Two Hands : Dave's Block Shiraz 2021

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Dave's Block Shiraz 2021 by Two Hands

Tasting

Appearance

A deep purple hue with black highlights clothes this wine.

Nose

The nose opens on an intense, complex bouquet, revealing aromas of black cherries, blackberries and preserved red fruits. Notes of garden mint, licorice and red apple skins bring freshness. With aeration, spicy nuances of clove, tobacco and star anise emerge, accompanied by touches of milk chocolate and toasted caramel.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is both intense and delicate, built around a core of pure, juicy purple fruits. The attack is silky, followed by a fine, silky tannic structure that brings elegance without heaviness. Black-fruit flavors mingle with spicy, lightly smoky notes. The long, persistent finish reveals clove and tobacco aromas, offering remarkable aromatic complexity.

Food and wine pairings

This shiraz pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats, notably a peppered ribeye steak or lamb chops with garlic and rosemary. It also matches very well with a roast duck or duck confit, as well as spicy dishes with Eastern-inspired flavors such as a lamb tagine with gentle spices. For cheese lovers, opt for aged hard cheeses such as an aged cheddar or a manchego.

Serving and cellaring

The Dave's Block Shiraz 2021 can be enjoyed now but will continue to improve until around 2036. It is recommended to open the bottle about thirty minutes before serving to allow the wine to fully express itself. Light decanting can be beneficial for young bottles. Serve at a temperature between 16 and 18°C to reveal its full aromatic complexity.

An elegant, spicy McLaren Vale shiraz by Two Hands

The estate

Founded in 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz, Two Hands Wines has established itself as one of the leading Australian references for shiraz. Now owned by Michael Twelftree and Pierre-Henri Morel, co-owner since 2022, the House vinifies wines from the finest regions of Southern Australia. Recognized by Robert Parker as “the best négociant operation south of the equator,” Two Hands appeared ten years in a row in Wine Spectator’s Top 100, a world record. The House’s philosophy is built on uncompromising quality, allowing each terroir to express itself authentically. Two Hands continues to showcase the exceptional diversity of Australian shiraz through its different ranges, including the prestigious Single Vineyard series.

The vineyard

Dave's Block is located in the Blewitt Springs area, north of McLaren Vale, at an altitude of around two hundred meters. This vineyard benefits from an outstanding terroir made up of deep white sands resting on a clay subsoil, characteristic of this area. The well-drained sandy soils encourage deep root systems and give the wines intense black-fruit aromas, floral and fleshy notes, as well as fine, chalky tannins. The site’s altitude and exposure allow for slow ripening of the grapes thanks to cooler temperatures and slightly higher rainfall than the rest of the region. The vines come from cuttings taken from Kay Brothers’ famous Block Six, a historic vineyard planted in 1891, thus establishing a direct link to Australia’s viticultural heritage.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Southern Australia was marked by favorable weather conditions in the McLaren Vale region. Welcome rains fell at the end of February, bringing the moisture the vines needed to continue their optimal development through harvest. These conditions produced grapes showing a remarkable balance between fruit ripeness and lively freshness, a profile particularly well suited to the sandy soils of Blewitt Springs, where ripening occurs more slowly in cooler conditions.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Dave's Block Shiraz 2021 were hand-harvested at optimal ripeness. After crushing and destemming, the must was placed in open stainless-steel vats for a ten-day skin maceration, allowing for gentle extraction of tannins, color and aromatic compounds. After alcoholic fermentation, the press wine and free-run wine were blended in tank, then racked off the gross lees before being transferred to barrels for malolactic fermentation. Aging took place over eighteen months in French oak barrels, with up to 50% new oak, bringing toasty and vanilla notes while preserving the wine’s fruity character. Bottling took place in November 2022, with minimal fining and filtration to preserve the wine’s natural structure.

Grape variety

100% shiraz