Two Hands : Secret Block Shiraz 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Secret Block Shiraz 2022 Two Hands

Tasting

Color
This Australian red wine reveals a deep colour, layering shades from intense violet to black, reflecting its remarkable concentration.

Nose
Remarkably complex, the bouquet opens with dense aromas of black fruits, plum skin and chocolate, enhanced by seductive floral notes of mint, sarsaparilla and liquorice. Subtle touches of eucalyptus, leather, vanilla and spice complete this rich olfactory palette.

Palate
Rich and powerful, the palate offers a silky texture supported by firm, generous tannins. Flavours of ripe plum and blackcurrant blend with spicy nuances, evolving into a long, well-controlled finish with excellent tension.

Food and wine pairing

This cuvée pairs wonderfully with protein-rich dishes. It will elevate beef preparations, game dishes such as venison, or a board of fine cured meats.

Service and storage

Built to age for decades, the Secret Block Shiraz 2022 requires a little patience to reveal its full potential. It will be at its best from 2027 and will continue to evolve favourably until around 2039.

Other characteristics

Praised by critics for its precision, this vintage notably received a score of 96 points from critic Angus Hughson for Vinous.

The pure, powerful expression of a great Shiraz from the Barossa Valley

The estate

Founded in September 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz, Two Hands has become an essential reference in Southern Australia. Established in Marananga, the estate was built on a strict philosophy: quality without compromise. Now co-managed by Michael Twelftree and Pierre-Henri Morel, the estate farms around 46 hectares of its own vines while also relying on a rigorous negociant model. Renowned worldwide for its parcel-by-parcel approach and its showcasing of Australian terroirs, the estate produces wines of remarkable precision.

The vineyard

Nestled at altitude in the western ranges of the Barossa Valley, in the heart of the Moppa Hills area, the isolated Secret Block parcel is home to mature vines. This unique terroir benefits from excellent sun exposure and ideal diurnal temperature swings. The soils, made up of deep grey-red loams mixed with quartz gravel and ironstone resting on clay, give the grapes distinctive intensity and minerality.

The vintage

2022 stood out as a particularly challenging year weather-wise. Despite these climatic difficulties, the slow growing cycle allowed for optimal berry concentration while preserving lovely natural acidity, resulting in a harvest of remarkable quality.

Winemaking and aging

True to a hands-off approach, the vinification of the Secret Block Shiraz 2022 begins with destemming and crushing in a small open vat. Skin maceration lasts ten days with regular daily pump-overs. After gentle pressing and a blend of free-run and press juice, malolactic fermentation begins naturally in barrel. Aging then continues for eighteen months in 500-litre French oak barrels, 30% of which are new. The wine is bottled unfiltered and with minimal fining.

Grape variety

100% Shiraz