Randy Fillingim

8.9

First, let’s start with the fact that it’s 36 years old! The initial sip said it was possibly over the hill. But after about two hours of aeration, it slowly mellowed out quite nicely. Still quite drinkable. Pretty impressive from this venerated label. — 20 hours ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.9

Revisiting the ‘20 Old Vines after a year or two in the cellar. Dusky clear purple. Sweet cherries and earth on the nose. Smooth, rich, almost no tannin. A lovely creamy, dark finish like plum pie with ice cream. These Old Vine blends are some of the best values in the Turley line up if not all of CA Zinfandel. — 3 months 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 — 3 years ago

with Courtney

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 months ago

Patrick Dolan

9.1

Very nice nose and fantastic complexity and finish. 16 years old even. — a year 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! — 2 years ago

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

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 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Inky in color with a very short reddish/ brick rim.

Full bodied with medium acidity

Showing black fruits with earth, bell pepper, tobacco, oak, dark coffee, pencil lead, bitter herbs, earth, light roasted bell pepper and forest floor.

Soft tannins on the tangy finish.

This 10 year old Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is probably on its way out. Still very drinkable, but a little unbalanced and showing lots of earth notes.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after two hours of air time.

Showing nice complexity at this point, but a little bitter for my taste.

Although still good, I expected more from this second wine from this producer and this vintage.

90 points.

$80 (current vintage). — a year 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. — 3 years ago