Welcome to the March edition of Instinctively Curious, the Two Hands Wines monthly newsletter. Read on for updates on what is happening out in the vineyard and around the winery, event updates and more!
VINTAGE 2024
We have officially begun vintage 2024, in fact by the time you read this it will be almost over! Joining Richard, Jett, Jordan & Theo this year are the 2024 Casual crew Marco, Matteo, Mitch, Stefano, Matt, Andrew, Federico, Camryn & Cole.
We began this vintage with our Eden Valley Riesling, The Boy being picked first. This was followed soon after with some Grenache picked a little earlier for the delightful Trusty Rusty rosé.
Patience was certainly a virtue this season as we had to make the difficult decision to wait until after the recent period of extreme heat in early March to begin harvesting. This has turned out to be a great decision as although sugar levels in the berries got quite high, now the weather has cooled down we have seen them return to the level we are looking for. Shiraz from across our growers and estate vineyards has been coming in rapid fire over the past two weeks and we will soon begin to pick our later ripening varieties, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Eden Valley Shiraz for Yacca Block and Charlie’s Garden will be the last vineyard we harvest.
The Raymond Report
Peter Raymond, our Chief Viticulturalist recently sat down with Luke and gave us the lowdown on the 2024 season.
“At this stage we are about 60% of the way through our picking schedule, with all McLaren Vale Shiraz now picked and we have begun the Cabernet and Grenache from the southern vales. The Barossa is about half way done, with some exceptional fruit coming from the Holy Grail vineyard in particular”.
“We are looking at an excellent season across the board with some outstanding quality and full flavoured wines to come from it. It’s been a tricky year with the weather, but I think we have captured the best we possibly could from it” Peter said.
Through careful use and monitoring of our SapFlow system Peter also noted that we have reduced our water usage this season by half. It is these types of investments in to our future sustainability and resource management that truly personify our mantra, “Quality Without Compromise”.
Shiraz begins to arrive, Peter and Richard are still very busy walking the vineyards to test the flavour and quality before they are picked.
Grape samples are brought in by Peter and our growers for the winery team to test sugar levels, acidity and colour to best determine the optimal time to harvest.
WINE OF THE MONTH
2022 THE ODD COUPLE PINOT NOIR
STA. Rita Hills, California
COLOUR & AROMA: Bright deep purple in colour with a slight red hue, the bouquet is expressive with notes of fresh cherry, mint, plum, lavender, menthol, liquorice and graphite.
PALATE: The palate hold a lovely soft core of bright fruits, that slowly unfurl across the palate, there is great drive and a soft force here, the wine draws you back in and suggests that his has a long future, with air is gains extra dimension and complexity. Suppleness, succulence and seamlessness are the best descriptors for this wine.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thank you to everyone that joined Luke for our recent events in Sydney at both our members dinner at Kingsley’s Australian Steakhouse and the Cellar Door on the Road tasting.
Luke will be hitting the road again in April, heading to SE QLD with a members dinner in Brisbane (almost sold out) and two events on the Sunshine Coast.
In May we are heading to our nation’s capital for a dinner at the renowned Pomegranate restaurant and the Canberra taste Festival.
For details and booking info for these and other upcoming events in your area please check out our calendar of events.
WINE CLUB RELEASE
2022 GARDEN SERIES
Most of the Garden Series wine club packs have now been dispatched. With the recent extreme weather conditions we maintained our policy of not releasing wines from the warehouse when the temperature is over 35C. For those members who haven’t received their pack yet, we appreciate your patience and we are certain you would rather it arrive a little later but in the best possible condition.
We have reached out to a number of members whose pack we were not able to process. please contact either Julie or Luke to update your details and/or membership status.
2022 SINGLE VINEYARD SERIES
Reminder to Single Vineyard Series members that your wines are released this April. With payment will be processed during March.
A reminder of the wines that are included in your pack:
- 2022 Dave’s Block Blewitt Springs McLaren Vale Shiraz
- 2022 Waterfall Block Burnside Adelaide Shiraz
- 2022 Yacca Block Mengler’s Hill Eden Valley Shiraz
- 2022 Secret Block Moppa Hills Barossa Valley Shiraz
- 2022 Coach House Block Greenock Barossa Valley Shiraz
- 2022 Holy Grail Seppeltsfield Barossa Valley Shiraz
Want to join our Wine Club to gain access to events, discounts, exclusive access to the Two Hands museum collection, and pre-releases? Contact us below to join the 2022 Single Vineyard Series.
JOIN WINE CLUB CONTACT US
New to the team in 2024 is our Assistant Winemaker Jett. Jett will be working alongside our Chief Winemaker Richard to ensure that all elements of this years’ vintage are a strong success. Having studied at the University of Adelaide he holds a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology. He has completed 4 vintages here in the Barossa Valley along with travelling the world working for other wineries in Willamette Valley, Oregon USA, Okanagan, B.C Canada (2) and Central Otago, New Zealand. Raised in the Barossa Valley, on his days off you will find him camping or cooking. His love of food instilled by his two chef parents.
What brought you to the wine industry?
Growing up locally it was going to be wine or the family business with food. Wine and food were always part of the dinner table. I worked my first vintage right after high school and loved it, being in the wine industry meant I had the freedom of travelling for 4 years and gaining valuable experience. After arriving back in Australia, studying wine making and getting my degree was the next natural next step.
Best part of vintage?
The excitement of the first crush of the year & then awaiting the final crush of the year as fatigue sets in.
Favourite Two Hands Wine and why?
Charlie’s Garden, it is expressive, aromatic & elegant.
Any future favourite wines you’ve tasted in barrel?
2022 Invenienda is amazing, it challenges you as it shows both place and wine making expression.
