2024 Releases
“I have been lucky this vintage season to be joined in the vineyard and cellar by a young winemaker friend from Burgundy, France for an extra pair of helping hands. We have both learned a few new foreign swear words via the typical vintage potty mouth banter. One major thing that struck me from our conversations was how truly international the language of winemaking is.
Remontage, délestage, assemblage, bâttonage; all terms we commonly use in the cellar here in Australia. My favourite literal French translation is pomme de terre (potato) = “apple of the earth”, nothing to do with wine but cute and so matter of fact.
My favourite winemaking term however is élevage /elvaʒ/ = rearing, raising, or breeding “to grow up”. This is the intricate and meticulous phase of winemaking between the basket press and the bottle where the wine traverses through childhood and wily teen years.
This collection of five Shiraz cuvées from the 2024 Vintage have all been afforded the same “growing up” nurturing regimen or élevage. Over 542 days and nights voyaging through malolactic fermentation, melding with the lively lees, slowly reacting with the tiny ingress of oxygen to mellow and evolve in oak barrels. One notable difference is the concrete egg for the northeast section of the Schubert vineyard.
From a dry growing season these 2024’s have indeed grown into detailed, complex and balanced wines of structured depth and lifted vibrancy.” - Dan Standish
The 2024 Growing Season
“The 2024 vintage across the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley stands as a compelling example of resilience rewarded. Marked by early-season frosts and a notably dry growing period, the season delivered highly variable yields, challenging growers and compressing the pace of ripening. Yet from these pressures emerged wines of remarkable precision and intensity. Vintners have aptly described the vintage as “short, sharp, and exceptional,” reflecting both the condensed growing cycle and the striking quality achieved. In Dan’s words “An excellent Barossa vintage. Low yielding and nice even ripening, we were able to pick every vineyard when it was suitably ready.”
2024 The Standish
Laycock Family Vineyard, Greenock
100% Shiraz
The Vinorium review by Stuart McCloskey
Tasted 24 April 2026
“Inky to the core with a deep violet rim, the wine clings to the glass with an almost oil-like sheen – a visual cue to its scale and intent. The bouquet is quite simply bottomless – profoundly deep and endlessly unfurling (near impossible to fully articulate). Dark fruits arrive in layered register – mulberry, blackberry, crème de mûre and damson before the wine shifts and reveals ever more complexity. Dried florals, coconut, iris and liquorice emerge, followed by mint, warming spice and a distinctly cool, ferrous edge. A faint saline whisper lingers, lifting and refining the whole. Each return to the glass brings new detail. This is not a static aromatic profile, but a constantly evolving, almost hypnotic experience. I struggle to think of another Australian winemaker producing wines of such mesmeric detail and intrigue. These are truly special.
The palate is commanding yet under absolute control. There is immense concentration, but it builds slowly and deliberately rather than arriving in a rush. Black fruits form the core, framed by savoury nuances of olive tapenade, graphite, liquorice root and a subtle herbal inflection. The tannins are abundant yet exquisitely judged – fanning out like the finest silk across the palate, providing both structure and composure against the wine’s saturated intensity. What sets this apart is the tension - power meets polish, weight meets cadence. The texture is plush and flowing, almost creamy in its seamlessness, yet anchored by a cooling mineral drive and savoury depth that keeps everything in check.
The finish is extraordinary – long, resonant and seemingly endless, slowly dissolving into an abyss of dark fruit, spice and mineral nuance. A profoundly complete Shiraz of immense scale and detail. This sits comfortably among Australia’s elite and is built for the long haul. Approachable with extended aeration, but patience will be richly rewarded over decades. Quite possibly a step beyond even the remarkable Schubert Theorem – which, frankly, is saying something.”
The Wine Advocate review by Erin Larkin
Posted on 24 March 2026
"The 2024 The Standish Shiraz is typically powerful, savory, closed and spiced here. The nose leads with sweet paprika dolce, brick dust, rose petal, black cherry and licorice. Like all the 2024Shirazes tasted today, the palate here is silky and structural. In fact, tasting these wines side by side, The Relic is more tannic, but this is firmer, in its way. This is ever the wine in the lineup that shows a clear sense of place. It tastes like the power and the shape that the Barossa effortlessly grows from the ground up. It is impressive and impactful. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork. The 2024 The Standish Shiraz was made with fruit from the Laycock family vineyard (the fruit for the 2026 vintage is being picked today, as I stand in the winery with Dan and taste), inGreenock, with 50% whole bunches in the ferment, up from 30%last vintage. I always say that the best amount of whole bunches for me is as much as I can taste; this simple means that whole bunches from Barossa taste the same as whole bunches from Rhône, and both obscure the place in which the fruit was grown.Since that sense of place is at the heart of why I buy, drink and collect wine, I prefer it not to dominate the drinking experience. As usual, the Standish wines harness whole bunches as a tool for texture, structure and complexity but are rarely consumed by it."
