New Arrivals

93-94 Points - James Suckling "Powerful and structured with lots of blueberry, blackberry and currant character. Full-bodied, tight and tannic yet polished and beautiful. Fantastic. Juicy."

92 Points - Neal Martin "The 2016 Les Ormes de Pez has a tightly wound, graphite-scented bouquet that needs a little coaxing from the glass but eventually reveals discreet minerally scents mixed with sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with quite succulent tannin, and certainly more approachable than the Les Ormes de Pez of the past, delivering gentle grip toward the tarry finish. This is a finely crafted Saint-Estèphe from team Cazes."

93 Points - James Suckling "Very pretty fruit with dark berries, plums and currants. Hints of sweet tobacco. Medium bodied, firm and silky. Lovely, juicy finish with delicious acidity at the end. The 18 per cent of fabulous cabernet franc in this makes it special. Hard not to drink now, but better in 2023."

92 Points - Neal Martin "The 2016 Capbern from the Calon-Ségur team, matured in 50-60% new oak, has a wonderful bouquet of blackberry, pencil lead and light floral aromas that leap out of the glass. The beautifully balanced palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, leading to a supple, smooth but complex graphite finish. This is a superb Capbern, easily the best ever made."

95+ Points - Lisa Perrotti-Brown (robertparker.com) "Pale lemon in color, the 2015 Climens is just a little closed, offering up lovely lemon curd, lime juice and apple tart notes with touches of acacia honey and paraffin. Fine, fresh and elegant in the mouth, with great purity and poise, it finishes with amazing persistence."

95 Points - James Suckling "This is really excellent with sliced apples, lemon rind, minerals and stones. Medium to full body, vivid and energetic acidity and a long and powerful, almost minerally finish. Wow."

93 Points - James Suckling "A dense and fresh white at the same time with cooked apples, lemon rind and minerals. Bright and vivid yet shows depth and seriousness. Phenolic and vivid. Hints of fresh herbs. Drink or hold."

93 Points - Jane Anson (Decanter.com) "Utterly gorgeous freshness and zip, with intensity of flavour. It has a little more Sémillon than usual, due to frost affect the Sauvignon Blanc, which seems to mean the aromatics of the Muscadelle are a little more prominent than a classic Lynch Bages Blanc, adding a white flower honeysuckle lift. It is beautiful and works within the cascade of flavours, although I miss their more classic blend - they probably do too, to be fair. Already bottled. 45% new oak. "

92 Points - Antonio Galloni "The 2016 Petit-Figeac is a gorgeous, silky second wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Sweet floral notes add freshness and lift to this expressive Saint-Émilion. In 2016, Petit-Figeac has a bit more Franc than usual which also contributes to the wine's perfumed personality. This is impeccably done."

94 Points - James Suckling "A red with very deep and intense fruit character, yet rich tannins to back it all up. Full-bodied, layered and powerful. The second wine of Cos d’Estournel is serious again in 2016. Try from 2025."

92 Points - Neal Martin "The 2016 Les Pagodes de Cos is matured in 30% new oak. It has an intense bouquet for a deuxième vin, featuring blackberry, bilberry, light cedar and graphite aromas, quite Pauillac in style. The medium-bodied palate is fresh and vigorous though not deep, displaying fine tannin and exerting a gentle grip. There is a symmetry about this Les Pagodes, which is longer than other vintages, with just a hint of graphite and cracked black pepper on the finish. Excellent." 

96 Points - Neal Martin "The 2016 Brane-Cantenac has been on a roll of late, under the watchful eye of Henri Lurton. This latest bottled vintage is superb. The divine, pure blackberry and bilberry bouquet develops touches of graphite in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, silky-smooth texture and a superb bead of acidity. This is not a powerful Brane-Cantenac, and it is perhaps less austere than I suspected en primeur, but it should drink beautifully over the next three decades. If you have a penchant for traditional claret, it really doesn’t come better than this."

