The idea for Two Hands was born in September 1999 when founders Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz sat at a friend’s engagement party and decided it was time to make their own wine and market it on the world stage. The original aim was, and still is, to make the best possible Shiraz-based wines from prized growing regions throughout Australia. With so much Australian wine being sold around the globe under multi-region labels in a formulaic style, the intention was to break the mould and showcase the diversity of Australian Shiraz by highlighting regional and vineyard characteristics by allowing the fruit to be the primary feature of the wines.

Climate

After the second La Niña year in a row, the vineyards received an above average winter rainfall, the winery then progressed into a very mild spring and an equally mild summer with only one day recorded over 40°C. Due to slightly later flowering, the vines were set up to mature at a slower than usual pace, this put the start of vintage back around 3 weeks on average, these mild ripening conditions allowed for slower than usual favour development, this matched with lower yield across the board has resulted in another quality harvest.

Winemaking

The parcels of fruit making up this wine were crushed into and fermented in open top vessels, with pump overs (three daily over peak fermentation) to extract colour, flavour and tannins. The batches were then drained and pressed to tank and then racked to barrel for oak maturation.

Tasting notes

Sexy Beast, a succulent and luscious McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon.Written by Two Hands Wines proprietor Michael Twelftree upon release: “A nice wave of fruits enter your palate, this springs forth in layers and slowly caress the palate with moderately weighted dark fruits. I love the nerve and trapped energy presented here, on the late palate the fruits turns to have a stony edge and minerality which dries out the late palate. This is very easy to like Cabernet, and it show you the wonders of this varietal when it all comes together. I find this a very serious wine, and I love the tension and linear edge that it holds. I could only describe the tannins as driving, fruit filled and with a slight bitter edge. I really enjoy this ride and I can see that enjoyment finishing for quite a long time with cellaring.”