2022 Hell Freezes Over Chardonnay - Two Hands Wines

Bottle of Hell Freezes Over held by a hand with pasta and pesto on a table.

2022 Hell Freezes Over Chardonnay

Name: 2022 Hell Freezes Over Chardonnay
Brand: Two Hands Wines
SKU: SRHEL227DOM
Price: 50.0 AUD
Availability: InStock

Sale price $50.00

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Two Hands Hell Freezes Over Chardonnay is a single vineyard Chardonnay from Ashton, in the cool-climate Piccadilly Valley in the central Adelaide Hills. Sourced from 30-year-old Gin Gin clone vines planted on a steep westerly slope, this wine captures the precision, texture and elegance that make Adelaide Hills Chardonnay so compelling.

The vineyard sits on sandy loam over sandstone at the higher, cooler Ashton end of Piccadilly Valley, producing Chardonnay with natural acidity, fine fruit detail and beautiful mineral tension. The name comes from years of saying Two Hands would only make a Chardonnay when Hell Freezes Over. Then an old mate called out of the blue, claiming he had one of the best Chardonnay vineyards in the Adelaide Hills. He was right, and this wine was born.

In the glass, Hell Freezes Over is bright, layered and delicious, with citrus, stone fruit, subtle oak and a refined, textural palate.

Tasting Notes

COLOUR | Light golden straw.

AROMA | A pretty bouquet of lifted spice, nectarine, pear, melon, fresh apple, cashew, chalk, nougat and mandarin.

PALATE | Soft acid keeps the wine buoyant and rolling along the palate. A tight texture of citrus flavours slowly roll along and freshes out. This chardonnay has a lovely piercing quality, really showing what can be achieved with the best sites in the Piccadilly Valley. This is serious vino and will make a sunny day that little bit more special.

The Growing Season

The 2022 season began with promising rainfall in South Australia, replenishing soils for a strong start. However, severe weather events—including frost and a devastating hailstorm—caused major fruit loss in the Barossa Valley’s Holy Grail vineyard. Despite setbacks, unaffected northern vineyards performed well. Mild summer conditions aided vine growth, and a late hailstorm had minimal impact thanks to mature canopies. McLaren Vale fared better, and Clare Valley excelled due to its slower ripening. Although yields were reduced, the vintage delivered wines with strong aromatics, balanced acidity, and vibrant flavours—particularly in Shiraz, which stood out in quality.

Vinification

WINEMAKING | The fruit was handpicked in late March & transported to our Marananga winery, where it was crushed and then pressed. The juice was then fermented together in a stainless steel tank. Fermented over 21 days, with a partial malolactic fermentation initially in stainless steel and then finished in new and old puncheons.

MATURATION | The wine was matured on lees with
no battonage for 12 months in 20% new French oak
puncheons and hogsheads, with the other 30% of the wine aged for 12 months in stainless steel.