96 Points - James Suckling "So much ripe and sweet tobacco on the nose with currant and blackberry character. Full body, intense tannins with density and beauty. It’s a wine with great structure and panache for this estate. Try after 2024."

Winemakers notes  "100% Chardonnay Handpicked, hand-sorted, gently whole-bunch pressed. Fermented and matured in French oak (50% new, 50% one year old). Malolactic secondary fermentation. Hand-stirred on the lees for 12 months.

Following on from the low yielding 2015 and 2016 vintages, 2017 saw a return to normal yields. Summer was cool and there was rain late in March, after the chardonnay harvest at PIERRO had been completed. The 2017 continues the remarkable consistency and quality that is PIERRO Chardonnay. More aromatic than usual with hints of apple, melon and butterscotch. The palate is delicate and intense with length and precision. A wine that will build complexity with age and will reward cellaring."

96 Points - Magdalena Sienkiewicz "Quality-driven, the Muddy Water maxim is ‘hand-crafted…no compromise’ which is prominent across the range. Everything about their Estate Pinot Noir translates to great quality you often find at a higher price tier. Deep colour, fantastic aromas of ripe blackberries, morello cherry, kirsch and autumn leaves with lingering hints of nutmeg are indeed signs of no compromises here. The cascade of sweet fruit on the palate is followed by expansive, well-rounded textures evolving from the initial sweet fruit to a broad, savoury finish. Full malolactic fermentation gave it a beautifully soft and well-integrated acidity. The wine spent 16 months in barrel before racking, blending and bottling, which aids complexity. Bottled unfiltered in order to retain as much natural flavour as possible."

97 Points - Peter Robinson "Superb value, the nose is incredibly inviting with aromas of sweet black cherry, damson, red plum, and blackcurrant combined with hints of sweet spice, violet and some background agricultural earthiness. The aromas are extremely succulent, the Zalto Burgundy glass enticing everything out of this wine, concentrating the aromatic complexity into a harmonious whole. The overall balance and texture is quite magnificent, touches of the sweet spice continuing on the palate along with dried cranberry lead into a slightly savoury but almost endless finish. This wine seriously punches above its weight and is incredible for the price." Tasted 12th April 2019

Stuart McCloskey "Without doubt, the best new world Riesling I've tasted."

18.5+ Raymond Chan "Bright, light golden-yellow colour with some depth, paler on the edge. The nose is elegant in proportion with rich and concentrated, well-packed aromas of ripe citrus fruits along with honey, marmalade and musk, unfolding exotic floral elements. Dryish to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has a concentrated, dense heart packed with harmoniously integrated flavours of ripe citrus fruits, marmalade, honeysuckle and musk. This has real body and presence, and the palate has a rounded and gently unctuous mouthfeel. The acidity is ripe and soft, providing underlying energy and drive, and the wine carries to a long, lingering finish of honey, citrus fruits and musk. This is a full and concentrated dry Riesling with ripe citrus fruits, honey, musk and marmalade botrytis flavours on a rounded, unctuous palate.

96 Points - James Suckling "The refinement and brilliance of the fruit on offer here really sets this wine apart from the regular Pegasus Bay pinot noir. Deliciously rich dark cherry aromas and flavors are presented amid silky, refined and long-form tannins. A great wine, in every respect. Drink now. Screw cap."

96 Points - James Suckling "Super vibrant with plenty of earthy forest floor aromas as well as toasted spices. The palate reveals a core of pristine dark cherry fruit flavor, beautifully judged ripe tannins and a level of effortless depth that singles this out as a consistently great New Zealand pinot noir. Drink now. Screw cap."

96 Points - Magdalena Sienkiewicz - "A serious, multidimensional Pinot Noir from New Zealand. Sweet raspberries, forest floor evolving to red cherries and pomegranate with a little aeration. Tannins, as you would hope for, are satiny and wrap the fruit perfectly. A hallmark of the producers is elegance but the wine fans-out beautifully on the palate." Served in a Zalto Burgundy Glass.

