luck with that. 11.16.23. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

We opened this bottle late on Friday night and poured off a small glass to see what we were working with. As I suspected, far too young with loads of energy, rolls of baby fat and frankly, not very well behaved. So we pressed the cork back in the bottle and figured we would try our luck the next day when my parents stopped by for a socially distant glass of wine to “celebrate” Easter together. I’m so glad we waited. Twelve or so hours of slow-ox made a huge difference. While it was still very primary, it was much more enjoyable showing a strong core of dark berries, tobacco, leather, coffee and baking spices. But again, where Seavey really excels is texture and sense of place. To be expected for mountain fruit at this age, the tannins are firm but reasonable and there is such lovely acid that screams Howell Mountain. I have no doubt this will have a very bright future! In my mind, Caravina is probably the greatest “second” wine in Napa. This is Seavey’s 19th and latest vintage of Caravina. After an extended drought, 2017 began with torrential rain that flooded the valley. The fruit comes entirely from steep hillside blocks on the estate and is otherwise made in the same fashion as the Grand Vin. If you’re going to drink one now, I highly recommend a lengthy decant as these are easily 10 years away from their best. — 4 years ago

James Webb

9.5

Casually browsing the champs list, not expecting anything then BOOM 07’ GC SC for $120 - YES SOLD. What a bottle. Savory tropical fruit bursting out, papaya and mango, then rice pudding, then straight up salted Brittany Caramel - what a spectacular nose, after 130ish bottles of Champagne, it’s like nothing I’ve had, honestly. Balanced acidity keeps the caramel and salt notes alive and the finish is graceful and long. Can’t wait to return to this lovely producer. I have to believe that I got a great bottle, like anything, I would expect a degree of bottle variation. Luck of the draw! — 5 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.3

I’m still loving it — 9 months ago

Olga Stelmashenko

9.0

Lovely red after sushi, random dinner and games night with Ian. 31 July 2021. Wine is smooth and nice. A little sweet but still wnjoyable — 3 years ago

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 — 4 years ago

Ericsson

9.3

Rich and fabulous Super Tuscan. No beginners luck here, if you order this, you know exactly what you’ve done. Cheers. — 2 years ago

Nick Schapowal

9.7

Silky smooth and love the design and references in the name! Superb vino — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.5

This was my contribution. As I have really gotten in to Aussie wines the last year or two, I’ve always wanted to try this wine (of any vintage), and couldn’t believe my luck when a local acquaintance who is wanting to downsize his cellar offered me two bottles at an amazing price. Upon opening, I was hit with smoked brisket, touch of bacon fat, and ripe blackberries. Not quite gamey or funky, but definitely savory in style. As it opened, the meat/savory notes came and went ever so often, allowing purity of the blackberries, boysenberries, and black cherries to shine. Charcoal smoke with baked fig arrive at the finish. A complex, delicious wine, and right up my alley for the style of wine I enjoy. @David T , you were correct in thinking I’d love this! — 5 years ago

with joe, Dan and 1 other

Anh Nguyen

9.5

Picked this baby up Nuit-Saint-George while touring France with the in-laws. Father-in-law currently in the cath lab for an inferior STEMI, so decided to break this one out of the archives. Best of luck, Ralph! — 5 years ago