Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator Weekly, 6 February, 2003 .  (Return to Vintage Detail)

Only in its second vintage, Two Hands has exploded onto the Australian wine scene with a series of exceptional Shiraz bottlings. The style emphasesizes bold fruit character and impressive intensity and isn't shy on oak. The top wines, named after daughters of the co-owners, are real mouthfuls, but they keep every thing in bounds. They're not cheap, but they still represent great value.

Two Hands Shiraz Padthaway Sophie's Garden 2001- 93 points - $USD40.00
600 cases made. Although Padthaway isn't often considered at the same level as McLaren Vale or Barossa for Shiraz, this second straight vintage from Two Hands holds its own with their wines from those places. Immensely rich and ripe without a lot of weight, with blackberry, black cherry and a touch of bittersweet chocolate sailing through the finish unirnpeded by more than a wisp of apparent tannin. Has power, grace and charm in equal parts. Drink now through 2010. H.S.

Two Hands Shiraz Barossa Valley Bad Impersonator 2001- 91 points - $USD30.00 300 cases made. That's co-owner Michael Twelftree (one of the two hands) on. the label behind the Groucho glasses, implying that this wine resembles a Rh6ne red. It's a rich, heady soup, all right, gorgeously spicy and drarnatically focused to display its hard-edged blackberry, ripe beet and minty-peppery notes swirling through the firm finish. Drink now through 2008.-H.S

Two Hands Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa-Mclaren Vale The Bull and the Bear 2001- 91 points - $USD30.00 - 50 cases made. An artful balance of 60 percent Barossa Shiraz and 40 percent McLaren Vale Cabernet, this weaves the strengths of both grapes into a seamless package, beautifully crafted to show off dirk berry and black cherry fruit, with spicy, peppery notes, echoing the flavors nicely. Drink now through 2006.-H.S.

Two Hands Shiraz McLaren Vale Lily's Garden 2001- 94 points - $USD40.00 - 1,500 cases made. A great vintage in McLaren Vale, and what a wine! Rich and spicy, layered with ripe blackberry, blueberry and exotic spice flavors that seem to build in intensity from sip to sip. There's plenty of oak flavour, but the fruit is so sumptuous it's not apparent at first. Has density and power with immense polish. Drink now through 2010.-H.S.

Two Hands Shiraz Barossa Valley Bella's Garden 2001- 93 points -  $USD40.00
300 cases made. A hot vintage in Barossa made a dense, heady wine with enormous power, framed with spicy oak. The cherry, blackberry and anise flavors weave through the forest of tannins to emerge unscathed on the finish, echoing nicely with the oak and bittersweet chocolate notes. Best from 2004 through 2010.-H.S.