Standish The Relic Shiraz Viognier 2023 - In Bond

98 Points - Erin Larkin "The 2023 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier is texturally velvety and smooth; that may sound like a base observation to make, and perhaps it is, but the experience is overwhelmingly silky/ethereal this year. Apricot blossoms, sweet roasted bone marrow, hung deli meat, crushed rocks, licorice, anise and raspberry mingle in the glass, while the palate gives us these characters tenfold, bolstered and grounded by savory tannins. What more is there to say about this, other than that it is sensational? I find this to be an incredibly consistent wine year after year, with my scores rarely deviating too much from "excellent." This is among the very best Shiraz Viognier's in this country; it's a treasure. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax."

97 Points - Halliday.com "The Relic, 98.5/1.5% shiraz/viognier is sourced from the Hongell Family vineyard in Krondorf and immediately presents itself beautifully with dark and red plum, dark cherry and indeed, a stone fruit component that sits obliquely to the deeper fruit on display. A smaller percentage of whole bunch this year but an exotically spiced trail is still apparent in the wine, like fading footsteps in wet sand. There's a char siu meaty aspect in the mix, too, with dried meadow flowers and a real sense of place; the tannins are like powdered sand and there is a sapidness apparent in its cadence. There's only a handful of producers in the region that produce wines with this level of intricacy. It's like bonsai winemaking, capturing nature and all its harvest-borne detail with a sense of balance and proportion. Tremendous drinking."

Stuart McCloskey, tasted April 2025 "This wine communicates another journey into the abyss. Even darker, deeper, more brooding than The Standish. The bouquet is reticent yet addictive. A chasm of iron ore, an underwater forest of sea kelp, sea salt, marine, iodine-like, the blackest liquorice imaginable, violet and bergamot. Dark fruits emerge from my glass, but at a glacial pace – Everything is shrouded in a blanket of warm earth and dusty spice. The palate is equally entrancing – it is so rare to sample such a commanding wine which delivers a sense of equilibrium (a skill that most winemakers can only dream of). The flavours run long and deep – saturating and epic in every sense. Minty! The palate feel is silky and slippery. Tannins and acidity are measured to perfection. An excellent iteration of this great wine, and with a magnificent life ahead of it. Perhaps the most commanding to date and will be around after I have popped my clogs (50-60+ years). That said, let’s revisit in a decade or so and reassess both our futures… Can I drink this now? Sure, but decant for at least 24-hours. Utterly captivating (give it the time it deserves) and puts many (more expensive) Aussie wines to shame. Decanted for 24-hours (poured back into the bottle – cork left out) Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware."