95 Points James Halliday — “Consistently a Cracking Wine”: Barrel-Selected Barossa Shiraz of Extraordinary Density

The 2022 Two Hands Bella’s Garden Shiraz is a barrel-selected Barossa Valley Shiraz of extraordinary fruit density and unctuousness — a 95-point wine that James Halliday describes as consistently a cracking wine. Thick-shouldered, plush, and pure, this is Two Hands at their most compelling: a wine built around the density and richness that the Barossa does better than anywhere else in the world.

My Wine Man on Two Hands

Two Hands was founded in 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz with a singular focus: sourcing and showcasing the finest Barossa Valley Shiraz from a range of distinguished single-vineyard and barrel-selected sites. The Bella’s Garden is one of their most celebrated wines — a barrel selection from Two Hands’ Barossa Valley Shiraz vineyards that has always been about fruit density above all else.

Tasting Notes

Thick-shouldered plum and blackberry fruits dabbed with baking spice, roasting meats, citrus blossom, olive tapenade, dark-chocolate-dipped cherries, and earth. Plush and pure on the palate with fine, sandy tannins and a crème de cassis-like unctuousness to the finale. It’s consistently a cracking wine. 95 Points — James Halliday.

Food Pairing

A thick-shouldered, crème-de-cassis-style Barossa Shiraz like this deserves the finest beef. We love it with Australian Grass-Fed Cape Grim Rib-Eye Steak from My Meat Man — dry-aged and char-grilled medium-rare with bone-marrow butter, the wine’s blackberry, plum, baking spice, olive tapenade and dark-chocolate-cassis unctuousness are a magnificent match for the rich marbling and char of the ribeye.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$299, the Two Hands Bella’s Garden delivers 95pt barrel-selected Barossa Shiraz from one of the valley’s most celebrated boutique producers. Extraordinary fruit density, fine sandy tannins, and the kind of unctuousness that makes this a wine you’ll remember.

Looking for a Different Style?

• 2023 Two Hands Angels Share Shiraz — same producer, the entry-level expression at a lower price
• 2022 Turkey Flat Barossa Valley Shiraz — peer old-vine Barossa Shiraz from a historic family estate
• 2018 d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz — peer premium McLaren Vale Shiraz, 96pts Halliday