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. — 4 years ago

Jeffrey Long

9.8

Steel cut oats, kirsch bomb, chewy black currant, prune, cacao nib, brilliant! And Davy doing his best Costanza on a couch. — 6 years ago

with Dave

Matt Perlman

9.4

So silky, whiff of Brett blows off quickly to reveal pure and bright black cherry fruit. Brilliant — 7 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.0

This was nice, but nothing to write home about though. Lovely sweet cherry and tangy red currants with a hint of spice. Not the acid backbone I expected and after a couple hours it began to lose any acidity threes was to begin with. I’d suggest to not decant. That was a mistake on my part. — 8 years ago

Ryan Maguire

9.5

Beautiful and elegant. Sweet with a fabulous acidity that ensures that it isn't cloying. Brilliant wine, there is a reason so many sweet wines try to emulate d'Yquem. — 8 years ago

Jared O'Connell

9.4

1979...decanted ~1hr and doesn't need a longer decant. Still some fruit here but brilliant menthol and smokiness. Light body despite bold red color. Enjoyable but after 2.5 hrs had definitely faded. Careful with the cork though too. — 8 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.4

Absolutely brilliant Brunello...one of the best I've ever had! At quaint little, authentic Italian restaurant in midtown Atlanta... — 9 years ago

with Mike, Jeff and 2 others

Matt Fosket

10

Six hours and quadruple decanted and it's brilliant — 11 years ago

Chelli Webster

VP Marketing/Sales Webster Cellars

9.6

'92 screaming eagle- sensational noise jammy black currants and oak-full body ripe intense fruit- brilliant finish — 11 years ago

Ron R

9.3

Current vintage from BM. The 18 is more approachable. Sherbet nose with urgency and tension on the palate. Let this rest a year before approaching.
Wifey’s donut holes. First time making these, and they were top drawer. — 5 years ago

with Benny, James and 1 other

Gregory Spock

9.1

Cherry, cassis, slight herbaceous nose with brilliant light mouthed lingering finish. — 6 years ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.9

The 2016 Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande is simply sensational in this vintage. This brilliant wine is made from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc and it exudes sheer class and elegance. It begins to impress with its beautifully pure aromatics of fresh dark currants, exotic spices, coffee bean, spring florals, graphite, tobacco all taking shape in the glass. On the palate this is medium to full-bodied with remarkable structure, balance and depth. It further impresses displaying striking precision and definition through the long, graceful finish. The 2016 may require a decade of cellaring, but it is such a beautiful wine and clearly has the potential to be an all-time classic from this legendary Château. — 6 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Finessed, terrific complexity, bruised white peach, petrol, wet stone and a bit nutty along with tea leaves on the finish. Such a brilliant expression of Wachau. — 7 years ago

Daniel M

9.1

Iron, Cherry and cherry eau de vie on the nose, very profound and lovely nose. The palate is, as usual, very balanced with a sugary cherry touch at first, a long acid backbone with lots of texture and fruits, and a superb finish with fruits and freshness. Consistently brilliant — 7 years ago

Manny Abascal

9.3

Cherry, dried fruit, oak, silky, smooth tannins, brilliant. — 8 years ago

Kevin Ortzman

9.4

The second year of this great wine. '14 yielded twice the production of '13 and expanded from Stags Leap to Rutherford. This resulted in a RP rating of 94 pt. Congratulations John and Stacey. Dark berries with hints of cocoa, tobacco and cinnamon. Adding to my collection! — 8 years ago

with Frank, ADAM and 2 others

E Soldezzo

9.2

I'm not a huge sweet moscato fan, so this one works perfectly for me. Loved it! Just a touch of effervescence. — 9 years ago

with Joe

Patrick Malcor

9.8

Brilliant. — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

If you love top shelf Cabernet, as I do, this is stunning. Absolutely gorgeous nose, a brilliant palate. Layers of currant, and plummy cedary notes. One of the 1001 wines. Will go to 2020. 18.5. — 10 years ago