97 Points - Stuart McCloskey “Reductive with aromas still very much in development. That said, this impeccably made wine is centred around textural elegance, satiny structure, mid-palate depth and an effortless sense of cohesion. Decanting for a short while is essential as the oxygenation takes it from the ordinary to immensely appealing. Layer upon layer of fruit and white flowers harmonises beautifully with oatmeal and a beautiful vein of minerality. This is more tensile, finer than many, which adds an intellectual quality found with high-quality Burgundy. This is a superb Chardonnay from one of New Zealand's leading producers. I recommend a drinking window from now to 2025 but would not be surprised to this peak beyond 10 years.. Sampled in Zalto Bordeaux glassware and comes highly recommended”.

The aromas and flavours invoke impressions of ripe stone fruits, such as nectarines and peaches, supported by hints of tropical spices, passionfruit and lycees. There is a backbone of tangy lime- and lemon-like citrus fruits which add a zesty “nervosity”. It has a spine of minerality and crisp acidity which keep it tight-knit and focussed, drying out its lingering after-taste.

This classic style Riesling is different from the 2007 because of the botrytis. It has a star right lemon hue and while lemons, limes and mandarins come to the fore, there is a background of ripe stonefruit such as peaches and apricots. Honeysuckle and honeycomb influences come from botrytis, which has also made the wine more full bodied and concentrated. It has a spine of natural acidity and tingling minerality that helps draw out the palate structure to a citrus zest finish.

The 2016 Freestone-Occidental wine shares the same winemaking techniques as our vineyard designated pinot noirs. The 2016 Freestone-Occidental is a vibrant, perfumed wine with a chiseled red-fruit character that is typical of the wines from our Bodega Headlands and Bodega Ridge properties. The 2016 Freestone-Occidental offers a superb balance of primary red fruits and saline elements. It conveys outstanding energy, precision and lift in the mouth and finishes vibrant and long with discreet tannins. Its modest alcohol (13.4%) makes this wine a perfect complement to any meal. It is delicious now and will develop nicely in bottle.

Jancis Robinson - 18 Points  "I am a horribly stingy scorer. For a young, non-classic wine to get 18 points out of 20 from me is embarrassingly rare. So today's wine really is exceptional in my view."

98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “A heavenly nose of cassis, plum, soy, graphite and lots of mineralite at play here. With time, cedar / pencil box aromatics unfold. The palate speaks more of finesse than power. Incredibly complex and not overly tannic. The entry is sweet, ambitious with ripe, silky black fruits. Texturally, and impossible to miss, is the sense of finesse and grace which weaves its magic and is seldom seen in the Barossa. Cedar and graphite-infused fruit emerge but I keep coming back to the wines beguiling poise. Svelte and sensuous with a little wood dust which adds a lovely texture. The finish seems endless – clove and fennel seed leading to orange peel? I could go on, but I must stop. In short, this is a brilliant and uncompromising Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon. Think expensive Bordeaux Second-Growth and you’ll be right on the money”. Served in Zalto Bordeaux glass.

 Decanter World Wine Awards: Gold 2017

  International Wine & Spirit Competition: Gold 2017

Gold Medal – 2017 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships
Trophy Best Sparkling- 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 
Trophy Best Sparkling White - 2018 Sydney Royal Wine Show 
96 points & James Halliday's annual Top 100 wines 2018

17 Points - Julia Harding MW "Fine yeasty/biscuity nose but there’s also a mineral/stony character that comes through. Creamy texture, lemon cream and so much bight freshness with orange zest on the finish. Delicious: complex and still so fresh."

