Ericsson

9.6

One of the boldest cabs with so much potential for again. This has big fresh dark fruit, vanilla, eucalyptus. Great for steak. — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Semi transparent Ruby red. Aromatics of dried rose petals and violets with Sous Bois. Profound flavour intensity with savoury red cherry. Burgundian overtones. The Langtons Classification adopted Main Ridge as a top Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir many years ago - almost the original. Oak is in balance and doesn’t intrude. A very good Pinot, and probably a point or two behind their premium Cuvée, The Half Acre. Had the last one on 30/5/25. Good but not great. — 2 years ago

Matthew W.

9.4

Bright red/black fruit, cigar, tar, & baking spice. Round finish, w/ subtle grippy-ness — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

This note actually covers 2 bottles of this wine. The first was sadly oxidised and I felt I should check my last one which was fine. This is the second time In recent weeks I have had 2 Euro whites left of 2 different Cuvées. In both cases the 2nd last was over the hill and the last was good. Old gold in colour for this 100% Verdejo. Notes of honey grilled nuts and a touch of pineapple. No other word for the palate than Unctuous. A creamy textural palate with low acid - mouth filling. Some vines in this 23 acre vineyard are up to 180 years old. I should have referred to my first note in 2018 and drunk these 2 bottles a lot sooner. My score here is for the 2nd bottle. One of the 1001 wines. PS. A Footnote - Verdejo is not the same grape as Portuguese grape, Verdelho. I used to incorrectly think they were the same. — 6 years ago

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 — 8 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.2

Tawse is one of Canada’s best wineries, bringing a Burgundian ethos to their site-specific wines. This Chardonnay is lean and mean - tart lime zest meets wet stones. A fascinating juxtaposition with the richness of the creamy Laliberté cheese. #i4c18 — 8 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.7

On a day that the Northern CA rain reminds me of the weather on the day I bought this at the tasting room in OR, I decided to pop this one and see how it stacks up. Simple elegance with the label. Color is red/maroon instead of ink or blood purple. Smells a bit like a berry-cherry tart in a campfire. Matchsticks. Flavors are spectacular. Fruit coupled with savory strange stuff. Minerals. Like lots of them. Flinty. Bittersweet in the best kind of way. Hint of mocha. Complex to say the least. This is a lovely wine. Less tannic and dense than WA or CA Syrah, but bright and strange like the best Syrah’s from France. Almost seems like a GSM blend. Elements of great Grenache in there too. Nice stuff. — 6 months ago

Ericsson

9.1

Twenty one year old red Rhône blend from Monterey County, 56% Syrah, 32% Grenache, 7% Carignane, 3% Petite Syrah, and 2% Alicante Bouchet. Pale ruby. Red currant, plum, black cherry, pepper, game and dusty tobacco on the nose. The palate starts out weaker and less complex than the nose but calibrates after a couple of hours. It is dry, with medium acidity, dialed down alcohol, medium tannins, medium body, pronounced flavours of red fruits, plum and spice, some dark chocolate, a peculiar short earthy gamy finish. I would love to try this with Texas Style Brisket. — 3 years ago

Andrew Formi

9.1

The Genie in bottle came out in each glass... nice local surprise ... thanks Jack — 6 years ago

Jody Wycech

10

Oh my, what a wine. Almond and vanilla on the nose. Dark fruits, especially blackberry. So jammy quite dry. Loved this wine — 6 years ago

with Diane and Peter

Mark Flesher

9.3

Black tar, licorice, little bit of fig on the nose and palate. This wine would have been best enjoyed alone vs in a lineup like this. Would have loved to have opened this up alongside a buffalo ribeye or saucy game dish. Better after an hour of being open but initially the notes on this one are a bit muted and very VERY dark. Given some oxidation this one shows well, but unfortunately Dan's potato chips and wasabi nuts were not the best to make this shine appropriately. — 8 years ago

with Dan and Trent

Martin Mills

9.3

The top wine from the now defunct producer of what I’d rank as the best wines yet made in Canada, making this perhaps the pinnnacle of Canadian winemaking. This one is mellowing in its dotage, but delivering superbly complex layers of Meursault-like popcorn/toast/smoke on top of a seam of minerality that traces from salinity through to lime citrus fruit. Lovely golden hue in the glass, I expect this to continue to evolve ever more finesse for at least five more years. Seemingly unavailable any more in Ontario, I found this at The Port NSLC in Halifax for $87 and a special occasion. — 8 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.4

One more Central Coast Syrah. PharaohMoans is from a 3 acre estate on Paso Robles Westside (the Salinas River Valley splits the area into Eastside and Westside). Guillaume Fabre is the winemaker and previously spent time at L’Aventure. The wine is 95% Syrah and 5% Grenache. As Jeb Dunnuck noted in his barrel tasting, “If you're craving lightweight aromas and flavors, look elsewhere.” This is the liqueur version of chocolate covered cherries, and a crème de cassis, kirsch, and mocha head-spinner that packs a wallop. Secondary baking spices and sandalwood add some complexity. — 9 years ago

Tyler Felous

9.8

Wow. Incredible. So energetic, elegant, with structure that keeps inviting you back. Best Littorai I’ve had — 9 months ago

JKT

9.1

Oh yeah. Nice one that’s almost twenty years old! All the aged Chablis tend not to smack you in the face as when young. — a year ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Just arrived from the east coast, I’ll let the other bottle rest a bit. Still a little bottle shock from shipping on this one obviously — 4 years ago

Matt Schicker

10

2010 vintage with plum, black currants, green olive, eucalyptus mint black cherry. Delicious!! — 6 years ago

ADAM STROMFELD

9.8

Dark nose. Cooked stewed black cherries. Soft and velvety tannins. Incredible balance elegance. Coffee and tobacco on the back end. Jayson nailed this one! — 7 years ago

with Bob and Leonard

Shay A

9.5

Shed its baby fat. At its best today...won’t get any better moving forward. No milk chocolate, faint cherry filled dark chocolate nose. Little bit of cherries jubileee and cedar. While really smooth, I think these are best with 8-10yrs on them as opposed to 18 like this one. However, for what this is and how it aged, it’s pretty impressive. Also, look at the ABV here...shocking to see on a Hundred Acre wine! — 8 years ago

with Dan and Mark

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had this in a recent blind tasting. Aged for 12 months, very pleasant light berry fruit aromas with slight undertones of earthiness. On the palate cherry and currants with subtle spice. I would consider this one of the lighter bodied CA Pinot’s I have tasted. Soft tannins lingering ending with a mineral tang. Nice, from their 1500 acre Grace Benoit Ranch in Carneros. Consistent quality from recent tastings. — 8 years ago