Standish Lamella Shiraz 2021

James Suckling Top 100 Wines of Australia 2023

"I consider Dan Standish the reigning king of Barossa Shiraz."  Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate

Dan Standish has the Barossa Valley running through his veins. A 6th Generation native, Dan created his Standish label in 1999 whilst still working at Torbreck. Today his wines are some of the most highly sought-after in the world and are critically acclaimed both here in Australia and internationally.

"It's full-bodied, all the rich dark cherry and blackberry, chocolate sauce, so much ripe dark succulent fruit, with deep submerged dark chocolate tannin, and maybe a little warmth through it, but gee, so much flavour and power. It's kind of overt, but wow, it's a wine of presence and impact. Mind how you go."  Gary Walsh

The Lamella is an imperious and beguiling wine, the pinnacle of Eden Valley Shiraz. A wine to rival Hensche's Hill of Grace and Mt Edelstone. Fruit is sourced from the Angas family vineyard, Hutton Vale Farm. This vineyard is right in the middle of Mt Edelstone and Hill of Grace vineyards as the crow flies. Cuttings came from the Mt Edelstone vineyard and were planted in the early 1960s. 

Erin Larkin reviews the 2021 Standish Lamella Shiraz (5:58 into the video)

Expert reviews

"If anything, the 2021 Lamella is full of aching potential; its future is writ upon the balance of fruit and skin/stalk tannin, freshness and density. For lovers of this cuvée, I cannot recall seeing it so balanced and poised on release. The 2018 (a vintage I reference constantly for its high quality and fruit presence) may challenge this statement, however the cool vintage that birthed the Lamella this year has produced a wine of definition and untold potential. Super. 

The 2021 Lamella Shiraz is made with fruit from the Angas family vineyard, Hutton Vale Farm, Eden Valley. The vineyard was planted with cuttings from the Mt Edelstone (Henschke) vineyard and represents the final pick of the season each year. Made with 100% whole bunches in the ferment, the wine opens with characteristic jasmine tea, bergamot, raspberry, graphite and star anise on the nose. The whole-bunch component, far from overtaking the fruit, is seamlessly integrated from the first instance this year. The wine is a cohesive whole and shows an elegance and presence that is beguiling, to say the least. Sealed under natural cork. 14.9% alcohol."  Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate - 98+ points

"Shiraz sourced from Hutton Vale Farm in the Eden Valley, 100% whole bunches. Looking very impressive indeed with its lushly formed blue and black berry fruits wrapped in tones of exotic spice, sage, raspberry coulis, pomegranate, white pepper, citrus blossom, black tea, roasting meats and olive paste. Texturally gorgeous, the chew of skin and stalk softly diffuses through the fruit, acidity quartzy and vital, providing pulse and frame, the fade slow with great length of flavour and pure fruit drive. Plenty of potential here for the cellar. Drink by 2043."  Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion - 97 points

"Blackberry liqueur, praline and chocolate, sage and mint, dark XMAS cake, dried flowers and chamomile. It's full-bodied, all the rich dark cherry and blackberry, chocolate sauce, so much ripe dark succulent fruit, with deep submerged dark chocolate tannin, and maybe a little warmth through it, but gee, so much flavour and power. We have dried herbs of Eden, and lavish chocolate, almost a saucy coulis level of sweetness, but tempered with lush and thick tannin and rich earthiness to close. It's kind of overt, but wow, it's a wine of presence and impact. Mind how you go."  Gary Walsh, The Wine Front - 96 points

"This is an exceptional wine of billowing power, tannic exactitude and prodigious complexity. Iodine and purple florals define the nose, before a crescendo of purple pastille, anise, charcuterie pepper and clove. Polished and suave, with a curtain of classy oak wrapped across the teeming finish. An exercise in how to manage extract and primary fruit into a paradigm of immense class, poise, layer after layer of complexity and nigh on effortless drinkability. Bravo. Drinkable now, but best from 2027."  Ned Goodwin MW, JamesSuckling.com - 96 points and Top 100 Wines of Australia 2023

Awards

James Suckling Top 100 Wines of Australia 2023

Lamella

100% Shiraz. 100% whole bunch. Sourced from the Angas family vineyard, Hutton Vale Farm, Eden Valley. Cuttings came from the Mt Edelstone vineyard and were planted in the early 1960s. The Angas family originally owned the Mt Edelstone vineyard – they sold it to the Henschke family. This vineyard is right in the middle of Mt Edelstone and Hill of Grace vineyards as the crow flies. Dan exclusively sources from the northern part of the vineyard.

About the Winery

Dan Standish has the Barossa Valley running through his veins. A 6th Generation native, Dan created his Standish label in 1999 whilst still working at Torbreck. Today his wines are some of the most highly sought-after in the world and are critically acclaimed both here in Australia and internationally.

Standish Wine Company is a strikingly beautiful winery located in the Barossa Valley. The winery and vineyards are owned by Dan and Nicole Standish. Dan was first introduced to the art of pruning grape vines by his grandfather at the young age of six in their ancestral vineyard. He founded The Standish Wine Company in 1999 after securing a section of his family vineyard in the Barossa Valley. The same ancient plants that Dan carefully hand pruned are now used to produce his old vine shiraz, fittingly titled 'The Relic'.

Dan and Nicole work side by side at their modern, cavernous winery. The large stone and brick building is framed by lavender bushes and grand old vines. They purchased the site in 2013 a decade after it was built by French-managed company The Colonial Estate. The structure is like something straight out of France's Rhone Valley or Spain's Rioja, both parts of the world that Dan has worked in. He also made wine in California's Napa and Sonoma Valleys, before working for Torbreck. 

The estate produces a number of examples of Barossa Shiraz, including 'The Relic', 'The Standish', The Schubert Theorem and Lamella. Each wine is produced with the utmost attention to detail, blending traditional techniques with modern technology.