98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “A heavenly nose of cassis, plum, soy, graphite and lots of mineralite at play here. With time, cedar / pencil box aromatics unfold. The palate speaks more of finesse than power. Incredibly complex and not overly tannic. The entry is sweet, ambitious with ripe, silky black fruits. Texturally, and impossible to miss, is the sense of finesse and grace which weaves its magic and is seldom seen in the Barossa. Cedar and graphite-infused fruit emerge but I keep coming back to the wines beguiling poise. Svelte and sensuous with a little wood dust which adds a lovely texture. The finish seems endless – clove and fennel seed leading to orange peel? I could go on, but I must stop. In short, this is a brilliant and uncompromising Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon. Think expensive Bordeaux Second-Growth and you’ll be right on the money”. Served in Zalto Bordeaux glass. 

Tasting note coming soon...

The original block that Muddy Waters planted, the Slow Hands name derives from their founding philosophy of meticulous but gentle care be awarded to the vineyard, the vines must be tended by ‘slow hands’. The wine is only made in the best years when the conditions are dry, warm and sunny enough to aid the slow ripening from this block. This slow ripening is one of the defining features that gives the Slow Hands wine its distinct structure and texture, only the finest grapes are selected and the wine is made in very small batches. The wines are described as being an iron fist in a velvet glove, balancing intense power, with a fine, velvety texture delivering sensual blackcurrant, blueberry, plum, bramble and violet, seamlessly combined with gentle, French oak.

97+ Points Stuart McCloskey "My third bottle and my opinion has not changed. An ineffably complex bouquet which builds and builds with more aeration in the glass. Emphatically, mineral-dominated, which combine perfectly with Amalfi lemon peel and orchard fruits (quince). The palate is full of energy, exhilarating, tightly coiled and perfectly balanced. The wine is chiselled, builds slowly and would benefit from decanting. Richness does not come in the form of fruit. Instead, the wine's fullness comes in the form of texture (phenolic weight) which is undeniably attractive (a nod to the painstaking work carried out in the vineyard). Wet stones wash across my palate but it’s the salinity which I love and sets this New Zealand Chardonnay apart from all the others. There’s a killer line of acidity which will ease with more time in the bottle. Wonderfully alive, memorable and a breathtaking wine. Wow! Served in Zalto Bordeaux glassware." Drink now to 2026

Stuart McCloskey "Muddy Water Pinot Noirs truly reflect their philosophy, more so than any other New Zealand Pinot Noir (with the exception of Devotus) I have encountered. Burgundian to the very core but by no means trying to copy.  Evolution has been kind to all three. Perfectly judged, uniquely captivating, full of detail, effortless, precise and everything a Grand Cru should be.  Unquestionably, three Pinot Noirs which stop you in your tracks. Simply stunning by any measure and not one wine dipped below 97+ / 98 points. All served using Zalto Burgundy glassware. Decant for 30 minutes."

The Hare’s Breath block is Muddy Water’s hillside plot that consists of seven different Burgundy clones, one of which was allegedly smuggled out of the Domaine Romanee Contee vineyard in the 1970’s tucked into a rugby players boot. Each clone adds its own distinct element to craft wines of great complexity, structure and intensity...

Winemaker "We hand pick the fruit from Matthews Lane vineyard ensuring each parcel of fruit is in pristine condition. After a yeast starter the juice rests on yeast lees for 11 months in new 1,000L German Oak Fuder Barrels. The use of Fuder barrels in this way ensures our Single Vineyard white wines develop a greater complexity and refinement because oak doesn’t dominate. The ratio of wine in contact with the barrel surface is less than smaller barrels so oak pick up is less. The staves of Fuder barrels are thicker which means the temperature of ferment tends to be warmer and we find the fruit characters gain greater depth and complexity."

Dave’s Block is a very special old vineyard perched on an elevated site in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. The soil is classic white sand over clay, the cooler elevation allows the grapes to slowly mature.This very special vineyard was created from cuttings off the Kay Brother’s Block Six, a well known vineyard with 110 year old vines. Previously used as the McLaren Vale component for Ares, Dave’s Block became part of the Single Vineyard Series in 2014 when Ares reverts to showcasing the Barossa Valley.

