Bob McDonald

9.3

The nose shows rich black and blue fruits. A full bodied Barossa Shiraz. A thick and luscious mouthfeel - a product of ancient vines planted in 1893. Blackberries finishing with fine tannins. I had a double magnum of this wine at my 70th birthday 3 years ago. Two Old Bastards in the one room!! Also one of the best Wine Labels going around. — 4 days ago

Shay A

9.3

(Two previous 1983 wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from my CT).

Continuing a run of ‘83s over the last 3-6 months, this not only showed quite well, but it was at its best after almost two hours in the bottle. Whereas the ‘83 Pichon was clean and elegant, this was a bit more dense and powerful. Beautifully expressive aromatics of potpourri, espresso, fig and leather with a flavor profile mostly on the red/black fruit side of the spectrum. The mid-palate showed good weight and continued to bulk-up during the evening. Old cherry-tobacco note at the finish. Honestly, this drank like it was more early ‘90s than it was early ‘80s. Good. — a year ago

Jordyn Simon

9.5

red fruits, notes of berry, oaky smell, light body, slightly acidic, notes of raspberry and cherry, tarte- tannins, would be a lot better in another year or two but big fan. — 2 years ago

Patrick Dolan

9.1

Very nice nose and fantastic complexity and finish. 16 years old even. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, flinty spice, floral and oak for this Tempranillo. On the palate flavors of blackberry, black cherry & plum with hints of espresso, cacao and licorice wrapped in earthy oak. Firm tannins, still grippy, great old world balance with acidity, full body, long finish ends with fruit, oak, spice, and earthy mineral character. Just outstanding, needs more time! — 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

Jay Kline

9.2

This bottle of the 1990 Riserva was opened and Audouzed about two hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The wine pours a pale garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red fruits, old cherry Blow Pop, truffle, dried red flowers, some leather and dusty earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. This bottle was grumpy at the beginning but is needed a pile of air. Drink now through 2030. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 3 months ago

Brian Hearty

9.1

2020. Saw that the 2023 Rosé was in the latest Wine Club allocation, so I checked what vintages were still in the cellar and had two of the 2020’s, a 2021, and a 2022. Enjoying this 2020 to even things out. Perfect on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon. — 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

Adriana Fabbro

8.9

@Delectable Wine oddly enough this is a Blanc de Cinsault, one of the silver linings of 2020.

When the fires hit early in harvest 2020, Will and Karen hedged their bets by pressing some of the 100+ year old vine Cinsault from the legendary Bechtold Vineyard immediately, and the result is a joy: pear, pomello, white grapefruit, some pith and white pepper on the finish. Fragrant and light.

In good news, the regular Cinsault from the vintage also turned out beautifully and isn’t showing a trace of smoke taint—or at least when I tried it a few months back. — 4 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.7

Amazing! Absolutely stunning! If you have not tried one of these aged Riojas, I highly recommend. 15yrs old and drinks like a newly released wine. Zero rush and will easily last another decade or two. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

Dark purple in color with a short reddish/ brick rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, cooked plums, dried fruits, raisins, cedar, leather, light vanilla, tobacco, spice box, espresso, chocolates, spices, mocha, coke, graphite and peppercorn.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long lasting legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate, with blackberries, plums, sweet cherries, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, cola, peppercorn and earth.

Long finish with round tannins and a touch of orange peel.

This 7 year old Australian Shiraz is drinking so nicely now. The alcohol is well integrated with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Rich and fruit forward. Chewy and enjoyable even by itself.

Wine Spectator 90 points.

Good right out of the bottle and shows more complexity after an hour of airtime.

A delicious wine with a teeth staining color. Loved smelling on it. Peaking now.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$30. — 6 years ago

Dave Olson

9.0

Very nice . Mostly cab sav, but not earthy at all — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent both days but this needed at least 3 to 4 hours to really start to strut. Day 2 this kept pulling like a freight train with no stop in sight. The 2019 Classico pours a garnet color with a slightly orange tinge and a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe Morello cherry, roses, tar, new leather, dried sage, old wood and dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. I will say again, this really benefits from serious patience and air, but this is a beautiful Classico that has a very long life ahead. Drink now through 2059+. — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It’s a night of first year consecutive decades, 90 & 80. Enjoyed in reverse order

From the same technical team as Leoville Las Cases.

