Two Hands
Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz established Two Hands Wines in 1999 with the aim of making the best possible Shiraz based wines from prized Shiraz producing regions in Australia. Their intention was and still is to show the diversity of Australian Shiraz by highlighting regional characteristics and allowing the fruit to be the primary feature of Two Hands Wines. By working closely with their growers and having a focus on small batch handling Michael and Richard are able to identify sites and parcels of fruit that produce exceptional examples of regional and varietal definition.
Lily's Garden is the pick of the bunch from the Two Hands McLaren Vale vineyards. The grapes were crushed into open top fermenters, with regular pump-overs twice daily to extract colour and tannin. They were then pressed and the wine was transferred to tank and then racked to barrel for maturation. Lily's Garden is matured for 14 months in new and old American oak hogsheads.
Tasting Notes
Winemaker's Comments
Buoyant raspberry, red cherry characters with a restrained savoury palate, grainy tannins backed by integrated oak. A serious food wine that shows what a wonderful marriage these three varietals make if blended with balance in mind.
Grapes/Blend
100% Shiraz
Vinification
De-stemmed and crushed to open top fermenters. The Shiraz was pumped over three times daily through the peak of fermentation, whereas the Grenache and Mourvèdre, after a few days cold soak, were lightly plunged. Average time ‘on-skins’ was 15 days. Grenache parcels were fermented with 20% whole bunches. All pressings were added back to the free run. Some barrels had extended lees contact through maturation.
Maturation
Aged for 12 months in a combination of concrete and older puncheon and hogsheads.
Appearance
Medium crimson red with a bright red core.
Aroma
Notes of smoked tea, bright dark cherry, mulberry, juniper, with hints of anise, cassia bark, black pepper and fresh hung meat.
Palate
Medium bodied with lovely pert acidity giving the palate a lovely buoyant quality. Bright fruit notes lead the entry, layered with notes of spice and smoked tea that provide depth and complexity. Black pepper, fresh meat and oolong tea dominate where hints of cassia bark and star anise provide background notes. A lovely long length through the palate is aided along with creamy lees notes. Whole bunch, chalky tannins provide a savoury note through the late palate.
Cellaring Potential
Great drinking now with potential for short to medium term cellaring of five to ten years.
Expert Reviews
Campbell Mattinson
91 Points
This is a svelte, stylish, easy-drinking red wine with just enough in-built complexity to set it apart from the norm. It won’t scare any horses but nor will it put anyone to sleep. On the latter point: the alcohol has been nicely tamed too. It tastes of leather and woodsmoke, blueberry and raspberry, with woody anise and resin as garnish. There’s a peppercorn note and more than a hint of reduction. It all slips down nicely.
The Wine Front, 15 November 2017
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