Two Hands Charlie's Garden Shiraz 2017 (3pk)

This Charlie's Garden Shiraz showcases the sophisticated side of Barossa winemaking through its masterful use of 20% whole bunch fermentation and careful oak integration. The technique creates a wine with remarkable tension and complexity, balancing the region's characteristic power with elegant restraint. The result is what critics call one of the finest regional Shiraz expressions, earning it a coveted 96-point rating and Special Value Award from the Halliday Wine Companion.

The 2017 vintage is drinking beautifully now, showing the perfect marriage of youthful fruit vibrancy and developing complexity that comes with six years of bottle age. Barossa Shiraz from quality producers like Two Hands typically peaks between 8-15 years, so this wine has excellent cellaring potential through to 2030 and beyond. The saline tannin structure and whole bunch component provide the backbone for graceful long-term ageing.

The wine's rich blueberry and damson plum flavours, combined with its saline tannin structure, make it ideal for robust red meat dishes like grilled lamb with rosemary or slow-cooked beef brisket. The violet aromatics and whole bunch complexity also complement game meats beautifully, while the wine's full body can stand up to strong cheeses like aged cheddar or blue cheese. For vegetarian options, try it with mushroom-based dishes or grilled eggplant with Mediterranean herbs.

Master of Wine Ned Goodwin's 96-point review highlights the wine's exceptional balance between power and finesse, describing it as 'possibly the finest of the sash of regional shiraz heroes'. The acclaim stems from Two Hands' skilful extraction techniques and the seamless integration of oak, lees work, and whole bunch fermentation. This technical mastery creates what critics recognise as a benchmark expression of premium Barossa Shiraz, earning multiple awards including Five Red Stars from Halliday.

Charlie's Garden represents Two Hands' commitment to single-vineyard expressions that capture specific terroir characteristics within the broader Barossa region. The vineyard's unique microclimate and soil composition contribute to the wine's distinctive saline minerality and structured tannins that critics praise. This site-specific approach allows the winemaker to showcase how individual vineyard blocks can produce Shiraz with both regional typicity and distinctive personality, elevating it above generic regional blends.