• Australia,  Exceptional Red,  Shiraz

    Exceptional Red

    19 Crimes The Warden 2015 Nineteen Crimes turned criminals into Colonists. Upon conviction, British rogues, guilty of at least one of the 19 Crimes, were sentenced to live in Australia, rather than death. This punishment by “transportation” began in 1788, and many of the lawless died at sea. For the rough-hewn prisoners who made it to shore, a new world awaited. As pioneers in a frontier penal colony, they forged a new country and new lives, brick by brick. This 19 Crimes wine celebrates the rules they broke and they culture they built. The Warden is a Shiraz-based red blend (can’t find the rest of the blend, even the US…

  • Australia,  Barossa Valley,  Cellar Selection,  Shiraz

    Cellar Selection

    Two Hands 2013 Bella’s Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz This is the final installment from the private wine tasting where one of the Founders of Two Hands Wines, Michael Twelftree opened four of his wines and provided some in depth commentary on his wines and his winery. I already reviewed three of his wines and today I will talk about Bella’s Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz.  Michael was generous enough to have his picture taken with me, see below.  Michael is the “good looking one” on the left! Michael thank you for spending time and sharing your vast knowledge of wine! As I previously commented, Two Hands Wines was founded in early…

  • Australia,  Barossa Valley,  Exceptional Red,  Shiraz

    Exceptional Red

    Two Hands 2013 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz In the last posting I mentioned that I recently went to a private wine tasting where one of the Founders of Two Hands Wines, Michael Twelftree opened four of his wines and provided some in depth commentary on his wines and his winery. I already reviewed two of his wines and today I will talk about Gnarly Dudes. In a few days I comment on his last I wine tasted. Two Hands Wines was founded in early 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz. Michael’s hand, on the logo, is the one on the left. From the outset, Two Hands set out to be…

  • Australia,  Cabernet Sauvignon,  Exceptional Red,  Shiraz

    Exceptional Reds

    I recently went to a private wine tasting where one of the Founders of Two Hands Wines, Michael Twelftree (pictured above) opened four of his wines and provided some in depth commentary on those wines and his winery. I will review two of his wines today and the other two I will make some comments my next two reviews, in a few days, keep a look out! Two Hands 2014 Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon 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…

  • Australia,  Barossa Valley,  Exceptional Red,  Shiraz

    Exceptional Red

    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…

  • Australia,  Exceptional Red,  Shiraz

    Exceptional Red

    Two Hands 2013 Angels’ Share 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…

  • Australia,  Mid-Week Wines,  Shiraz

    Mid-Week Red

    2012 Mollydooker, The Boxer, Shiraz Let’s go down under where the weather is 80 degrees and NO Polar Vortex!  Thinking about warm weather, I came across a recently released 2012 Shiraz from Mollydooker, The Boxer, and decided to give it a try!  The winery, owned by Sarah & Sparky Marquis, is located in McLaren Vale, less than an hour outside of Adelaide in Southern Australia.  I would suggest that you visit the Mollydooker website as there are a number of interesting things to read and a bit about Sarah & Sparky Marquis and how Mollydooker came to be.  In addition, the winery suggests that you do the “Mollydooker Shake” before…