Recognised wine-writer Josh Raynolds’ October 2017 report on Australian wine has shone a light on a number of exceptional and unique regions throughout our wonderful country.
Titled ‘Australia brings the brawn and the beauty’, this recent report discusses what makes each region unique alongside tasting notes and review on a variety of wines from each region.
We are very excited to have had Two Hands and Twelftree Wines receive further consistent acclaim in this report, with 25 wines from across our portfolio recognised with 91 points or more.
The full report is available to view here. For prices and availability on any of these releases please contact our team.
2013 Aphrodite Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
(75 percent new French oak) Inky ruby. Smoke- and spice-accented black and blue fruits, violet pastille and cured tobacco on the expressive nose; an exotic overlay of Indian spices builds with aeration. Palate-staining flavors of ripe cherry, black currant and spicecake are lifted and sharpened by a jolt of smoky minerality. Gains flesh and weight with air while retaining a surprisingly delicate touch, and finishes gently sweet and extremely long, displaying an echo of cherry and supple, slow-mounting tannins.
94 Points
Josh Raynolds
2013 Ares Barossa Valley Shiraz
Dark purple. Potent, smoke- and spice-accented aromas of ripe dark fruits, licorice, vanilla and violet. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated boysenberry, cassis and floral pastille flavors plus suggestions of five-spice powder and cola. The floral quality repeats strongly on an extremely long, sweet finish framed by harmonious tannins.
94 Points
Josh Raynolds
2013 Aerope Barossa Valley Grenache
Brilliant ruby. High-pitched aromas of cherry, raspberry and pungent flowers pick up spicecake and mocha qualities with aeration. Densely packed red and blue fruit preserve and floral pastille flavors are lifted and sharpened by juicy acidity and a jolt of white pepper. This concentrated but lively Grenache finishes with outstanding persistence and smooth tannins.
93 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Wazza’s Block Seppeltsfield Road, Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley Shiraz
Lurid ruby. Ripe blueberry, cherry and exotic spices on the powerfully scented nose, joined by a smoky nuance and a hint of vanilla as the wine opens up. Smooth and deeply concentrated, offering sweet black and blue fruit flavors complemented by suggestions of cracked pepper, violet and licorice. Finishes alluringly sweet and extremely long, featuring a spicy jolt of cracked pepper and building florality; supple tannins come in late.
94 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Heartbreak Hill Roach Road, White Hut, Clare Valley Shiraz
Dark purple. Deeply perfumed cherry and dark berry aromas are complicated by suggestions of black pepper, licorice and incense. Plush, broad and appealingly sweet, offering densely packed blackberry, bitter cherry and fruitcake flavors and a spicy nuance that builds with aeration. The extremely long, floral-driven finish shows excellent clarity and suave, harmonious tannins.
94 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Yacca Block Menglers Hill, Eden Valley Shiraz
Inky ruby. Ripe cherry, black currant, Indian spice and incense aromas are complemented by suggestions of vanilla and woodsmoke. Shows outstanding clarity and power in the mouth, offering pliant black and blue fruit, violet pastille and spicecake qualities, along with a cola nuance that emerges with aeration. Juicy and energetic on the strikingly long, juicy finish, which features well-knit tannins and lingering spiciness.
94 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Coach House Seppeltsfield Road, Greenock, Barossa Valley Shiraz
Glass-staining ruby. Powerful aromas of ripe dark berries, cola, licorice and violet are lifted and sharpened by a peppery nuance. Gently sweet and broad on the palate, displaying chewy texture and very good focus to the black and blue fruit flavors. Closes on a smoky note, featuring gently gripping tannins and a lingering touch of blackberry preserves.
93 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Dave’s Block Blythmans Road, Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale Shiraz
Extremely dark ruby. Heady, smoke-accented aromas of black and blue fruit liqueur, floral pastilles and minerals carry a strong Indian spice topnote. Fresh, expansive and seamless in the mouth, offering palate-staining black raspberry, blueberry and candied violet flavors. At once weighty and energetic, showing no rough edges. Finishes with outstanding focus, mounting tannins and emphatic blue fruit character.93
Josh Raynolds
2014 Mystic Block Benbournie Road, Armagh, Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Saturated ruby. A complex array of dark fruit, spice and floral scents reveal suggestions of incense, mocha, pipe tobacco and candied licorice. Stains the palate with powerful dark fruit preserve and violet pastille flavors sharpened by a spine of juicy acidity. Concentrated, sappy and broad on the finish, which shows outstanding thrust and dusty tannins that are absorbed by the dense fruit.
93 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Secret Block Wildlife Road, Moppa Hills, Barossa Valley Shiraz
Bright purple. Spicy black and blue fruits, succulent flowers and smoky minerals on the deeply perfumed nose. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that become more lively on the back half. The dark berry note clings tenaciously on the smooth, broad, smoke- and spice-tinged finish.
93 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Bella’s Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz
Lurid ruby. A complex bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur and violet, while smoky mineral and five-spice powder nuances build in the glass. Seamless and deeply concentrated, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors that pick up sweetness with air. At once rich and lithe, finishing impressively long and smoky, featuring lingering blueberry and spice notes and velvety tannins.93 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Max’s Garden Heathcote Shiraz
Deep ruby. Spice-accented blackberry, boysenberry, mocha, pipe tobacco and licorice scents carry a sexy floral topnote. Sweet, spicy and pliant in the mouth, offering lush dark berry and spicecake flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. Finishes round and supple, delivering soft, even tannins, very good breadth and a lingering suggestion of sappy blue fruit.