Another great Clyde Beffa direct purchase from the Chateau or Negociant.

Still ripe older Bordeaux fruits with smoothed out lead pencil. Blackberries, black raspberries that lean into pudding, black plum, darkest, cooked cherries, raspberries edges, baked rhubarb and hues of poached strawberries. There is nothing that bites back. Dark chocolate, smooth mocha, caramel, soften baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, old tobacco w/ ash, used leather, dry top soil, limestone powder, black licorice to anise, dry river stone, fresh & withering dark, red flowers, amazing, rainfall acidity and a well; balance, structured, knitted and smartly polished finish that lasts 90 seconds.

Steak slow cooked in the oven at graduating low heats and then seared at 1300 degrees, 30, 30, 30 & 30. .

“The Truth is Inside” is an expression about the very bottom of a bottle of wine. Tannin soaked & it never lies. Typically the best part of the bottle. 93 that lands 94 in truth. I always leave two-three inches of wine in bottle just because it is always slightly better than the rest of the bottle. It is more concentrated. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

First, if you haven’t had this producers wines at 15-20 years of age, you’re missing some spectacular juice. I bought this at auction for $38-$40 a bottle and because I was unaware of its storage, I was prepared to short decant it. Well…until I pulled the cork, smelled it and saw the color. This nearly 20 year old bottling is still big but with nice integration & evolution. I would say it has another 5-8 years of good life in it.

The palate fruit is ruby, ripe and lush; blackberries, boysenberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum. Mid berry cola, dark chocolate to pudding, mocha powder, wet clay, light, black pepper, Asian spice, dry-ish tobacco, black licorice, some dry herbs-sage dominate, limestone, dry top soil, dry brush, used leather, sandlewood, fresh to slightly withering, dark, purple, red florals set/framed in violets and lavender. The acidity is near perfect. The well balanced, structured, knitted finish is excellent and lingers minutes. Steal for the price. Another excellent gourmet burger wine. Beef Patties from El Salchichero. — 3 years ago

David Kline

9.5

Twice this venomous viper has evaded review. She jumps out and thrashes, coils round and inculcates. A devil of a bite too! Seductive, deceptive nose of caramel creme, rosemary, bay leaf and cinnamon roll. Palatal acupuncture ensues, as you slowly succumb to the hot cinnamon oil and scotch bonnet burn of the first phase. Phase two brings cinnamon and grilled peach with brown sugar cobbles and scotch bonnet honey. And finally the nose and close converge in satin vanilla, cinnamon, cracked black pepper and ginger. .
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#willett #willettrye #willettfamily #willettfamilysmallbatch #willettdistillery #smallbatch #smallbatchwhiskey #Kentuckywhiskey #Kyrye #ryewhiskey #rye #rarerelease #estatebottled — 5 years ago

with Courtney

Mike Saviage

9.7

From a great old looking bottle with a mid shoulder fill. Cork is fully saturated and the crud under the capsule had formed a strong seal. Slow-ox’d for a few hours, then decanted for an hour or two before taken to L’Escargot in Carmel. Amber tawny rims with a reddish tawny core. Crazy nose right from the start. Notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco leaf, plums, black pepper, ash and crusty wood, pencil shavings, some just unwrapped cigar and some menthol. Silky in the mouth with firm structure and soft but present acidity. Long and memorable finish. Outstanding performance over several hours. — 6 years ago

Justin Fetridge

9.2

This is hands down the best rose I have ever tasted. It is rich and light and jumps out of the glass into heaven . So amazing . Wish I had bought a case or two . Bravo — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.7

The 1989 Palmer has vied with the 1983 as the highlight of the decade, so it is fascinating to revisit it at 30 years old. It has a wonderful bouquet of degraded red berry fruit, singed leather and hints of game and mint, beautifully defined and still so fresh, yet undeniably old-school in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and still brimming with vigor, delivering a fine bead of acidity and a touch of cracked black pepper. A very detailed, engaging finish urges you back for another sip. A brilliant Palmer, and judging from this showing, it has another two decades of pleasure to give. Tasted from an ex-cellar bottle at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2019) — 7 years ago