The Standish Shiraz 2017

Dan Standish is the sixth generation of a Barossa Valley grape growing family, He leans on the information and techniques passed down to him about vines and the vineyards of the region. Harvest stints in California’s Napa and Sonoma valleys, La Rioja and Yecla in Spain coupled with extensive travel and study of France’s Rhône Valley meld with his local knowledge and have enriched his understanding of winemaking and growing. The Standish Wine Company cellar and barrel store is uniquely designed to fully embrace and nurture the individuality afforded by clone, soil and aspect. Small open top oak fermentation vats allow single parcels – even single rows – to be vinified separately, preserving the subtle nuances influenced by variations in soil and sun exposure.

Dan Standish is an extremely experienced winemaker, adding work in the Napa and Sonoma valleys in California, La Rioja in Spain and the Rhone Valley in France to his domestic winemaking. A 6th generation Barossan, Dan His endeavour initially began around an ancient parcel of Shiraz owned and farmed by his father... All batches of fruit are fermented and matured individually then follows a strict selection in the winery that can see as much as 80% of the original blend discarded and sold off in bulk. As with the finest producers in Europe only the finest material is sold under the Standish Wine Company label. Stylistically Dan's wines are as rich and profound as you would expect from Barossa Valley old vines but they have a satin texture and dreamy perfume that sets them far apart from his contemporaries. Here, dark fruits are encased in cocoa and earthy richness but with gentle spice, soil tone, asphalt and a stony minerality that gives the wines a beautiful dimension.

Dense, latent and strapping, this flaunts the flawless purity that can be leached from the famed sandy flints of Vine Vale. Tightly wound with its cards close to the vest, deep-set aromatics of coal, pressed currant and black truffle are foiled by redolent tones of tilled soil, beef broth and slow roasted meats. Dark and brooding with immense concentration, persistence and energy it is somewhat of a heroic style but is gently laced with a long fine cloak of silken tannin. More reticent than its stable mate, it shows wonderful staying power for those with immense patience and cool, dark cellars.

Dan Standish is an extremely experienced winemaker, adding work in the Napa and Sonoma valleys in California, La Rioja in Spain and the Rhone Valley in France to his domestic winemaking. - James Halliday

Lifted, herbal notes of mint, thyme and sage appear on the nose of the 2017 The Standish Shiraz. They’re followed by waves of raspberries and more raspberries, fleshing out the full-bodied palate and lingering onto the long, silky finish, where they’re joined by savoury roasted-meat and espresso notes. While almost approachable now, a few years in the cellar surely wouldn’t hurt. - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 96 Points.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal -  Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - Barossa Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 2017
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14.9%