Joe Czerwinski im August 2018: The star of this year's lineup is the 2017 Lamella Shiraz. sourced from a single dry-grown Eden Valley vineyard in the vicinity of Henscke's Mount Edelstone and Hill of Grace vineyards. It shows a healthy dusting of cracked peppery and dried spices but also layers of red and blue fruit and savory notes of black olives and espresso. Full-bodied and silky but taut. it ideally needs another 2-3 years of cellaring to soften the tannins on the long. dusty finish.
After reviewing the stunning 2016s last year. I was excited to try the 2017s and 2018s at Dan Standish's small winery. The 2017 vintage. said Dan. was his biggest ever. yet he bottled the least wine. "With its long. slow. even ripening. it's probably the ideal vintage to show the different [Barossa] subregions." he said. Each of the named wines comes from a specific vineyard in a different part of Barossa. The Relic comes from Krondorf. Schubert Theorem from Marananga. The Standish from Greenock. Lamella from Eden Valley and Andelmonde from Light Pass. Generally. the wines see about 20% new oak (all French). with the proportion of whole clusters varying. depending on the vintage and the vineyard. Also depending on the vintage. Standish bottles all. some or none of the wines. with any barrels that don't make the cut being sold in bulk. After his blockbuster 2016s. the 2017s come across as slightly less complete yet still delicious. while the 2018s—"a typical Barossa vintage." according to Standish—look extremely promising.
Sourced from the Standish Family Vineyard – Siegersdorf Road. Vine Vale. Barossa Valley. Planted on own roots in 1912 (7.6 Hectares – 12ft x 10ft spacing). Fine white sand over deep heavy red clay at 302m above sea level.
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.
“The sensational Shiraz offers up scents of roasted meats. beef broth. blackberries. and cassis liqueur. Its texture. sumptuous depth. and incredible richness and purity blew me away. Despite its huge size. it possesses tremendous equilibrium and definition. Drink this classic South Australian Shiraz over the next 10-15 years.”
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
