Standish The Relic 2019

Description

“A 6th generation Barossan, Dan Standish established his eponymous winery in 1999 whilst still working as winemaker at Torbreck Vintners. His endeavour initially began around an ancient parcel of Shiraz owned and farmed by his father. Due to family upheaval this source is now gone but has been supplemented by various sites throughout the Barossa Region that he has identified as significant and unique.

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 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. These are special wines, among the very best being made in Australia today. When you see what Grange and Hill of Grace sell for these days, these are a bargain.”   Andrew Guard, Distributor

An exceptional growing season in 2019 produced fabulous quality fruit with concentration, focus and a profound complexity – although yields were down 50%

15% whole bunch and 1% Viognier added in 2019 (A single row of Viognier, grown alongside the Shiraz picked and co-fermented at same time imparts gorgeous aromatics and softens the tannins). – From Krondorf in the centre of the Valley. Gorgeous as ever, the Relic in 2019 is every bit the counterpart to The Standish. Overflowing with attraction as a young wine it is very exuberant on the nose with attractive floral notes and blue tinged fruit; juicy and silky in the mouth it is exceptionally long and vibrant with a silky and vibrant finish; this is the wine to enjoy in youth, though as always, it will gain in complexity with time – very hard to keep hands off now though!

“From the Hongell Vineyard, sees 1% viognier used. A very gentle seasoning. Pumping out perfume, white flowers, blackcurrant jubes, spice, chocolate orange. Slick, supple silky tannin, rich dark juice-laden flavour, clean acidity, big aromatics and a mudslide of fine silty tannin on a long finish. Not my preferred style, but of undeniably high quality.” 95 points, Gary Walsh.

“Big perfume, ripe berries, floral whiffs, sweet, turned earth character, jellied plum, blackcurrant pastilles. So much to sniff on. Supple, soft and juicy in the palate, though there’s some tension in the texture and it finishes long, fanning out magnificently. A sense of poise and lift too. Wonderful, elegant, big-lush expression.” 95 points. Mike Bennie

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