Dave’s Block is a very special old vineyard perched on an elevated site in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. The soil is classic white sand over clay, the cooler elevation allows the grapes to slowly mature.This very special vineyard was created from cuttings off the Kay Brother’s Block Six, a well known vineyard with 110 year old vines. Previously used as the McLaren Vale component for Ares, Dave’s Block became part of the Single Vineyard Series in 2014 when Ares reverts to showcasing the Barossa Valley.

Heartbreak Hill comes from a vineyard off the beaten track in tough growing country, high up in the north eastern corner of the Clare Valley region.Early ripening despite its elevation, this wine displays the elegance and lively aromatics of Clare, with a powerful accent and mineral tannins. At the top of this steep hill, stands a proud Australian flag raised on the flagpole, which adorns the Heartbreak Hill label. Michael knew this site offered something very special from the moment he was first shown the vineyard and needed to secure this fruit. Grower and friend Richard Hughes didn’t make it easy for him though, with negotiations going back and forth over a few years, hence its namesake.

Sourced from a small mature vineyard high in The Barossa western ranges, this wine displays an amazing aromatic profile, soft mouth-feel with wonderful structure and very silky tannins.

Secret by name, and secret by nature, this magical vineyard hides behind mulitple locked gates and windy trails, nestled away with some of the regions best vineyards. Along with picturesque views of the Barossa and Eden Valley, this vineyard offers high quality fruit that has always shone, even through the most difficult of vintages.

The Holy Grail Shiraz vineyard is found in the sub-region of Seppeltsfield, in the Barossa Valley.

The first part of this site was purchased in 2008 and included 52 acres of vacant land. The vision was to wait until resources permitted and plant this ares of land as specifically as possible. Just before the 2015 vintage a further 37 acres of land were purchased, which included 16 acres of established shiraz vines. This vineyard produced 27 tonnes in its first vintage, with fruit going into My Hands, Ares, Single Vineyard and a few barrels to Bella’s Garden. Development of the unplanted site began in April 2016, with planting to commence in the spring.

The Holy Grail Shiraz vineyard is found in the sub-region of Seppeltsfield, in the Barossa Valley.

The first part of this site was purchased in 2008 and included 52 acres of vacant land. The vision was to wait until resources permitted and plant this ares of land as specifically as possible. Just before the 2015 vintage a further 37 acres of land were purchased, which included 16 acres of established shiraz vines. This vineyard produced 27 tonnes in its first vintage, with fruit going into My Hands, Ares, Single Vineyard and a few barrels to Bella’s Garden. Development of the unplanted site began in April 2016, with planting to commence in the spring.

The Holy Grail Shiraz vineyard is found in the sub-region of Seppeltsfield, in the Barossa Valley.

The first part of this site was purchased in 2008 and included 52 acres of vacant land. The vision was to wait until resources permitted and plant this ares of land as specifically as possible. Just before the 2015 vintage a further 37 acres of land were purchased, which included 16 acres of established shiraz vines. This vineyard produced 27 tonnes in its first vintage, with fruit going into My Hands, Ares, Single Vineyard and a few barrels to Bella’s Garden. Development of the unplanted site began in April 2016, with planting to commence in the spring.

The Holy Grail Shiraz vineyard is found in the sub-region of Seppeltsfield, in the Barossa Valley.

The first part of this site was purchased in 2008 and included 52 acres of vacant land. The vision was to wait until resources permitted and plant this ares of land as specifically as possible. Just before the 2015 vintage a further 37 acres of land were purchased, which included 16 acres of established shiraz vines. This vineyard produced 27 tonnes in its first vintage, with fruit going into My Hands, Ares, Single Vineyard and a few barrels to Bella’s Garden. Development of the unplanted site began in April 2016, with planting to commence in the spring.

