Two Hands : Yacca Block Shiraz 2021

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Yacca Block Shiraz 2021 Two Hands

Tasting

Colour
Deep red in colour, this wine reveals subtle crimson highlights.

Nose
Perfumed and airy, the nose reveals aromas of red and blue fruits, notably plum and cherry. It is enriched with notes of violet, fresh herbs and black pepper, complemented by delicious touches of meat juices.

Palate
Medium-bodied, the palate stands out for its elegance and restraint. It offers lovely freshness underpinned by fine, melting tannins reminiscent of quartz powder. Complex flavours unfold, blending herbaceous, fleshy notes with a subtle chalky minerality.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs beautifully with beef short ribs braised with rosemary and thyme, or a venison fillet with blackberries and juniper. It also complements bold vegetarian dishes such as grilled aubergines glazed with miso, as well as aged hard cheeses like Manchego or Mimolette.

Service and storage

The Yacca Block Shiraz 2021 needs to be decanted before tasting. It can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favourably until around 2035.

Other characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 14.5%.

The authentic expression of a great Eden Valley wine

The estate

Founded in September 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz, the Two Hands winery is located in the Barossa Valley, at the heart of South Australia. Born from a desire to showcase Australia's regional diversity, the estate quickly made its mark on the international scene thanks to its minimal-intervention approach. Now led by Michael Twelftree and Pierre-Henri Morel, who became co-owner in 2022, the estate is distinguished by its pursuit of excellence. By selecting the finest terroirs and favouring sustainable methods, Two Hands produces authentic wines that faithfully express their origin.

The vineyard

The vineyard covers five hectares, perched at 483 metres above sea level on Menglers Hill, in the Eden Valley sub-region. This high-altitude terroir benefits from a cooler microclimate, encouraging slow ripening of the grapes. The vines thrive on shallow soils made up of grey sandy loam, quartz gravel and yellow clay resting on weathered rock. This unique composition, rich in minerals that reflect sunlight, imparts a distinctive minerality to the berries.

The vintage

After two particularly dry years, 2021 began with above-average winter rainfall, ideally replenishing water reserves. Despite a light spring frost in late September and a few hot days in November, the summer season proved mild. December and January brought cool temperatures, ideal for gradual ripening. Finally, timely rainfall in early February, at the onset of véraison, allowed the berries to reach perfect balance.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes destined for the Yacca Block Shiraz 2021 are hand-harvested, crushed and destemmed before being fermented in stainless steel tanks. The must macerates with the skins for around ten days, with daily pump-overs to gently extract colour and tannins. After blending the juices, malolactic fermentation takes place in oak. The wine is then aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 20% of which are new. It is bottled without filtration and with minimal fining.

Grape variety

100% Shiraz