97 points - "The 2023 The Standish Shiraz is the most "Barossan" of all the Standish cuvées. It exudes earthy brick dust tannins and layers sumac and exotic spices with roasted game and sweet marrow. There are notes of black cherry, dried rose petals, sandalwood, hung deli meat and licorice, all of it strapped to rails of grounded tannin. It's chewy, substantial and of the earth, in its way. The fruit is sourced from the Laycock family vineyard in Greenock, as always, and it expresses the red clay and loam soils there in its splay of tannic fortitude and density. This is very impressive. It is fresh yet meaty/rocky—both attractive qualities in Shiraz/Syrah. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork." - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

97 points - "The long, extended '23 vintage manifests itself beautifully in the glass with this release. It could be from nowhere else but the Barossa – the Laycock vineyard in Greenock to be precise. Fruit purity is a leitmotif of the Standish wines and, again, it's peaking the meter in '23, with deep black cherry and satsuma plum fruits at its core. There's fruit density and power here but finesse and detail are close at hand. Tendrils of exotic bunchy spice move through the wine, with glimpses of sandalwood, dried purple flowers, charcuterie, tapenade and the ferruginous stamp of place. What I love about this release is the tension between fruit weight, fine tannin heft and mineral cadence. There is precision and power and that is a very attractive thing indeed." - Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)

91+ points - "Mocha and caramel here, quite a lot of oak, blackberry, pepper and dried herbs. Purple fruit, drying grainy tannin, mocha with an orange tang, feels quite sooty, and the finish has espresso coffee with a clip of bitterness. Grainy feel. Solid length. May come good. 91+ points." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

92 points - "A very beefy, meaty release adorned with lots of tobacco and sandalwood, garam masala spice, dark plum, cola, stewed berries and chewy, dusty tannin in tow. It feels a little drying and firm in its way. Good intensity and concentration here, a fuller figured expression and big impact for those seeking it, but perhaps missing the finesse that often comes with Standish’s releases. The veering into dry-reddy territory is the quibble. 92 points." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

Patience is not merely waiting for something to happen but the ability to maintain a positive attitude during that time.
Patience was fundamental to the 2023 harvest in the Barossa, with the grape picking extending well into May, almost a month later than average.

As grape growers we are farmers and as the saying goes, we always have “one eye on the sky”. Habitually hoping for more rain in our parched landscape, at this critical time of year prior to harvest however, rain is the antagonist.

The ripening phase saw a handful of pesky precipitation events each of which arrived with vexatious timing. To harvest or not to harvest? The repeated question, each time.

The Risk – pick too early and risk thin green under ripe grapes or too late and risk dilute flavours or to lose the entire crop at the hands of fungal diseases or split berries.

The Gain – an extra week or two of sunshine and photosynthesis to increase tannin and anthocyanin in the grape’s seeds and stalks. Ripe and complex grape flavours.

The Results (with Patience):
This gentle elongated ripening creating a special vintage giving us wines of great lusciousness and complexity. Crunchy forefront tannins from the grape skins in conjunction with mellow rounder toning, mouth filling tannin from riper grape seeds. Grip and drive from the lignified stalks alongside the invigorating natural acidity retained due to the cool season, all harmonising to give billowy flow and incredible intricacy.
Some of our most complex and captivating wines to date.

Patience; risky, perhaps – worthwhile, definitely!