Coming Soon - 2023 Standish The Relic Shiraz Viognier

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.

Known for its exotic perfume and silken texture, The Relic is plush and opulent. Co-fermented with a small portion of Viognier, it combines expressive aromatics with deep, brooding Barossa fruit.
Alc. 14.9%

Other Reviews....
The 2023 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier is texturally velvety and smooth; that may sound like a base observation to make, and perhaps it is, but the experience is overwhelmingly silky/ethereal this year. Apricot blossoms, sweet roasted bone marrow, hung deli meat, crushed rocks, licorice, anise and raspberry mingle in the glass, while the palate gives us these characters tenfold, bolstered and grounded by savory tannins. What more is there to say about this, other than that it is sensational? I find this to be an incredibly consistent wine year after year, with my scores rarely deviating too much from "excellent." This is among the very best Shiraz Viognier's in this country; it's a treasure. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax. Drink 2025 - 2043.
98 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate