Two Hands : Lily's Garden Shiraz 2021

Tasting notes and serving suggestions for the Lily's Garden Shiraz 2021 from Two Hands

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep purple hue, rich and concentrated.

Nose

The nose opens onto a complex aromatic palette, unveiling notes of mocha, coffee, and dried fig. Aromas of anise, fresh plum, smoke, and licorice complete the bouquet, alongside hints of cola and subtle floral and spicy nuances.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is dense and concentrated, with black fruit generously coating the palate. Bright acidity brings freshness and reveals a well-balanced structure. The finish, driven by minerality, lingers with a tannic grip characteristic of McLaren Vale shiraz, offering a remarkable balance of power and elegance.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled red meats, a beef Wellington, or rosemary-braised lamb ribs. It also matches beautifully with duck breast with black cherry sauce, game dishes, or aged cheeses such as mature Gruyère.

Serving and cellaring

The Lily's Garden Shiraz 2021 can be enjoyed now, but it also has excellent aging potential. Drink through around 2033. Ideally serve at a temperature of 16–18°C.

A rich, balanced McLaren Vale shiraz from Two Hands

The estate

Founded in 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz, Two Hands Wines has established itself as one of the most respected wineries in South Australia. Based in Marananga in the Barossa Valley, the estate operates as a négociant, selecting the finest fruit from six prestigious wine regions. Now co-owned by Michael Twelftree and Pierre-Henri Morel, managing director since 2017, Two Hands stands out for its philosophy of minimal intervention with the fruit and its rigorous barrel classification process. The House was recognized by Robert Parker as “the finest négociant House south of the equator” and has featured for more than a decade among the world’s most prestigious international rankings.

The vineyard

The Lily's Garden Shiraz comes from selected vineyards across the seven sub-regions of McLaren Vale: Blewitt Springs, Clarendon, McLaren Flat, McLaren Vale, Seaview, Tatachilla, and Willunga Hills. This South Australia region benefits from exceptionally diverse geology, with more than fifty-five different soil types. The vineyards span elevations ranging from seventy-five to three hundred and twenty meters, encouraging extended ripening of the grapes. The Mediterranean climate, moderated by coastal breezes from the Gulf St Vincent, allows the vines to develop remarkable aromatic complexity while preserving the natural acidity essential to the wine’s balance.

Winemaking and aging

The Lily's Garden Shiraz 2021 was vinified in open fermenters with pump-overs twice a day during ten days of maceration. After separating the free-run juice and blending it with the press juice, the wine was aged for eighteen months in French oak barrels, with only 15% new barrels, the remainder consisting of barrels one to six years old. The wine was bottled without fining or filtration to preserve its purity and natural integrity.

Grape variety

100% shiraz