Power & Precision: The 2023 Standish Release

The Standish Wine Company, founded in 1999 by sixth-generation Barossa vigneron Dan Standish, produces ultra-limited, single-vineyard Shiraz from dry-grown, old-vine sites across sub-regions like Greenock, Marananga, Krondorf, and Eden Valley. Using wild fermentation, whole-bunch inclusion, foot treading, basket pressing, and aging in French oak, Standish crafts powerful yet refined wines that express purity, intensity, and a strong sense of place. Highly sought-after and released in tiny quantities, each bottling captures the essence of its vineyard with precision and flair.

By all reports, the 2023 vintage in the Barossa was shaped by a cold, wet winter and spring, followed by a cool, dry summer and a notably late harvest. It was a challenging season in the vineyard, yet early impressions suggest the resulting wines are remarkably poised and pure. Standish’s 2023 releases, in particular, are said to show extraordinary finesse and aromatic detail, with the usual power and depth intact. Careful adjustments to whole bunch use and shorter élevage have delivered wines that are intense yet fresh—an impressive result from a difficult year.