Two Hands, Brave Faces, Barossa Valley

Two Hands · South Australia › Barossa Valley › Australia

Red · Red Rhone Blend
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LWIN 1005194
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
90 /100
Reviews
23
professional

Vintages

No vintages

No vintage-specific entries have been added for this wine.

NV

Community Reviews

25
25
Reviews
90.3
Avg Score
93
Highest
Taster #4197 · Feb 6, 2021
inky black burgundy red, some clarity, some opacity, ruby hue Nose: plum, black cherry, licorice, lavender, tobacco, black pepper, dark chocolate, dirt, clove, minerals, vanilla, oak Pal: plum, black cherry, licorice, lavender, tobacco, silver, black pepper, dark chocolate, dirt, clove, minerals, juniper berries, vanilla, touch cola, oak Feel: medium Finish: medium T8
2005 vintage
Taster #8271 · Sep 19, 2016
90/100
We drank the other 3 bottles at a golf outing, and these were very popular with those who prefer a high-alcohol, fruit forward palate. Still drinking well - and, if cellared properly (with the screw top) - they should drink very well for at least 2 or 3 more years, possibly more. No evidence of age taking any toll - no tinge of color fading and no deterioration in the palate.
2005 vintage
Taster #8271 · Sep 18, 2016
90/100
Contrary to other evaluations, this wine (in a screw cap) is still drinking perfectly well. It has a very bright New World palate with plenty of berry flavors and a fairly high tone in the palate. It his quite high alcohol and somewhat highly extracted and will appeal to those who drink red wines as more of an aperitif than a food wine. A crowd pleaser, still, for the new world palate. Probably, with proper cellaring, this will drink well …
2005 vintage
Taster #6539 · Aug 6, 2014
89/100
opaque purple, some tobacco and berry notes to the nose alcohol tinged. soft tannins. Was nice, not memorable
2005 vintage
Taster #2997 · Sep 4, 2013
90/100
I actually liked this better right out of the bottle than after decanting for 2 hours. Out of the bottle it was good juice, aged fruit, ripe on the side of mature. No tannins. Paired well with spicy food. Would have been 92+ if it stayed or improved. After two hours it mellowed and tasted of more terroir. Still very good, and ready. Light tannins. Enjoyed, so enjoy!
2005 vintage
Taster #7490 · Apr 11, 2013
91/100
A very nice wine, certainly at its peak or a little beyond, but a little less vibrant than remembered. Otherwise impressions consistent with earlier tastings.
2005 vintage
Taster #1869 · Oct 15, 2012
90/100
Discovering Wine : The nose is big and aromatic with a bouquet of cloves, black olives, rubber, and hints of dark chocolate. The Two Hands Brave Faces is dull garnet with a medium plus body. Bursting with blackberry preserves and mocha on the palate, and turning slightly tart on the finish with blackberries. A big wine with a quite a bit going on.
2005 vintage
Taster #7490 · Dec 31, 2011
93/100
Bursting with ripe blackberry, anise, exotic spice flavors. Nice heady vanilla plum/blackberry nose. A big wine, but maybe not to everyone's liking because it's a bit over the top, verging on syrupy.
2005 vintage
Taster #3111 · Jun 9, 2011
90/100
Pricey but pretty good shiraz/grenache blend. Rich but not over the top mid palate of blueberry/red and black raspberries w/good acidity and adequate length.
2005 vintage
Taster #5579 · Apr 26, 2011
91/100
I'm generally not a fan of Aussie Shiraz but I enjoyed this. Very earthy, tannic, fruit forward and vibrant at the same time--quite unique. It all settled down over the hour + of consumption. Drink by 2015, I think.
2005 vintage
Taster #7490 · Apr 9, 2011
93/100
Still fresh and vibrant, and lots of life yet, but at its peak now. Black raspberry, blackberry, tar, coffee, Italian herbs, layers of flavor got better as it aired over 1.5 hours. Powerful but refined stuff.