98 Points
2024 The Schubert Theorem
Roennfeldt Road, Marananga
100% Shiraz
The Vinorium review by Stuart McCloskey
Tasted 22 April 2026
“I always find myself asking the same question with Schubert Theorem - what sense would I miss the most, smell or taste? With the 2024, it feels almost impossible to choose. The bouquet is utterly riveting - bottomless, brooding, and one of the purest expressions of Australian Shiraz imaginable. Layers of sweet, wild red and black fruits - plum, black cherry, blueberry and blackberry unfurl alongside crème de mûre, dark pastille fruits, bitter chocolate and a gentle whisper of coffee bean. The unmistakable marine signatures of iodine, nori and sea spray meld seamlessly with cooling graphite, violet, rose petal and iris. Bay leaf and liquorice add further intrigue. It is complex, certainly, but more importantly, it feels complete… nothing out of place.
The palate is where everything aligns. Silken, inky and beautifully pure - she glides rather than strides, delivering a rolling swell of sweet fruit wrapped in ribbons of fine, powdery tannins. There is impressive density here, yet it is carried with such grace it feels almost weightless. The influence of whole bunch and concrete egg maturation brings spice, sinew, and a wonderful sense of finesse, while a saline thread and vibrant acidity cut through the richness, providing precision and energy. It’s kinetic, composed, and effortlessly harmonious.
What I admire most is the quality of fruit - it does all the talking. This is not a wine chasing power, though it has it in abundance. Instead, it leans into purity, detail and quiet confidence. The concentration speaks of great Barossa Shiraz, yet the poise and elegance feel almost classical - Burgundy meeting Margaux in spirit yet unmistakably rooted in its ancient terroir.
Profound, composed and deeply moving, the 2024 Schubert Theorem is both immediately captivating and built for the long haul. This is not a wine to rush. Ten to fifteen years will reveal its full story, though even now it offers something deeply compelling. There is simply no other wine like Schubert Theorem. Each vintage feels like a moment - fleeting, extraordinary - and I, for one, feel incredibly fortunate to bear witness ahead of next month’s global launch. I do not add numbers to my tasting notes. That said… this truly deserves 100 points, every day of the week.”
The Wine Advocate review by Erin Larkin
Posted on 24 March 2026
"The 2024 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz is forever one of my favorite wines in this lineup—if I am to reach for a bottle at home, this is often the one that my heart steers me toward. Aromatically, the wine leads with blue fruits and licorice, Boscobel rose and pomegranate. This is fresh, complex and powerful; the tannins feel delicately interwoven into the fruit, and the impact on the palate is all seamlessness and flow. Yes! This is an unbelievable wine. This is usually the only cuvée that features vessels other than oak, such as concrete egg. It preserves freshness and purity within the wine, like the eye of a storm, a center of calm and clarity in what is otherwise a maelstrom of dense flavor and texture. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under cork and wax."
100 Points
2024 Lamella
Stonegarden Vineyard, Eden Valley
100% Shiraz
The Vinorium review by Stuart McCloskey
Tasted 22 April 2026
“I always approach Lamella with a touch of scepticism - yet it has a habit of disarming me completely. With the 2024, I suspect many will share that same moment of quiet astonishment. By God - the colour is magnificent, a work of art in itself. The new Farrow & Ball shade for 2026…
From the first swirl, the bouquet is intoxicating, heady, expansive, and utterly captivating. Very serious and commanding. A kaleidoscope of red and blue fruits - fresh raspberry, black cherry, plum and mulberry unfold into layers of cherry confit, raspberry liqueur, and the sweetest spice. Floral tones arrive in waves from the deepest iris, violet, to potpourri, and all lifted by hints of orange peel and a beautifully exotic edge. Beneath, a more serious undercurrent reveals itself - graphite, coal, wet stone and that unmistakable nori, marine signature. The ancient vines of Stonegarden (dating back to 1858) present themselves clearly; the layers of minerality are unmissable. There’s even a flicker of sage and meadow herbs. This is wildly complex, yet completely seamless… intoxicating doesn’t quite do it justice.
