Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This is absolutely one of my top three favorite producers from Barossa. Dan Standish marches to his own drum when it comes to his Winemaking. He doesn’t follow trends or fashion in winemaking. Before he started his own Winery, he was the Winemaker for Torbreck and also traveled to other world wine regions before settling back in Barossa. I had the privilege of spending a couple of hours last April with him. What a joy to listen, learn and laugh with him. This wine comes from 100 year old vines. While it is excellent, keeps getting better and puts on weight in the glass, its just a notch under his “Relic.” He has no US importer as he sells out to his mailing list. He’ll ship it to you, but shipping charges from Australia are simply stupid. You’ll find some of his wines on the secondary market. On the nose; smoldering ambers, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, olallieberries, huckleberries, blueberries, loamy dry soils, crushed rocks, spice, sour dark liqueur notes, dry stones, light baking spices, dark turned earth, well done toast, dry lavender, lilacs and fresh violets. The body is rich, lush and beautiful. The tannins are about a year or two farther along than I’m used to tasting, 80% resolved. The palate is simply and flat out amazing. The fruits are; juicy, ruby, ripe and stun the senses. Black plum, plum, black raspberries, raspberries, dark cherries, olallieberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, blueberries with a mid red fruit mix haunting the background of the palate here & there. The dark medium spices are more refined than the “Relic” and have a perfect heat lifting intensifying quality off the palate. Loamy soils, black licorice, anise, cracked pepper, crushed rocks, dark turned earth, tarry notes, dry stems, an amazing blend of baking spices-clove, nutmeg & a whiff of vanilla, dry herbaceous quality, dry lavender & lilacs and fresh violets for days. Perfect round acidity, excellent; structure, length, tension and balance. Long beautiful finish that doesn’t end. This is First Growth Shiraz! Photos of his Winery and those 100 year old vines. @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, dark sour cherries, dates, burnt figs, grilled meats, burnt ambers, liquid smoke & dark dry florals. The core color is dark with garnet edges. The palate is; slightly sour but mostly sweet dark cherries, stewed plum, cooked strawberries, rhubarb, dates, figs, tomatoes, smoke, grilled meats, brewed coffee, light tarry notes, dry crushed rock powder, volcanic minerals, dark rich earth, dusty tannins, dry dark florals, soft chewy leather, nice round acidity with a decent, soft, elegant finish...50-50 fruit & earth. This is the largest co-op producer in Europe with 50 members. They collectively have 250 acres; which is about 1/6 of the total under vine. Photos of; the town of Barbaresco (their tasting room near the tower), Produttori cellar and their tasting bar. No appointment necessary. Close to Gaja and the town has one of the best one star Michelin lunches as well as the best service we've experienced. Just right of Gaja. Good with our Veal Bolognese. — 8 years ago

William Caperton

9.1

Great Porter — 8 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.4

Holy Rhone Batman! Blackberry and currant, intertwined with bacon fat and tobacco. Loamy earth on the finish. Lush and velvety. Not fit the meek - this has to be your thing. Just awesome. — 9 years ago

Timothy Schmidt

9.0

Smells like earth, cherry, and mild smoke. Tastes like slate and cherry with medium tannins. — 9 years ago

Reid Kinnett

8.9

Juicy dark fruit and brooding earth and herbs. Slightly smoky. — 9 years ago

Joe Loughran

9.1

Day 1 was promising with nice aromatics, ample fruit and earth, balanced with supple tannins. Day 2 is showing much less interestingly, much softer, and a bit flat. Feels a bit tired. I wouldn't hold these too long. — 9 years ago

Scott e

8.9

Datk fruits with smooth tannins. Palate falls a bit flat. Not bad but not great. — 10 years ago

Lisa Ohara

9.3

Balanced fruit, low tanins, interesting under notes of chocolate/ earth.
Another great Bedrock bottle! — 10 years ago

with Scott

David L

9.2

13'. Roots Wine Company .The barrel project Grenache. 30 months in barrel. 30 minute decanting . Truly a crowdpleaser. — 8 years ago

Spinning_spins

9.4

I recently read about Bedrock's purchase of the Evangelho Vineyard, and was relieved to know that these old, own-rooted vines in sandy soil will be preserved. As for the wine, it is wonderful, with raspberry/boysenberry aromas and flavors, with notes of beeswax, earth, spice, and violets. Rich and velvety, but bright in its great balance of acid, tannin, and fruit. Excellent length, and just 14.1% abv. My new favorite Zinfandel-based red blend! — 8 years ago