2005 vintage
Taster #1177 · Mar 6, 2011
89/100
Drink up
2005 vintage
Taster #3025 · Feb 15, 2011
Now that the fruit has subsided this is a bit tart and not as interesting as when I tried this years ago. It's now a completely different wine.
2005 vintage
Taster #2270 · Oct 31, 2010
89/100
I can't believe i haven't opened one of these since mid year 07 the fruit as subsided a bit and there is some funk on the nose upon immediately opening it. The funk wasnt bad, it was good, but the most offputting thing about this was the tartness on the finish that left me going "HUH..where did that come from?" after about an hour of small pours the tartness either went away or I was so in the bag that …
2005 vintage
Taster #0728 · May 8, 2010
90/100
Served to guests. No notes. Full, rich and fruit-forward. Just enough structure.
2005 vintage
Taster #0996 · Feb 10, 2010
90/100
Big & jammy. It is not as tight and hot as other bottles I have had of this. It may be making it into it's drinking window. If you like this style it is a real Champ.
2005 vintage
Taster #5133 · Sep 7, 2009
90/100
Opened up nicely after 30 minutes. It was full of the expected dark fruit and sweetness, but did not have the strong headache inducing alcohol that I feared. The grenache added a nice touch of floral notes as well. Nice bottle.
2005 vintage
Taster #0492 · Sep 6, 2009
88/100
Big fruit, lovely texture and balance. We took no notes.
2005 vintage
Taster #8375 · Jul 24, 2009
91/100
Deep ruby. Some blueberry and Nestle's Quik initially. Decanted while grilling and later had added some raspberry and pomegranate, bit of vanilla and mocha and nice undertone of black earth. Medium full body with quite a succulent acidity. Fruit forward and juicy, but very pure and defined in its expression.
2005 vintage
Taster #7221 · Jul 3, 2009
92/100
Intense and refined Shiraz with aromas of rich blackberry jam, plums and powdered sugar rounded out with clove and vanilla. Full bodied on the palate with Black cherries, mint and cinnamon. Long... long finish of sour cherry. This is a serious shiraz.
2005 vintage
Taster #4343 · Jun 29, 2009
90/100
Nice, dark ruby red in the glass. The nose has blueberry, cassis, raspberry, tobacco. This is more balanced than the last time I tasted it. There's a nice earthiness and the tannins and acidity are nicely balanced. Long, delicious finish.
2005 vintage
Taster #7596 · Jan 16, 2009
92/100
Needed only 30 minutes to open. Beautiful display of blueberry and blackberry fruit with a graceful balance not always present with two hands wines. This wine was so easy to drink that it disappeared quickly. No noticable heat.
2005 vintage
Taster #4107 · Nov 7, 2008
88/100
We opened this as a contrast to the '05 Terlato and Chapoutier Aussie Shiraz, and that's exactly what we got. Very dark purple red color verging on black. Generous nose of blackberry and blueberry pie, twizzler, and alcohol. On the slurp we have a confectioner's delight of candied blackberries and blueberries, caramel, and vanilla, ending with a cherry Starburst fruit chew and an alcohol spritz. Overall delicious in terms of the fruit it offers but so sweet my first taste …
2005 vintage
Taster #5162 · Aug 22, 2008
90/100
Always solid. Great value wine. Had with tri-tip and it pared well.
2005 vintage
Taster #4646 · Aug 4, 2008
92/100
90 minute decant: nose is still a bit hot, but muddled black fruits and cocoa on the nose. Mouthfeel is silky smooth, with fine semi-sweet tannins that will likely evolve for a couple years more. Notes of blueberry, chocolate milk, vanilla, very sweet cherry and blackberry follow through on the initial taste all the way to the finish. Medium length. Definitely a fruit BOOM, but balanced. The slightly hot finish detracts from the overall experience, maybe slightly too oaky. 90-92.
2005 vintage