The palate is where Lamella earns its reputation. Creamy, velvety, almost indulgent in texture, yet held perfectly in check. A rolling swell of pure, sweet fruit coats the palate - raspberry, plum, blue fruits are framed by silky, suede-like tannins that provide both structure and finesse. The influence of whole bunch fermentation brings spice, energy and a beautiful savoury lift, while a mineral, granitic cadence runs through the core, keeping everything precise and focused. Despite the intensity, there is no struggle - everything exists in perfect harmony. It is powerful, yes, but never domineering… Instead, it seduces. What strikes me most is the balance between opulence and control. This is plush (undeniably) but it never tips into excess. The fruit quality is simply extraordinary, doing all the talking, supported by detail, poise and a sense of quiet confidence.
Profound and deeply moving, the 2024 Lamella is both an immediate pleasure and a wine built for the ages. Ten to fifteen years will reveal further layers of complexity, though it is already dangerously compelling. There is a magnetic quality here - one that draws you back, glass after glass. I’ll admit it… this may well be the vintage that changes everything for me. The best Lamella I have sampled to date.”
Wine Advocate review by Erin Larkin
Published on 24 March 2026
"The 2024 Lamella Shiraz features 100% whole bunches, as usual, and the wine offers a profusion of tannins, spice, layers of fruit and length. This is gravelly and mineral, with ferrous tannins, graphite and dried rose petals woven through the finish. There is also a note of raw cocoa. This is a wine that you feel as much as you taste and smell. The tannins linger on the palate and help the flavors remain firmly wedged in the memory. I can still taste from one sip to the next; the bridge between mouthfuls doesn't need to be bridged by memory—it is viscerally there. Notes of licorice, fennel, caraway and timut pepper (in that fresh, grapefruit, black tea, sage, resin, pink grapefruit again, delicate, simple/singular way) coat the finish. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax."
98 Points
2024 The Relic
Hongell Family Vineyard, Krondorf
98% Shiraz 2% Viognier
The Vinorium review by Stuart McCloskey
Tasted 23 April 2026
“Boom - cracked black pepper is the first thing to hit your senses. Immediate, explosive, and utterly captivating - I wasn’t expecting such a striking, singular fragrance. It sets the tone for what follows: a wine of towering scale, energy, spice and tension…
The bouquet is initially reticent yet deeply addictive, and like Andelmonde, it needs time to emerge from its slumber. A chasm of iron ore, an underwater forest of sea kelp, sea salt and iodine come rushing through, alongside the blackest liquorice imaginable and a twist of bergamot. There’s a smoked, meaty aspect woven into the core. Dried meadow flowers, violet and rose (courtesy of the Viognier) bring aromatic lift and a certain sensuality. With further aeration, more savoury complexities emerge - olive tapenade, graphite and layers of charcuterie. The aromatic intricacy and depth here are off the scale. Very few possess the skill to deliver this level of detail.
The palate is equally entrancing. It is so rare to encounter a wine of this scale that delivers such equilibrium - the perfect interplay between power and finesse. The fruit is concentrated yet precise, flowing effortlessly across the palate to the tune of dark berries, salted plum and expensive, exotic spice. The flavours run long and deep - saturating, expansive and utterly compelling. Glass-staining in presence. Tannins are firm, providing structure without hardness, while a pepper-laced energy courses through the wine, carried by vibrant acidity and that signature whole-bunch spice.
What stands out most is the balance. This is not simply a wine of power - it is about detail, movement and clarity. The Viognier component works quietly in the background, enhancing texture and aromatic complexity without ever dominating. The finish is ridiculously long, savoury and gently spiced, tapering with a mineral edge and a lingering echo of pepper and dark fruit. A thrilling, expressive wine - something very special… and unmistakably Relic.”
Wine Advocate review by Erin Larkin
Published on 24 March 2026
"The 2024 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier comprises 2% Viognier (destemmed, co-fermented with the Shiraz on top). Aromatically ,the wine leads with red apples and cherry blossom, cranberry ,pomegranate and apricot flowers. This is floral, with rose petals and violets, all of it set against the backdrop of black fruit. 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. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax."
98 Points
(The Standish Wine Company | www.standishwineco.com)