Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2024 vintage. A fave, cheap chicken domestic white. Equal Riesling and Grüner parts blend. Riper than the last few vintages but still absolutely delicious. $12.50 resto cost so retail should run you less than $25 a bottle. Screwcap picnic/party starter, warm weather joose. 5.30.26. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

NV. This is not a “contractor” wine. Delivers as expected and for the negotiated price without delays, excuses, cost overruns, shoddy workmanship or disappointment. 01.22.25. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2020 vintage. Wowzers. Unexpected structure and fruit to vault this into the Must Buy category. Medium body. Clocking in at $22.50...errr...$22.60 (don't forget that new $0.10 per bottle CRV cost here in California) a bottle. Picked up a case. Let's see where it goes-or doesn't. 7.17.24. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2021 vintage. Big, brash and bold. Medium-heavy bod. Spice, muscle, fruit all there. Kitchen sink approach as wine lacked definition and delineation but def worthy at a $24 resto cost. 4.17.24. — 2 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

More aged wine. Seems to be tonight’s theme. This France meets Italy in the blend. Label says it was $12. Not sure where I got it though. Dark maroon with a rusty edge. Aromas are the dust, smoke and old book smells of older Cab/Merlot. Maybe a slight whiff of ball-point pen ink. Flavors are also aged/oxidized. But just slightly. Still has fresh berry-cherry vibes. Bittersweet with a hint of charred meats or tar. This is a fun blend that aged well and has an elegance making it well worth the $12 it cost me. — 3 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

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2023 vintage. Resto cost $14.50 or so per bottle. Excellent value for a step above entry-level red Bordeaux. Structure, fruit and purpose. 3.27.26. — 3 months ago

Tom Jenkins

9.0

By the glass?? Dare I ask how much it cost, so fantastic. — a year ago

Julia M

9.7

Great cost/benefit — 2 years ago

RJ Stefanski

9.4

Stunning. Delicious. One of my fav wines of the last 1.5 years. Godello aged under flor that competes with white Burgundy/ Sonoma Coast chards that cost double. Sourced from two tiny plots of 80-100 yr old vines. 80% old foudre, 20% amphora under flor, no malo, no stirring. Sunny bouquet, honeycomb, Asian pear, gun flint, crushed stone, brisk, seamless, cool and classy. $55. — 2 years ago

Will Bean

9.3

Didn’t even know Portugal had wine this amazing. Stellar rival to any great burgundy, at a fraction of the cost. — 3 years ago

with Jack

Jgrilllo

9.0

This is one of our favorite roses it’s very cost-effective it’s fruity slightly effervescent with notes of strawberry citrus and melon fairy clean finish no bitterness and just a nice cheese or relax with a cold glass of wine in the afternoon — 4 years ago

Laura Vaughn Arellano

9.4

One of my go-to Malbec wines. This brand never disappoints.  Can’t see through the glass, just like I like it. You can taste the bold smokiness of the grapes and berries. A very smooth sip. I am surprised the cost for this particular wine is as low as it is. — 6 years ago

Tim L

9.1

Drank months ago...recall it was nice, top quality smooth and deeper berry medium-full bodied Pinot...but that's all - cost has been a turn-off...rating just now as it couldn't be as good as the 2015 Gap's Crown. — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2021 vintage. Last tasted 1.7.26 (9.2) and 10.8.25 (9.2). Picked up another case for the resto to have (another) cheap chicken BDX to drive. The St. Julien class shines through in the nose, body and finish. Classy. Still $27.10 a bottle resto cost for now but methinks the current supply predates the tariffs gigglefest. 2.6.26. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I have posted a number of older vintage Jones Family Cabernets. Many 20 yrs and older. Three to four 97’s…none better than this one. I give few wines a score above 96. This is different. It is so close to perfect. Some might give it a 100. I struggle to give a wine a perfect 100. I have only done it 4 times in an estimated 25k wines tasted or bottles I’ve enjoyed. One was a port made before 1886 and tasted in Oporto at Taylor Fladgate’s tasting room in 2015, it was their Scion. Only sold there and at the time 5k at bottle. You end up there purchase the Scion taste regardless of the current cost. They put on a tasting show for you. I am half tempted here to give out a 100 but will refrain.

I am not sure what to add to that but will attempt to do so.

The nose is a beautiful, perfectly evolved Napa Cabernet. Nothing overpowers any of its singular components. I think the word I am looking for is harmony. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best, mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a flutter note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue & framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets.

The palate wire to wire is even & stupidly, gloriously, grand. It mirrors the nose very closely. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box w/ some light palate heat, best I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, kirsch not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, caramel, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco w/ a hint is ash, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, dry, crushed rock powder, dry top soil, crushed limestone powder, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a fluttering note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets, perfect, rainfall acidity, extremely well balanced, even & subtle tension-structure that stands up on the long set, refined elegance with a finish that goes on and on and eventually lands on spice & beautiful, refined earthiness.

What a bottle! 98 that leans into 99. I paid somewhere between $80-$90 on the secondary market for this bottle. — 7 months ago

Andrew Liguori

8.9

Cost prohibitive good California Pinot. Cherry blossom aroma, balanced dark fruit, hint of sweet tobacco and acidity. — 3 years ago

Alan Johnston

9.1

3.2 Our Christmas wine at Juan Bautista, Buenos Aires. I could get used to Malbec. Cost around $22. — 4 years ago

Dimes

8.9

Can’t believe this cost me $5 — 6 years ago

Andrew

8.9

Excellent! Better than some Champagnes that cost double. — 7 years ago