Two Hands
Bella's Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz
Barossa Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
There are some professional critics that would tell you this 09 Bella’s Garden is at the end of its life. I understand this producer to buy into that. This wine is drinking beautifully with at least five years of good drinking still ahead.
The nose reveals slightly stewed dark currants and fruits. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, olallieberries, boysenberries, black cherries & blueberries. Black licorice, dark cola, black pepper, steeped dark fruit tea, limestone minerals, smokey meats, sweet tarriness, used French Roast coffee grounds, touch of rubber toy=va, liqueur notes, mocha powder, light dry herbs and withering & fresh dark florals, violets and lavender.
The body is lush, ruby, elegant and full. The tannins are round, velvety smooth and still have some teeth. The structure, tension, length and balance says this wine is right around its peak. Great mouthfeel. The fruits on the palate are candied. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, olallieberries, boysenberries, black cherries & blueberries. Black licorice, dark cola, black pepper, steeped dark fruit tea, limestone minerals, smokey meats, mid intensity dark spice, sweet tarriness, used French Roast coffee grounds, hints of black olive, touch of rubber toy=va...a bit less than the nose, liqueur notes, mocha powder, light dry herbs, moist clay, underbrush, dry crushed rocks and withering & fresh, amazingly bright dark florals, violets and lavender. The acidity is a lukewarm rain shower. The gorgeous finish is flat out elegant, well balanced fruit & earth and persists for minutes.
I would have given this a 94 if not for the touch of va.
Photos of; Two Hands Cellar Door, fountain in the courtyard, tasting bar as you walk in and the view from our patio tasting.
There are some professional critics that would tell you this 09 Bella’s Garden is at the end of its life. I understand this producer to buy into that. This wine is drinking beautifully with at least five years of good drinking still ahead.
The nose reveals slightly stewed dark currants and fruits. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, olallieberries, boysenberries, black cherries & blueberries. Black licorice, dark cola, black pepper, steeped dark fruit tea, limestone minerals, smokey meats, sweet tarriness, used French Roast coffee grounds, touch of rubber toy=va, liqueur notes, mocha powder, light dry herbs and withering & fresh dark florals, violets and lavender.
The body is lush, ruby, elegant and full. The tannins are round, velvety smooth and still have some teeth. The structure, tension, length and balance says this wine is right around its peak. Great mouthfeel. The fruits on the palate are candied. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, olallieberries, boysenberries, black cherries & blueberries. Black licorice, dark cola, black pepper, steeped dark fruit tea, limestone minerals, smokey meats, mid intensity dark spice, sweet tarriness, used French Roast coffee grounds, hints of black olive, touch of rubber toy=va...a bit less than the nose, liqueur notes, mocha powder, light dry herbs, moist clay, underbrush, dry crushed rocks and withering & fresh, amazingly bright dark florals, violets and lavender. The acidity is a lukewarm rain shower. The gorgeous finish is flat out elegant, well balanced fruit & earth and persists for minutes.
I would have given this a 94 if not for the touch of va.
Photos of; Two Hands Cellar Door, fountain in the courtyard, tasting bar as you walk in and the view from our patio tasting.
Loving the Barossa lately. Flew this one back from working vintage 2010. Rich, beefy, almost cool climey until the velvet blanket of fruit and oak cloak it down.
Loving the Barossa lately. Flew this one back from working vintage 2010. Rich, beefy, almost cool climey until the velvet blanket of fruit and oak cloak it down.
Dec 16th, 2014
Huge Shiraz. Mellowed in the glass.
Huge Shiraz. Mellowed in the glass.
Dec 2nd, 2018
Wow. Last had 7 years ago. Didn’t think it had been that long. But I said 5-10 years left and was more or less right. This is past peak. Has become a cherry cola bomb, with no other flavors. At this point it tastes like a $10 Shiraz. Disappointing it didn’t hold up but my fault. I should’ve opened up sooner. If you have this, drink it now.
Wow. Last had 7 years ago. Didn’t think it had been that long. But I said 5-10 years left and was more or less right. This is past peak. Has become a cherry cola bomb, with no other flavors. At this point it tastes like a $10 Shiraz. Disappointing it didn’t hold up but my fault. I should’ve opened up sooner. If you have this, drink it now.
Mar 27th, 2018Great Aussie shiraz with fruit up front and spice in the finish. This wine is drinking great 8 years in.
Great Aussie shiraz with fruit up front and spice in the finish. This wine is drinking great 8 years in.
Jul 23rd, 2017Deep, dark color. Abundant blackberry, plum and blueberry fruit, with pepper and smoked meat on the mid-palate. Rich and concentrated, has a lot of depth, with a palate-coating finish. Two years since last tasting, which has done wonders for this and kicked it into another gear. Wouldn't surprise me if this had another 5 years, but I think it's at its peak right now. A former WS Top 100.
Deep, dark color. Abundant blackberry, plum and blueberry fruit, with pepper and smoked meat on the mid-palate. Rich and concentrated, has a lot of depth, with a palate-coating finish. Two years since last tasting, which has done wonders for this and kicked it into another gear. Wouldn't surprise me if this had another 5 years, but I think it's at its peak right now. A former WS Top 100.
Aug 2nd, 2016
Very juicy, complex, long developing finish, and more.. Love Barossa Valley magic, and Two Hands mastered it!! Bravo Aussies!
Very juicy, complex, long developing finish, and more.. Love Barossa Valley magic, and Two Hands mastered it!! Bravo Aussies!
Feb 6th, 2016Good wine, a bit one dimensional for me. Two Hands do better wines
Good wine, a bit one dimensional for me. Two Hands do better wines
Dec 31st, 20142009. Nice effort of Two Hands. Not a Syrah but rather an elegant Shiraz. Absolutely not that monster barossa nose. Round, rich not fat, red fruits r there to add decency. Spiciness comes from the alcohol not the juice. Buy.
2009. Nice effort of Two Hands. Not a Syrah but rather an elegant Shiraz. Absolutely not that monster barossa nose. Round, rich not fat, red fruits r there to add decency. Spiciness comes from the alcohol not the juice. Buy.
Sep 27th, 2014