2024 Two Hands Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale

Two Hands is a Barossa Valley based producer established in 1999 to showcase the diversity of Australian Shiraz and to highlight regional and vineyard characteristics by allowing the fruit to take centre stage. In addition to the three estate vineyards in the region, négociant fruit is also bought from long term grower partners within the greater Barossa, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley.

The estate vineyards are managed through numerous sustainable practices that include heavy mulching ahead of the growing season, sap flow monitored sparse irrigation and a resident flock of Scottish Highlander cows that turn grape must into good fertiliser.

Inspired by its namesake movie released in 2000, Sexy Beast is a rich and energetic McLaren Vale Cabernet. This wine is from the 2024 vintage, a temperate season that required the patience to wait for the warmer days at the end to ripen red varieties into optimal ripeness. Fruit quality was excellent, the wines showing lifted aromatics, rich fruit flavours and supple tannin structures.

The crushed grapes were fermented in open top vessels, with frequent pump overs. Maturation over 12 months took place in a mix of primarily seasoned French oak hogsheads and puncheons.

Rich fruit, dark chocolate and spice abound on the nose, with more subtle leafy and savoury notes. The bold palate is like a large swell of spicy dense black fruit, the tannins plush and the finish long and smooth.

Cabernet loves fat, protein and green savoury flavours. Enjoy with Yeon Jorim-style lotus loot with perilla leaf and toasted pine nuts. charcoal-grilled aka miso and walnut momen tofu or Mexican birria de res of beef shank and oxtail.