Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

On the nose, sweet tarry notes, dark chocolate bar, sweet blue fruit cassis, baking spices, boysenberries, huckleberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, whiff of white pepper, smoke & a touch of bacon fat, spice-box, dark fruit Eau de vie brandy, a touch of soy, dark rich soils, dry top soil/clay, spearmint and fresh & dark red florals. The body is full, rich & round. The M+ tannins are velvety & round but still have nice teeth. The palate is very similar to the nose. Sweet tarry notes, dark chocolate bar, sweet blue fruit cassis, baking spices, boysenberries, huckleberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, smoke & a touch of bacon fat, whiff of white pepper, menthol, spice-box, dark fruit Eau de vie brandy, a touch of soy, dark rich soils, dry top soil/clay, spearmint and fresh & dark red florals. The finish is big, full, balanced in fruit, earth & spice, elegant and lasts and lasts. Photos of; their new facility opened in April of this year. Tasting bar, my lovely wife in our private tasting area, those beautiful red clay Barossa soils and their vines as viewed front exiting their front door. — 8 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.6

2004 Mendocino Petite Sirah
This wine is indigo-black. No light is getting through the glass. A whiff shows some black fruit and some serious tar and forest floor. Smoke and leather play a role as well, with a hint of oak spice. As for the palate, don't tell me this is a 13-year-old wine. You can't kid a kidder. The wine is drinking extremely young, and showing its teeth in the tannins. These are jawbreaker tannins that could probably melt a steak by just pouring it on the meat. They do settle down a bit as the glass sits, but don't wait for this do become a “sipper.” Black currant and plums come through vividly, and the finish is long. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2009, when Caymus still made wine in their traditional style. Starting with their 12 vintage, they started to let their fruit hang on the vine much longer...just before the grapes begin a shriveled phase. This raises the sugar levels(Brixs) and produces a much sweeter grape/wine. Too sweet for me. This 09 is beginning to see nice evolution but has many years ahead of it before it hits it's peak. The tannins are still very present but beginning to lose their teeth. It's classic in their old style. Dark cassis; of dry and juicy blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, olallieberries, Asian spices, touch of herbs, lots of baking spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, caramel, vanilla, black tea, black licorice, dry dark florals, dry crushed volcanic rocks, dark turned soil, stems, leathery, tobacco, nice acidity, strong structure & length, good balance & length. The finish is dry & juicy fruit with loads of spice and baking spices, it sticks on your palate, is round, full bodied and lasts over a minute. Two hours in the decanter and it's still improving. — 9 years ago

Michael Schamis

9.1

Dark, smoky nose. Notes of black plum, blackberries and mocha with just a whiff of alcohol. A full, rich, juicy wine with lots of spice and oak. Notes of dark fruits lead to flavors of cocoa powder, oak and black earth with big acidity. The finish is full of big, but soft teeth coating tannins with touches of spice and earth. A great wine for glazed ribs and mac and cheese! — 9 years ago

with Kati

Jim Edwards

9.6

Stain ur teeth purple! Naughty and appropriately tannic. — 9 years ago

Michael Kvasnicka

9.4

Beaut nose. Massive afterward. Huge. Not sure I have teeth left. — 9 years ago

Ryan Mayes

9.3

Always a powerhouse - better than the merlot and 1.5 bottlings. Cigar box, flower shop nose. Inky, teeth staining, jammy mouth. Was perfect complement to the 40 day dry aged prime rib eye, wagyu tri-tip and prime NY strip. — 10 years ago

Erin Toth

Senior Wine Sales Associate Granville Liquor Store

9.4

Well isn't this just a lovely little tannin bomb. Sweet cherries and earth and a kick in the teeth of the best kind. — 10 years ago

with Shirley

Vino

9.4

If you appreciate the enamel on your teeth this is perhaps not the wine for you. As for me, I don't give a shit. Citrus and white stone fruit driven by racy acidity. — 10 years ago

Paula Gard

9.1

Stains teeth — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I can’t pour enough praise on Dan and his talents. I don’t give many wines near perfect scores, but this merits one. The nose is a beautifully balanced mix of floral fruits, earth and spice. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, lilacs, violets and lavender. The balance is incredible...one of the most balanced wines I’ve had. The structure, tension and length are so close to perfect. It’s in the OMG realm. The tannins are nicely resolved but still have teeth. It’s gorgeously lush and rich. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, hues of blue fruits haunt the palate, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, black licorice, touch herbaceous, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, black & white pepper, dry crushed rocks, stones, lilacs, violets and lavender. The finish is heaven all the way around. To borrow Bordeaux terminology, this is First Growth Shiraz. If you don’t seek out Dan’s wines on the secondary market, you are missing something special. Not at all meant to be enjoyed young. This wine is in a very good spot and has another 10 years of life going forward. — 8 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.1

Midnight black wine that stains your teeth and tongue immediately. So much going on in the glass that it is hard to know where to start. All I know is I only have one more bottle left, and a long time before the next allocation. — 8 years ago

with Joe and Katherine

Tom Limongello

10

Imagine. Bumping down a cobblestone street on a wrought iron bicycle. Thump, thump...thump.

Thrill seekers of the past called this kind of ride a Boneshaker. Your teeth rattled & your bones shook. You felt it.

