June 8, 2018 - Coravin tasting with Booker and Gorman 2010 Syrahs. Reddish-brown chestnut and murky in color. Medium-high acidity, slightly sweet, syrupy tar with a long finish.
February 12, 2016 - I'm in the 93 camp. PnP. Black plums and dried prunes and dates, shoe polish, black olive, attic, jerky, brown spice on aroma. Juicy and fresh black fruit, a surge of black licorice, dripping with black olive, any sign of creamy oak is totally absorbed and a pleasing acid cleanses and lingers. This is in a surprisingly wonderful spot of savory and sweet. Glad I held onto one. Wow.
May 7, 2013 - Dark red, slight fade at rim. Lovely nose of balckberry and creme de cassis. Intense flavours of red fruits, blueberries and blackberries. What is most noticeable is the texture: this wine is thick with a creamy texture. Evokes a blueberry/blackberry milkshake. The same creamy texture that I find in Hundred Acre, Caymus and some other CA cabs. This is a controversial wine that will polarize opinion: some will love the intensity of the fruit, others will hate it and find it over the top. I am somewhere between, more a fan than a detractor. Thought the creaminess was a bit overdone and obscured any secondary nuances. Very well-made wine, but a style I can visit only a few times a year.
November 1, 2012 - Really not too bad. I don't like the genre anymore, but this wine is still quite good. It is a little heat affected and quite ripe, but the fruit comes out mostly on the red side to me- DARK red- and rather fluid so I was able to drink and dare say, enjoy this wine.
August 24, 2010 - 2002 Standish The Relic 93% shiraz/ 7% viognier (RP91) 14.5%. Australian version of Cote Rotie. I've enjoyed several vintages of both the Standish shiraz and Standish The Relic; I tend to prefer the Relic, for a bit more complexity and it's floral nose. Slight VA on the nose; blew off with aeration. Boatload of sweet black fruit; nothing subtle about this wine, but it's in a pretty good place right now; better than the bottle I had in Jan 2010. RF93.
March 10, 2010 - Dark and a little murky. Nose is dark fruit, roasted meat, some candy. As expected, a rich, very full body with tons of nuanced fruit flavour. I cant say I noticed wood or alcohol and the tannin was pleasant. Ready today and with with a future of probably 5 years. Worth the money ($175 at Divino in Calgary)
March 6, 2010 - Very well paired with the short ribs. So smooth, great structure, very well balanced, gentle nose with good dark fruit but then so smooth in the glass and with a nice long finish.
May 9, 2008 - Wow! Liked this wine VERY much!! Aroma was full of berries and even a slight whiff of beef jerky.. definitely could taste the black pepper!
December 3, 2006 - Big Dog
August 1, 2006 - Floral and fragrant nose that also gives off apricot, blackberry and liquorice. The palate is soft and sweet, despite the fruit intensity it is easy to drink - just lacking the depth to be better than very good.