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Unveiling the new  Customarily, Vinorium customers receive first dibs prior to the global launch. This special Pre-Arrival Offer Ends Shipping / Delivery dates: We plan to ship June / July with an ETA into the UK of September / October 2024. As ever, we will provide firmer dates closer to the time… A few, fun facts… We’ve sold & you’ve purchased a staggering 23,943 bottles (vintages 2016 to 2021) We have filled and shipped more than 4.5 (20 ft) shipping containers Sales value excluding VAT @ £1,439,988.50 2022 Barossa vintage summary The growing season leading into the 2022 vintage was a blessing, with above average, soaking winter rains, followed by above average early spring rainfall, filling the soil profile for the first time in years. A significant hailstorm on the 28th October and wet, windy and cold flowering conditions reduced potential yield. December 2021 through harvest was cool and dry, which delayed harvest but allowed for the fruit to evenly ripen on the vine while maintaining great fruit condition. Albeit final yields were reduced by 20% to 30%, the richness and power of the wines combined with freshness and purity from the cooler season, has made for back to back great vintages. 2022 Eden Valley vintage summary (home of Lamella) Eden Valley played out a similar story, where the October hailstorm was the worst in living memory. February, March and April made the vintage, with a lingering Indian summer of mild yet dry days of below average temperatures and cold nights ripening low but intense crops of bountiful flavour and natural acidity. For some, a later vintage suited their Riesling and Shiraz perfectly (Lamella is the final pick of the year). Standish is hands-off in the winery. All the wines are foot-trodden, basket-pressed, naturally fermented and bottled unfiltered and unfined. Dan’s ruthless declassification of barrels is an important element of his winemaking: ‘It took me many years to work out that the best wine is not necessarily the best six barrels, but maybe the best four plus the sixth and eighth best, as these latter components add complexity and bring out ethereal characters from the other barrels.’ More often than not, many wineries would give their front teeth for wines of such quality and happily stick on a smart label and sell for 75-bucks. Yet, Dan sells the majority as ‘bulk’ rather than bottle under the Standish label. Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – pricing… Disappointingly, we have received a further price increase for the new collection (10%) which adds an extra, and rather unwelcome layer to last year’s increase – twenty percent over the past two vintages. Previously, I warned of the inevitable rises as, to this day, The Standish Wine Co remains undervalued compared to many of their Aussie peers (qualitatively speaking). Hence, I must be mindful of my own warnings and reason why year-on-year price hikes should not come as a surprise. However, it would be careless of me to brush off price rises in this current, economic climate. Too many producers are increasing their pricing and reason why we have put the brakes on. In some cases, it was the final nail in the coffin that brought our professional relationship to an end. Some have found new, UK agents however, and without naming names, they haven’t a cat in hells chance of selling their wines, which neatly brings me back to my Standish quandary of being ‘undervalued.’ For Australia, their market changed irreparably when China imposed unworkable tariffs on their wine exports. Overnight, it broke the Australian back. Three-years have passed, and China just about to lift their punishing tariffs. The ‘big’ players have containers waiting in Asia and are ready to pounce as soon as the door opens. This is a huge subject and best left for another day. Equally, the UK wine market has not recovered since Brexit. For some, including The Vinorium, Covid was a huge boost for wine – the best e-commerce activity we are likely to ever see (certainly for this decade). The cost-of-living-crisis has understandably dug deep and affected much of the wine trade. Cautious management of wine stocks and available funds to buy exciting parcels is the number one priority for many of us. Sadly, this is not the year to sit on Standish stocks as who knows what’s around the corner. Moreover, and most importantly, this is not the year to shrug off price increases, regardless of being undervalued or not. We have many customers who have supported Standish wines since the 2016 vintage (our first offering as their UK agent). Clearly, we would like you to continue and for the UK Standish wine community to grow. Speaking openly, I am nagged by the pricing and fear sales will be severely impacted. Ultimately, our customers will suffer as some may not be in the financial position to shoulder the new pricing, which I am uncomfortable with. Therefore, and regardless of the global price increase for the 2022 Standish collection, I have taken the decision to absorb these costs along with further reductions to our bottom line as I believe prices need to reflect where we are today. Of course, we are making a profit, but circa twenty percent less than we would like to. Wine rises aside, we are seeing more price increases in shipping (thanks to the Houthi rebels) and additional time on-the-water (circa 3-weeks). UK packaging and home deliveries continue to rise, as did UK wine duty. Nonetheless, we do our best to play the cards that are dealt…   Introduction to tasting the 2022s What a difference a year makes… Ordinarily, Standish samples are received in the December / early January and left to settle for a few weeks. Once decanted, I sample the collection over 3-to-4-days, with the latter days providing the best windows to measure each wine. The 2022s provide an entirely different sampling proposition as, and for the first time, I believe they are better without extended time in the decanter. I opened the four wines on the morning of Monday (25th) and decanted immediately. Another first being the rush of freshness from each bottle and a clear indicator that great Australian wines do provide a window into vintage variation. 24-hours later, I took my first sniff and sip of The Schubert Theorem (my favourite over the years) and felt rather betrayed. The past 24-hours robbed me of everything I was looking forward to. I opened another bottle and worked directly from my glass. No decanting and no extended aeration (a few hours in my glass provided the best understanding of the ’22 Schubert Theorem). Straight off the bat, the 2022s really do it for me. Clearly, these are no shrinking violets and continue to provide the telltale Standish hallmark of richness and otherworldly depth. But there’s a fresher expression to the ‘22s without detracting from the intensity or concentration which I haven’t experienced before. It’s like a new era at Standish – a highly tuned Ferrari engine opposed to a brute of a US muscle beast. For me, the 2022s have provided the best sampling experience to date... "For Relic fans - this delivers everything you could ever hope for… Simply, a beautiful, sensual release which has left me struggling to find the right words. Perhaps ‘it delivers the complete package’ will do?"  Hongell Family Vineyard, Krondorf  Stuart McCloskey “Two bottles were opened with bottle two showing better (this sample was served with less aeration / decanting time (1-hour in this case) which is the theme for the ’22 collection. Less delivers more…). The aromatics bowl you over with the sheer intensity, crystalline purity and drips with succulence. Graphite, Indian ink, iodine along with anise meld with plum compote, raspberry, blackcurrant, espresso, vanilla, mint, bay leaf, pretty florals and cedar (Mocha follows with more aeration). The palate is mindboggling and unlike any other Relic vintage I have sampled (certainly upon release). Such accessibility, so graceful, so pure, and impeccable balanced – a silken Shiraz in its finest incarnation. I suggest those seeking brutal tannins move on as these gently ripple across the palate. Akin to the bouquet, the palate is saturated with black and blue fruits. The satiny texture is heavenly and feels top-class in any language. This is a dignified release, it’s certainly pretty and executed with finesse. For Relic fans - this delivers everything you could ever hope for… Simply, a beautiful, sensual release which has left me struggling to find the right words. Perhaps ‘it delivers the complete package’ will do? Easily my favourite Relic to date. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware. Drink now to 2050+. Sampled 27 March 2024.” £385.00 per case (6x75cl - In Bond) Interesting titbits: The vineyard is owned by Torbreck’s General Manager & Chief Winemaker Ian Hongell’s father, John and his younger brother, Trev. For those who don’t know – Dan previously worked at Torbreck under Dave Powell. Dan asked the Hongell family to plant a single row of Viognier alongside the Shiraz. Handpicked together and co-fermented, Dan says, ‘it not only adds heady aromatics to the mix, but also softens the otherwise firm tannins.’ "A bona fide giant on the world stage of wine… Simply beautiful and epic. Quite incredible that a wine can make such an immediate impact. By far my favourite Schubert Theorem to date."  Roennfeldt Road, Marananga Stuart McCloskey “The bouquet is simply irresistible – you can smell the succulence, which draws you in and keeps you hooked. I love a wine that provides a perfume that is so profound, there isn’t a need to taste. First-up is the unmissable marine influence – salt, iodine and seaweed, which pervades with graphite. A harmonious and adult introduction. Fruit elements provide an intoxicating and heady mix of dark pastille fruits, crème de mûre and cassis. A further layer of savouriness is delivered by way of liquorice, black olive tapenade and star anise. Wonderfully exotic and then I am transported back to the seaside… Professionally, I have been sampling wines for 25-years and some of the very best too, yet I am not sure if I have ever come across a newly released wine (an infant in the bottle) that delivers such immediate pleasure and almost perfect mouthfeel. The balance is immaculate and personifies ‘seamlessness’. As odd as it sounds, it flows to a cool climate tune and a warm one at once. There’s a little warm climate attitude yet, the palate feel is otherworldly. So gracious, bewitched by beauty – the tannins are super-fine and super-long. The fruit is intensely sweet, dark, brooding and wholesome in their respective exoticness. Cerebral winemaking at its very best. Purity personified and delivers a sheath of coolness which I have never witnessed from a Barossa Shiraz. This genuinely has captured all my senses. Furthermore, and before I commence chapter two, there is no doubt in my mind that the 2022 Schubert Theorem is a bona fide giant on the world stage of wine… Simply beautiful and epic. Quite incredible that a wine can make such an immediate impact. By far my favourite Schubert Theorem to date. Drink now to 2050+. Served using Zalto Burgundy (better than the Bordeaux glass). Sampled 26 March 2024.” £385.00 per case (6x75cl - In Bond) Interesting titbits: A masterful blend of six east-facing sections of the Schubert vineyard in Marananga, planted between 1994 and 1999. The Schubert vineyard may ring a bell with some of our original customers – 1024 bottles of (05, 06 & 07) Schubert Goose yard Shiraz were purchased by you… Such a small, vinous world!  "Sheer power which is counterbalanced by a deftly touch of lacelike brilliance. Utter harmony. It really takes perfection in its stride and deserves its legendary status."  Hutton Vale Farm, Eden Valley Stuart McCloskey “Every Standish collector wants the ‘Lamella’ however, good luck as it is rarely seen upon release, let alone years down the line. You wouldn’t believe how many cases we have shipped back to Australian customers. Accordingly, pile in and buy the most lauded wine in the quartet. As per The Relic sample, two bottles were opened with bottle two showing much better (1-hour decanting opposed to many hours and days which has been customary with previous releases). I found Lamella the most interesting sample to assess. For one, it certainly shows the longer hangtime in the vineyard, which translates from vine to glass. Denser, more structured, and quintessentially Standish. The tannins are more pronounced and provide the perfect frame for the concentrated fruit… I am getting ahead of myself – back to the bouquet which is drop dead gorgeous and certainly the ‘deeper’ and ‘denser’ of the ’22 releases. Bottomless nori, layers of coal / graphite – it’s off the charts in terms of concentration and depth. Dark black and blue fruits which are laced with sweet, exotic spice. White pepper, sous-bois and glorious blood orange. The puppy fat palate is kept in-check by cooling freshness and firm but silken tannins. This is the archetypical ‘iron fist in a velvet glove.’ I love the interplay of elements which make-up this masterpiece. Sheer power which is counterbalanced by a deftly touch of lacelike brilliance. Utter harmony. It really takes perfection in its stride and deserves its legendary status. By my favourite Lamella to date. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware. Drink now to 2050 and I hope it brings as much joy to you as it did for me…”  ONLY available as a duo £780.00 (12x75cl - In Bond) Interesting titbits:
The vineyard was planted with cuttings from Henschke’s Mt Edelstone vineyard in the early 1960s (which is close by) and represents the final pick of the season. The Angas family originally owned the Mt Edelstone vineyard, which they sold to the Henschke family. This vineyard is in the middle of Mt Edelstone and Hill of Grace vineyards. Dan exclusively sources from the northern part of the vineyard. We previously sold / offered wines from Hutton Vale Farm (winemaker at the time being Kym Teusner of Utopos) including their Shiraz which is produced from the ‘old block’ / Mount Edelstone cuttings… Same as Lamella! "This wine is a perfect marriage of the Barossa and the great wines of Hermitage, Rhône."  Laycock Family Vineyard, Greenock Stuart McCloskey “Customarily, the most muscular wine of the quartet and one that always speaks accurately of its terroir. Also, the one that requires more time and understanding as it sadly, doesn’t always offer the same kerb appeal as the others. I decanted all four wines back-to-back. I resisted sampling, but I took a deep inhale, and this was the most exciting wine straight out of the bottle, which is another first as it’s often the most reticent. The bouquet is turbo-charged – Schubert Theorem dialled up a notch or two. Beauty and the beast if you like. Marine influences are at play – this time there’s a ‘warmed’ element to their respective fragrance. Perhaps a deeper fragrance of iodine, sea kelp and sea salt would be a better description. The fruit is mineral and spice-driven, black and blue with pastille goodness along with violets and fresh pencil shavings. Wonderfully floral too. A brooding, exotic behemoth being an accurate summary. In time, you’ll see… This wine is a perfect marriage of the Barossa and the great wines of Hermitage, Rhône. The palate is distinctly powerful, but and unlike previous releases, the magical 2022 wand has cast a degree of charm. Spiced fruit cake, cocoa and coffee add yin and yang to the palate staining black and blue fruits, which are infused with the most expensive, exotic spices. The ‘spice’ notes are heightened with more aeration. At first, the tannins feel almost hidden, but when you go looking, they do provide some serious grip and add lovely shape and feel to the wine. The palate feel is generous and certainly the most appealing example we have seen, yet it is too young to broach. I recommend 8-10 years, but it is worth opening one bottle just to quell one’s curiosity. Another triumph and the most enjoyable ‘The Standish’ we have experienced. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware. Drink 2030+ to 2050+. Sampled 26 March 2024.” £385.00 per case (6x75cl - In Bond) Interesting titbits: The Standish Shiraz was the first cuvée launched by Dan Standish in 1999. An organically farmed vineyard. The easterly aspect of soils are the key to this extraordinary wine. Classic; ferrous, poised and supremely structed. This special Pre-Arrival Offers Ends |
