Two Hands Wines Shiraz Bella's Garden 2016
Deep, dark red with a black core and purple hue. Deep set aromas of blackberry, bramble, black pepper, dried flower, Indian ink, and baking spices. Straight away this wine hits you with a wall of flavour. Crashing and caressing the breadth of the palate, it ratchets up a gear as it runs the length of the palate. Just as the wine seems to start losing control, a beautiful line of acidity harnesses the power, tightens up and commands authority. A veil of sheer elegance creeps though the palate. The tannins start early and build momentum drawing the wine through to an extremely long and detailed finish.
Critical Acclaim
94 Jeb Dunnuck
A wine that always seems to deliver, the 2016 Shiraz Bella's Garden comes from the Barossa Valley and saw a touch of whole clusters and 18 months in roughly 20% new French oak. Blueberries, black raspberries, vanilla bean, spice, and toasted bread notes all flow to a full-bodied, ripe, opulent Shiraz that has sweet tannin, a balanced, clean profile, and a great finish. It’s a knockout bottle of wine to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years.
93 Wine Spectator
Complex, opening with a distinctive floral note of dried lavender that adds an aromatic lift to the polished blackberry, cherry and black pepper flavors. Dark, dense and concentrated at the core. Details of spice, vanilla and clove mingle on the finish. Drink now through 2028. 5,500 cases made.
92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Shiraz Bella's Garden, from the winery's "home turf" in the Barossa Valley, features luscious aromas of mixed berries, vanilla and just enough meaty notes to keep the wine from being overly fruit-driven. Instead, it's savory and complex, with cedar framing the ample fruit, and it has fine-grained, silky tannins and a long, crisp finish. Nicely done.
90 James Suckling
A very essence-like and ripe nose, showing notes of blackberry compote, ink, iodine, dark licorice, dark chocolate and violet and conifer. Full body, lots of juicy dark fruit, some structured tannins and a chewy finish. Drink in 2023.