This is our BONESHAKER. A full bodied Zin. With full-tilt flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate & vanilla. — 9 years ago

Krysten Marshall

9.8

One of my favorite wines of the year! Sweet Syrah. Stains teeth, love the dark purple color. Smooth, blackberry flavor. Not a strong smell. — 9 years ago

Nesim Bekalti

9.8

HOLY SHIT! Raw cream, sweet baked ricotta, dried mango, yellow apple, beurre blanc, caramel, tangerine marmalade, green almond, grapefruit pith, long finish, m+ phenolics, sticky tannins on lips/teeth, long finish. — 9 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of dark purple with brown hue on the rim. Nose of sweet bomb, such as ripe grape and plum. It mixes with herbs and tobacco note. Taste of sweetness like dates, concentrates apricot, dressed with soy sauce flavor. It is a crowd pleaser for sure. Aftertaste of herbs, low tannins, silky and mouthful.
Having a 2nd bottle on 10/15/16, I am pretty certain the notes I described hold. For people who have sweet teeth, this shall be under your radar.
— 9 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.3

Infanticide I know. But I bought two to put one away. Honeysuckle, white peaches, green apple, spring lemongrass, cold rain over slate. White gold color. Super long finish that coats the teeth. Delicious. Anticipate greatness in 10+ years. My son's 5 year old birthday wine for his mother. — 10 years ago

Jeff Verellen

9.2

So dry it hurt my teeth. — 10 years ago

Hickoryburger

9.2

Hurts me teeth — 10 years ago

Deb Robinson

9.5

Thick jammy "stain your teeth" wine. Wow - a must try — 11 years ago

Beau Cox

9.6

Massive, acidic, teeth kicker — 13 years ago

Linda Costlow

9.4

Read bad reviews of this wine when it was new. It has matured nicely in 2017. Nice smooth, big red. Tannins are way in the background and don’t make my teeth feel furry. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

On the nose; a bit of a brett bomb to start. Even after 11 years in the bottle, it needed a good 2 hour decant. Stewed fruits of; huckleberry, boysenberries, blueberries, plums, black raspberries, dark & liqueured cherries. Black raspberry cola, figs & dates, black & white pepper, touch of smoke & grilled meats, menthol, used leather, dry stems, dark minerals, loamy dry top soil, right amount of baking spices, lilacs & liquid violets. The body is full, round & lush. Tannins perfectly resolved. They still have a little baby teeth. The structure, length, tension and balance are near perfect. Stewed fruits of; huckleberry, boysenberries, blueberries, plums, black raspberries, dark liqueured cherries & strawberries haunting the palate here and there. Black raspberry cola, figs & dates, black & white pepper, a touch of smoke & grilled meats, menthol, used leather, dry stems, dark minerals, loamy dry top soil, right amount & mix of baking spices, lilacs, liquid violets & red florals. The acidity is perfect and acts like a waterfall over the palate. The fruit floral, lightly spiced finish goes on and on and on. Standish does not have a U.S. importer as his wines are small productions and he has no issues selling nearly all of them down under. You can order from his mailing list but, the shipping costs from Australia are stupid. Look for bottles on the secondary markets. You’ll be glad you did. If you have or had reservations about Australian wine or Shiraz vs. Syrah, Dan’s wines will end those thoughts. We tasted with Dan at his winery in April. He is extremely knowledgeable and a very talented Winemaker. He made Torbreck for years before starting his own winery. Photos of; his Estate, Dan and his low yield vines. His yield was an extremely low half ton per acre on this vintage. — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

A real teeth stainer, deep garnet red. Nice nose with lots of layers; earthy, dusty, hint of tomatoes, dark cocoa, dark cassis and dried dark cherries. Moderate tannins (7/10) and well integrated. Rounded and full bodied with black currants, spices herbs, strawberries and a hint of unsweetened cocoa. Very dry and long finish. Fine sediment in the glass and decanted for three hours. Drink till 2020. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Another coravin sample to check in quickly. Dark and deep ruby red. Coats your teeth. Very tight on the nose, this will need at least a couple hours to open up. Just a few notes of iron, flowers and cherries. Heavy tannins (8.5/10) and full bodied. Tons of potential, would like to taste this over half a day and see where it goes. Red cherries and minerality on the palate. A little bit of spices, herbs, savory and black cherries or raspberries. Keeps gaining complexity with air. Very long and dry finish. Easily drink for two decades. 93+

Even from this short taste, highly recommend both of these Lineage vintages. — 9 years ago

Bryan Manning

9.0

Paired with black ink squid, black noodles, and black teeth. — 10 years ago

with Alexandra

Kyle N

9.0

Love this. Dark big red. Smooth, nice mouthfeel, leaves a bit of dust or chalk on the teeth. Fruit forward nose and taste. Tastes of blackberries. Medium-Full bodied. — 10 years ago

Steven Gullo

9.0

Classic Barossa. Full bodied, teeth staining. Mint chocolate and ripe blackberries. — 10 years ago

Douglas Profenius

9.2

Leather, rip your teeth out tannic. Tobacco. — 11 years ago

with Adam, Ben and 2 others

TC Frazier

9.2

This wine will put the lead in your pencil! If you like the stuff that stains the teeth and makes the lips purple, look for no further than this. — 12 years ago