Two Hands BULL & BEAR Shiraz Cabernet Barossa McLaren Vale

Brilliant, smart black with red flints in colour. A bouquet of caramel, mocha, fresh coffee beans, liquorice and a ripe mint, backed by intense dry prunes and a lifted spice. The palate is thick, concentrated and viscouse. The fruit weight is very powerful and the juicy texture coats your mouth, leaving you with an extremely long finish that is balanced and well rounded. This is a very exciting wine. (12 x 75 cl)

The 'two hands' are Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz who formed the company in 1999 with the clear objective of making the best possible Shiraz based wines from prized Shiraz producing regions within Australia. Michael Twelftree, initially from a construction background, spent a number of years exporting Australian Wine to the USA and Asia. Richard Mintz a chartered accountant, was formerly C.E.O. of one of Australia's leading Cooperage's in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. With Twelftree's contacts and wine savvy approach and Mintz's management skills and business acumen, the two old friends decided to make some wine together. In 2000 they started with just 17 tonnes of fruit from the McLaren Vale and Padthaway wine regions. From the beginning the wines were very well received at home and abroad with a healthy stream of reviews culminating in 2004 with Robert M. Parker pronouncing Two Hands as 'the finest negociant operation south of the equator'. Amazingly dense black in colour, the bouquet is expressive and filled with plums, mocha, aniseed, coffee, Asian spices and melted chocolate with secondary notes of clove and tobacco. The mouthfeel is dense, lush and sweet with a layered fruit driven palate and tannins that are extremely even and remain balanced througout. (12 x 75 cl)

Thicker and richer best describes the Angels Share, the colour looks like black ink in the glass and the bouquet is intoxicatingly rich and intense, which is full of liquorices, mocha, chocolate and spicy new oak. The flavour profile of this wine is of ripe fruits, the palate is viscous and thick, based on a sweet profile of blackcurrants, jam and tar. (12 x 75 cl)

Two Hands LILY'S GARDEN Shiraz McLaren Vale South Australia from Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale by Two Hands Winery Marananga SA (12 x 75 cl)

Chalk Hill SIDETRACK Shiraz Cabernet McLaren Vale South Australia from Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale by Chalk Hill Wines McLaren Vale SA (12 x 75 cl)

Two Hands CANNY BUTCHER Grenache McLaren Vale South Australia from Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale by Two Hands Winery Marananga SA (12 x 75 cl)

Two Hands CANNY BUTCHER Grenache McLaren Vale South Australia from Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale by Two Hands Winery Marananga SA (12 x 75 cl)

Serpico, solely from Cabernet Sauvignon, is made from lightly dried grapes in an Amarone style. This drying gives a richer fuller style and a superb wine of great individuality. (6 x 75 cl)

Dark chocolate, anise and all spice dominate the nose of the Jester Shiraz, which are supported by hints of French oak, cherries and coffee. A fresh and juicy mid-palate enhances tannin and length. The wine has flavours of fresh plums and liquorice with hints of blackberry and espresso. A long and lingering finish. The grapes come from the Willunga district of McLaren Vale, where there are heavy grey loam soils over sandstone, intermixed with black Biscay clay. These soils combined with the maritime climate, contribute to an even ripening period and the development of rich fruit flavours and ripe tannins. A dry winter, followed by heavy rains in spring resulted in vines with healthy, balanced canopies on moist soils. Mitolo Wines is a family owned winery, established in 1999 by Frank and Simone Mitolo, with winemaker Ben Glaetzer. Their vision is to create individual, handcrafted premium wines built on passion and an uncompromising commitment to quality. (6 x 75 cl)