Evan McKenzie

8.9

Darker yellow appearance, very light aromatics, minimal oak, lemon, high acid, medium + minerals, 13.9% EtOH

2016 crop of Wente Selection Chardonnay hand-harvested on 9/23 with a yield of 1.05 tons per acre. Whole-cluster pressed and cold fermented in seasoned French Burgundy barrels. 147 cases produced. — 5 years ago

Sean Grullon

9.2

One of the great values in the left bank. Tobacco, cedar, pencil shavings, cassis, and blackberries. Very much classic old world Bordeaux, but with some more expressive fruit. Good concentration and length, per usual. — 5 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.5

As per previous bottle. So good you want to swim in it. — 6 years ago

with Alsu

Ron R

9.5

We got busy last night. Quaffed some great wines. @Greg Ballington and India brought some great SA examples. Just a superb evening with good food and lots of laughter.
The Tua Rita was riveting, from what I can remember 🥺 — 6 years ago

with Benny, James and 3 others

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 7 years ago

Linda Hawk

8.9

Surprisingly good for a wine with a funny name. 100% Sangiovese. The nose has layered berries and keeps your interest. Medium tannins Even though it said it was "for me alone," it was so good that I shared. — 9 years ago

Elle West

9.9

So yummy - light skin contact makes it have an almost cider-like taste with a clean brightness to finish — 5 years ago

Good Life Provisions

9.3

Loving the acid. — 5 years ago

Laura Josel

9.1

Nice drinking wine. Dry start. Fruity finish. — 6 years ago

David L

9.2

13’ Realm Bard. The nose sell it (per usual)Very enjoyable. Just so hard after enjoying so many 2012’s, which to me is that much more memorable. -at Bali Steak & Seafood Waikiki, Hawaii — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had another chance to try this wine. Family-owned and operated growing just over ten acres of grapes and producing around 1000 cases per year. Berry, spice and floral aromas explode on the nose. Fresh fruit flavors, raspberry and cherry, citrus notes and hints of vanilla, great balance with acidity. Firm tannins, lingering finish ending with earthy tones and a bit of pepper. An enjoyable Pinot at a reasonable price. Has short term aging benefits, but why wait. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Lyndsey Wegner

9.0

I'm not one for steel casks but you can't even tell with this Chardonnay! That bite picks up the citrus fruits but has a long smooth finish. It's creamy and a little dreamy :) — 8 years ago

Rick Jordan

8.9

Had with a chicken stir fry, zucchini, bell peppers and onions. Great pairing. — 9 years ago

Jane King

9.0

8.99 at Costco. Per wine enthusiast 90 puts — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Happy Valentines Day!

If you have not looked for this wine on WineSearcher.com or other, you should. Dan Standish has no American Importer. However, you can mail order off his list. Good luck with the Australian/United States import costs. Very prohibited.

Most quality Barossa wines take 15 years in bottle to show their ultimate beauty. Dan’s wines are no different. His Estate vines are 100 years old and produce 500 pounds of fruit per acre...very concentrated. Contrast that to extremely expensive & high quality Napa fruit, those Napa producers are at 2,000-2,500 pounds per acre.

We visited Standish in April 2017. We found Dan to be extremely talented & definitely marches to his own drum. He is salt of the earth and has traveled & worked in many of the world wine regions honing his craft and landing as Torbreck’s Winemaker in Barossa before starting, “The Standish Wine Company.”

As good as the 04 is tonight, it has 15 years of good life ahead...properly stored of course.

The nose is very intoxicating. It is a nice blend of purple, black & blue fruits. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, medium dark spice, black pepper, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender.

The body is full, rich, ripe, lush and creamy on the palate after a two-hour plus decant. The structure, tension, length and balance are a little short of its peak and will hold there for 5-8 years. It’s a glorious glide on the palate. The fruits are ripe & lightly baked. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, cherry kirsch, red & black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, the dark spices are heavier on the palate & bring just the right amount of heat, sweet, dark tarriness, black pepper, used, dark expresso roast grounds, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone, moist clay, with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender. The acidity is round, flush & perfect. The long finish is a unique even balance of; lush fruits, spice, herbs and earth that persists on the palate for minutes.

Photo on the left of Sofia’s 2 dozen long stems. Love you so much!

@Oswald — 5 years ago

Lev Lavrichtchev

9.1

Opened Oct 14, 2020, slow ox 1 hour in the bottle. Almost no ageing signs, very nice and still young, in blind tasting was mistakenly identified as its brother, Gavarini Chinera 1998, which, opened that night along, turned out very mature with nice nose and black fruits - as the Casa Mate presumingly should be. Should have been the orher way around - per the vineyards cpecs, interesting. Hold — 6 years ago

Beth

10

The 2 glasses per bottle makes me sad - Great taste - small amount. - update, 2016 was good - 2014 was not, it was drinkable but disappointing — 7 years ago

Jim Takada

9.0

Wow! How this wine changes its flavor and taste after opening the bottle. Don’t be fooled by the initial taste, it keeps getting better and better and turned out to be amazing!! — 7 years ago

Mike Levin

9.4

Still a baby but really nice structure and cab franc adds a great floral aspect to the nose. — 8 years ago

Robert Huber

10

Great wine well balanced. Good structure. We all agreed deep red color with a nose of "dill". We ordered 2nd bottle. If you can fine it...treat yourself. I found 2 bottles at Total Wine and bought them both. $57.00 per bottle. — 8 years ago