2024 Standish Wine Co The Relic Shiraz Viognier

Dan Standish has a rare knack for turning out Barossa reds that manage to be monumentally powerful without ever feeling sluggish. With The Relic, he co-ferments Shiraz from century-old vines in Krondorf with a tiny splash of Viognier right on top. It is a traditional Northern Rhône technique that coaxes out an aromatic lift and a silky texture that completely reshapes how the dark fruit sits in the glass. The dry 2024 vintage has given the wine an ink-dark, concentrated presence, yet there is a striking freshness to the fruit. Up front, it leads with a surprisingly pretty perfume of violets, apricot blossom and cherry. Beneath that aromatic skin lies a heavy core of black plum, cassis, old leather and game. The weight is substantial, but the mouthfeel is completely seamless. Rather than feeling heavy-handed, the plush dark fruit and a faint hint of dark chocolate are framed by firm, iron-like tannins that give it excellent shape and drive. It is a deep, effortless wine that commands attention. 98 points "Freshness abounds here. In the mouth, the wine is silky, the tannins ferrous and profuse and the length typically long. This is very fine in its shape and monumentally powerful but chalky too. It is very impressive." - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)