jams jerfy

9.5

brilliant. — 12 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

See many previous notes. Just a brilliant Cabernet Shiraz blend and proof of the ultra longevity of Bin 389. The good news is that there are still 7 bottles left in the cellar. Difficult to see them lasting past 2025, meaning I won’t be able to keep my hands off them. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I bought 3 or 4 bottles of the 06 Heitz Napa. I think this is my first bottle. I either have none or one left. Better gets notes tonight! I think I gave others away. What was I thinking? Wine is meant to be shared.

What is better than paying around $33 for a bottle of wine, forgetting about it for twelve years and having it blossom on your palate the way it is tonight? This is a prime example of two things; you don’t need to spend a hundred(s) for a really good bottle of wine and their is absolutely no substitution for appropriate cellaring time.

The nose reveals; steeped, dark fruit wading in fruits of ripe/ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked, black plum & strawberries, hovering raspberries with pomegranate, light liqueur notes. Mild alcohol vapors, black licorice, sweet tarriness, mixed dark fruit cola/licorice, mid, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, saddle-wood, graphite, dark rich souls, forest floor with dry leaves, dry crushed rocks, dry twigs, tree sap, mint/eucalyptus, soft leather, dry tobacco with ruby, brilliant, fresh & withering, candied; dark, red, purple florals with a field of violets.

The body is, rich, ruby and creamy with fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked, black plum & strawberries, hovering raspberries with pomegranate that shows light liqueur notes. Mild alcohol vapors, black licorice, dark, steeped, black , assorted fruit teas, sweet tarriness, mixed dark fruit cola/licorice, mid, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, caramel, mocha, saddle-wood, graphite, savory grilled meats, dark rich souls, forest floor with dry leaves, moist clay & top soil, dry crushed rocks, dry twigs, tree sap, mint/eucalyptus, hints of Provence herbs, soft leather, dry tobacco with ruby, brilliant, fresh & withering, candied; dark, red, purple florals with a field of violets. The acidy is like a cool waterfall on a warm day. The beautiful, elegant, extremely well knitted balance is in the realm of “forget about it”. Sometimes the right wine, when it’s right, moves the entire body. Such as it is tonight.

The tension, structure, length and balance have just hit their high point and will remain there for another five years into a slow decline over the next 10-15 years, stored impeccably.

This might be the best Napa Heitz I’ve bought & stored. It’s stunning and way over delivering its price point. One complex wine!!!

Photos of; Heitz Winery, tasting bar, tasting room garden patio and the Hwy 29 signage for the tasting room with the valley floor vines that surround their tasting room. — 5 years ago

Gregory Spock

9.2

Brilliant plum and raspberry with as smooth a lasting impression as a Teddy Pendegrass tune. No acidic overtones. — 7 years ago

with Joseph C and Janna

Larry Frierson

9.6

Lime and limestone. So savory. Brilliant acidity. Great with petrale sole. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Bruised golden apple, pineapple, golden raisins, ginger ale, brioche, citrus blend, touch of honey, yellow lilies, quince, orange peel, nut skin, toffee, brilliant acidity, chalkiness and rich long finish. — 8 years ago

Justin Brilman

9.2

Each time I have this 13 I like it more and more. Shared with family who hadn't tried it before and they also loved it. The finish on this is long and focused just love it. — 9 years ago

Mike Jordan (MJ)

10

A brilliant wine from my favorite Oregon winery. — 9 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.4

Infanticide, I know... brilliant nevertheless — 10 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.0

Brilliant Bandol for a summer evening in Thousand Oaks. — 11 years ago

Mark Somerville

9.2

Wow! We did not decant this wine....a big mistake. Powerful tannins will keep this wine alive for many years. I would love to try it again in 2022. Strong earth tones with a hint of Tobacco and leather. Beautifully complex finish — 12 years ago