AG

10

Opened this magnum for Christmas dinner. The first La Jota vintage finished by renowned winemaker Christopher Carpenter (Cardinale, Lokoya). Large format aging beautifully. Round tannins, dark fruit, and earth. — 8 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

8.9

A little more ripe than at the tasting room tonight. Maybe even a bit oxidized, as the cork was somewhat soft. Old Black cherries, wet earth, baking spice. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

It's in solid shape. Dark chocolate & mocha powder influenced; blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, plums, just a whiff of green bell peppers & jalapeño, crushed brown volcanic rocks, mushroom, steely minerals, dry stems, decayed floral bouquet, fudge w/ nuts, orange peel, chocolate pudding, rich semi-sweet black turned earth, dry stones, vanilla, light spice-box, grilled meats, cigar, used leather, steeped tea, brewed dark roast coffee, anise, toffee, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, brilliant acidity, great; balance, tension, length, structure with a round, lush, full evenly mixed blend of all of the above on the long finish. Crazy, complex, every changing in the mouth beautiful Merlot. What was Paul talking about in Sideways? I'm thinking Mediterranean prepared Lamb Shank pairing. Oh...what were you doing in 1996? — 8 years ago

Chris Harwick

9.2

Very nice balance for a younger Cali cab. Dried earth and minerals mixed with plumb and raspberry. Certainly will change over the years but in a good way. — 9 years ago

Alicia Cypress

9.2

Still a baby and very tight, but it's obvious an explosion of dark fruit and earth will reward with some patience. — 9 years ago

with Berg and Carla

Matt

9.2

2+ hour decant. Like peeling an onion layer by layer. Earth, olive tapenade, smokey meat, blackberry, resinous herbs, sea spray. Tannins show persistence but fine. Bright acid. — 9 years ago

Jeff Sidwell

Owner Bon! Gourmet

9.0

Burly and robust with good earth notes — 10 years ago

Dave Schneider

9.2

Wet earth, pear and apples. Great memory from our trip to champagne. Happy new year Kathy! — 10 years ago

Craig Thorn

10

Deeply in love with this wine. — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This Syrah is made in conjunction with Consultant, John Duval of Penfolds fame. John has also been making his Duval private label wines since he departed Penfolds back in Barossa. Gorgeous nose of sweet dark currants, dark moist soils, licorice, smoke, grilled meats, violets and fresh florals. The palate is rich, round, thick, sexy and elegant. Blackberries, liqueured, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, lots blue fruits, smoke, grilled meats, cinnamon, vanilla, rich scorched earth, loamy soils, touch of crushed dry rocks, liquid violets, dark fresh flowers and full, mellow acidity. The structure, length, tension and balance are drop dead gorgeous. The finish is thick, full and flat out mouthwatering and jaw dropping gorgeously sexy. Photos of the Long Shadows logo, one of their vineyards and beautiful tasting room. — 8 years ago

Rick K

9.1

Juicy dark berries, earth and brisk tannins. A little heat, but pretty balanced. Try again in 3-5 years. — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

This Friday my Cabernet fix is from Washington State.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Nice nose of blueberries, plums, cherries, vanilla, cedar, cloves, chocolates, light green bitter vegetables, earth, tobacco, beef jerky and peppercorn.

Medium to full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet plums, green pepper, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, oak and peppercorn.

Long finish with firm tannins and black pepper.

This is a nice and pleasant Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley. A bit unbalanced now, but very enjoyable by itself or with food. A good sipping wine too. Resembles a good quality
California Cabernet.

Drinking nicely now and will be better in a year or two.

14.5% alcohol by volume. — 8 years ago

Mary H

9.0

Still quite early for this vintage, starts off very flat but mellows out in the glass, with nice earth and leather. Would recommend decanting first. — 9 years ago

Mike Varley

9.0

Great cab franc- smooth flavours with a very clean finish. A delight. — 9 years ago

Dave Chambers

9.8

A year later and the petrol notes are really there! Nice match with dinner, haddock and spinach salad with pineapple salsa! — 9 years ago

with Heather

Kiley Baker

Certified Specialist of Wine/Educator/Owner of Wine Genie LLC

9.2

Special wine from Sonoma, which I don't drink often. Cool producer doing interesting things on the CA wine scene. Top notch. Purchased at Flat Iron wines NYC. — 9 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.0

Popped open an owc of this to try out. Cherry, earth, leather and dried herbs not great as it also seemed a little flat and dull on the finish. Expected more! — 10 years ago

Mark Crisler

9.1

Quite nice! Bright, earth, mineral and delicious dried cherry & bright bing. I recommend. — 10 years ago

Jonathan Wood

9.2

Flat out delicious. — 11 years ago