Two Hands 2013 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz
Two Hands Wines was founded in early 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz. The original aim shared by Michael and Richard was to make the best possible Shiraz-based wines from prized Shiraz growing regions throughout Australia. Their intention was, and still is, to showcase the diversity of Australian Shiraz by highlighting regional characteristics and allowing the fruit to be the primary feature of the wines. Two Hands refers to the very personable approach taken with each parcel of grapes, no matter how big or small. Two Hands’ first vintage was in 2000, starting with just 17 tonnes of fruit. In 2004 a state-of-the-art winery was built in the picturesque Barossa Valley in South Australia, specifically designed for small batch handling. To maximise the individual regional and varietal characteristics and to allow for greater quality control, every parcel of fruit, no matter how small, is handled separately from crushing through to fermentation and oak maturation.
I recently review the 2013 Angels’ Share Shiraz, however the Gnarly Dudes packs a bigger punch. I noticed a clean deep and dark purple color with aromas of fresh blue/red fruits with spicy notes. The palate revealed rich ripe almost jammy fruits, plums, raspberries and blueberries with firm tannins and acidity to match. I noted some cacao, toasty oak and black pepper on a lingering finish. This wine needed some time after I opened it to approach it’s beauty, however sit this gem down for a while and you will be rewarded. Another very nice Shiraz from Two Hands!
Cheers!