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. — 2 months ago

Mike Perry

9.5

Won't see this again. Miss ya Standish! — 7 years ago

Alexander Tso

9.4

Juicyyyyyy jammyyyyyyy — 8 months ago

Asef Quader

9.5

Great wine. Nose of black berry syrup and vanilla. Loads of black fruit on the palate with cloves, vanilla and some earth. Full body with a long finish. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Dig that crazy iron soil with quartz. Big, bold Shiraz with soft minerals and iron pan that doesn't seem all that earthy. So good. — 4 years ago

CK Vong

9.0

2010. A less standish Standish? Lovely red fruit. Elegance. Drink. — 6 years ago

Eric Hoepelman

9.4

By "The Standish Wine Company". — a year ago

Aaron Tan

9.2

I'm assuming this is the Lamella. For me, this stood out among Dan's three wines. Exotic, with a good dose of spice. GW sums this up pretty well:

Hand-picked from the Stonegarden Vineyard (planted 1858) in the far south eastern hills of the Eden Valley. I’m not sure Eden Valley Shiraz gets much better than this. Black fruits, black pepper and exotic spice, sage and aromatic herbs, BBQ snags, floral top notes. Full bodied, incredible density and depth to the fruit, black fruits with a subtle mintiness, all that spice and mouth-perfume, then sheets of silky ultra-high pixel tannin, cool acidity, and superb length, with a cascade of nourishing tannin to farewell. Superb. — 4 years ago

Natacha durandet

9.3

Amazing wine for its age! What a great surprise! 2006 vintage tasted 10 years later! — 5 years ago

Kenny Baldridge

10

Yes, it finally got its groove back. Too bad it's my last of 6 bottles. — 7 years ago