Perched high up on the hillside of the Eden Valley, this beautifully positioned vineyard is surrounded by ancient Yaccas. Yacca Block sits at the top of Menglers Hill and is a prime example of the role sub-regionality plays in serious winemaking, with this vineyard only a 25 minutes drive from the western ranges of the Barossa Valley. The soil here is a mix of both quartz and ironstone and the vineyard’s high altitude allows for slow ripening that leads to a very soft and elegant shiraz. Grower Joel Mattschoss has been a great supporter and friend of Two Hands, recently starting a business partnership with a new, exciting project titled ‘Love Over Gold’. This vineyard site also supplies Shiraz for Charlie’s Garden, and Riesling for The Boy.

Perched high up on the hillside of the Eden Valley, this beautifully positioned vineyard is surrounded by ancient Yaccas. Yacca Block sits at the top of Menglers Hill and is a prime example of the role sub-regionality plays in serious winemaking, with this vineyard only a 25 minutes drive from the western ranges of the Barossa Valley. The soil here is a mix of both quartz and ironstone and the vineyard’s high altitude allows for slow ripening that leads to a very soft and elegant shiraz. Grower Joel Mattschoss has been a great supporter and friend of Two Hands, recently starting a business partnership with a new, exciting project titled ‘Love Over Gold’. This vineyard site also supplies Shiraz for Charlie’s Garden, and Riesling for The Boy.

Sourced from one of the highest vineyards on top of Menglers Hill, this quintessentially Eden Valley Shiraz has a soft bouquet of red fruits and fresh cut flowers with a moderately powerful fruit profile that finishes with an amazing minerality. Acidity is the true key to this wine. The elevation provides acidity retention and slight relief from weather extremes. Skeletal gravelly soils provide a fine boned mouth feel. Wildlife and gumtrees surround this vineyard, a natural inspiration for the colour of this label.

Peter Robinson "Dense, heady blackcurrant, blueberry and plum punch from the glass. The aromas are concentrated and tightly knit at first but after a little aeration, open up to reveal some sweet black cherry and violet. The concentration continues on the palate with youthful black berry fruits leading to sweet, clove spice that lingers on the finish. Although young, the tannins are ripe and provide perfect structure to the youthful fruits. This is the Eden Valley addition to the Garden series and when tasted next to the Barossa addition, had a comparative lightness but don’t be fooled, this wine still packs a punch."

This is a sumptuous wine, defined by its aromatic complexity and finesse. Predominately grown in the Red/Brown earth of the Barossa’s western ranges, the soil profile creates masculine tannins and richness through the palate. Lower yield limiting soils provide a large fruit concentration. This label’s colour reflects the red soils of the Barossa’s western ranges where all the best Two Hands vineyards are located.

This is a sumptuous wine, defined by its aromatic complexity and finesse. Predominately grown in the Red/Brown earth of the Barossa’s western ranges, the soil profile creates masculine tannins and richness through the palate. Lower yield limiting soils provide a large fruit concentration. This label’s colour reflects the red soils of the Barossa’s western ranges where all the best Two Hands vineyards are located.

Lily’s Garden is a generous wine with cascading blue fruits and a rich long palate. General sand based soils provide lovely lifted aromatics, softness & roundness. The label’s blue colour takes inspiration from McLaren Vale’s close proximity to the sea.

95 Points - Antonio Galloni "The 2016 Lytton Springs is a powerful, dense wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, new leather, cloves, licorice and menthol flesh out. Deep, plush and richly textured, the 2016 Lytton Springs packs a real punch. The 23% Petite Sirah is felt in the wine's darkness and overall gravitas. There is more than enough richness and structure to support many years of fine drinking. What a gorgeous wine this is."

Winemaker's Tasting Note "Complex aromas of vanilla, raspberry and black pepper. Full bodied with firm acidity, focused blackberry fruit and an elegant lingering finish."