93 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Lily’s Garden McLaren Vale Shiraz
Bright purple. Smoke- and spice-accented black raspberry, cherry and cola aromas carry a suave floral topnote. Impressively concentrated red and blue fruit and spicecake flavors are complemented by a hint of succulent herbs and licorice. Finishes silky and impressively long; smooth, harmonious tannins come in late to add shape and subtle grip.
93 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Samantha’s Garden Clare Valley Shiraz
Glass-staining ruby. Smoke- and pepper-accented dark berry, cherry pit and spicecake aromas pick up suggestions of mocha, licorice and cola with air. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors that deftly combine richness and vivacity. Shows excellent focus and spicy lift on the finish, which features youthful tannins and an echo of juicy blue fruit and candied flowers.
92 Points
Josh Raynolds
2015 Angels’ Share McLaren Vale Shiraz
Inky ruby. Pungent, spice-accented scents of ripe dark berries, licorice, candied violet and smoky minerals. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit and bitter cherry flavors that are sharpened by a suggestion of peppery spices. Becomes sweeter and deeper with air, with no loss of energy, and finishes smooth and very long; harmonious tannins add shape and gentle grip.
92 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Fields Of Joy Clare Valley Shiraz
Deep ruby. Spice-accented blackberry, boysenberry, mocha, pipe tobacco and licorice scents carry a sexy floral topnote. Sweet, spicy and pliant in the mouth, offering lush dark berry and spicecake flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. Finishes round and supple, delivering soft, even tannins, very good breadth and a lingering suggestion of sappy blue fruit.
92 Points
Josh Raynolds
2015 Brave Faces Barossa Valley Grenache Mourvedre Shiraz
Opaque ruby. Candied red and blue fruits, pungent flowers and a hint of soy sauce on the perfumed nose. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering juicy raspberry and boysenberry flavors that pick up a smoky nuance with air. Supple tannins add shape and subtle grip to the long, sappy finish, which echoes the red fruit and smoke notes.
91 Points
Josh Raynolds
2015 Sexy Beast McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon
Brilliant violet. Assertive dark berry, licorice and pipe tobacco aromas, backed by allspice and cola nuances. Sappy and focused in the mouth, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that are given backbone by a core of juicy acidity. A smoky note appears on a very long, dark-fruit-driven finish framed by gently chewy, harmonious tannins.
91 Points
Josh Raynolds
2015 Gnarly Dudes Barossa Valley Shiraz
Saturated ruby. Intense cherry and dark berry liqueur scents are complemented by smoky mineral and roasted coffee nuances. Sappy black and blue fruit flavors show power as well as finesse, and sweet violet pastille and peppery spice notes build on the back half. The cherry note repeats strongly on the persistent, spice-tinged finish, which lingers with very good clarity.
91 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Twelftree Wines Sturt Rd, Ebenezer Barossa Valley Grenache
Brilliant ruby-red. Sexy, spice-accented aromas of ripe, spice-laced red berries and potpourri, lent vivacity by a smoky mineral element. Alluringly sweet raspberry and lavender pastille flavors are joined by suggestions of allspice and white pepper that build on the back half. Delivers a suave blend of power and delicacy and finishes with superb clarity and persistence and resonating florality.
94 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Twelftree Wines Vinegrove Rd, Greenock Barossa Valley Grenache
Vivid ruby. An expansive, highly complex bouquet evokes cherry and blueberry preserves, incense and candied flowers, along with a smoky nuance in the background. Shows superb depth and energy to its red and blue fruit and spicecake flavors, which spread out and gain sweetness with aeration. Closes on a seductive lavender pastille note, featuring rounded, even tannins and outstanding focus and blue-fruit-driven persistence.
94 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Twelftree Wines California Rd, Tatachilla Adelaide Hills Grenache
Deep, lurid red. Powerful raspberry, boysenberry and incense aromas are complemented by hints of potpourri and Asian spices. Seamless and fleshy on the palate, offering alluringly sweet red berry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors and a building mineral quality. Tightens up and shows superb energy on the finish, which clings with excellent tenacity and smooth, well-knit tannins.
94 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Twelftree Wines Grenache Mourvedre
Deep ruby. Pungent red berries, Asian spices and potpourri on the powerfully scented nose. Smooth, juicy and expansive on the palate, showing sweet raspberry, cherry and floral pastille qualities and a touch of cola. Quite rich in flavor but elegant at the same time, carrying no excess fat. Shows impressive tenacity and repeating berry and floral character on a very long, spice-laced, gently tannic finish.
93 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Twelftree Wines Schuller Rd, Blewitt Springs McLaren Vale Grenache
Bright violet. Intense, mineral- and spice-accented raspberry and cherry liqueur, candied lavender and cola scents show excellent clarity and lift. Sweet, seamless and lively on the palate, offering juicy red fruit and spicecake flavors that deepen slowly as the wine opens up. Lingers with strong persistence on the finish, which features harmonious tannins and resonating berry character.
93 Points
Josh Raynolds
2014 Twelftree Wines Strout Rd, McLaren Flat McLaren Vale Grenache
Dark red. Vibrant, sharply focused black and blue fruit scents are complicated by peppery spice and smoky mineral notes. Lithe and focused on the palate, showing strong lift to intense blueberry, floral pastille, licorice and spicecake flavors that deepen with air. Finishes sweet, seamless and impressively long; building tannins add shape and grip. The interplay of power and finesse here is quite impressive.
93 Points
Josh Raynolds
