Two Hands 2018 Angels’ Share Shiraz, McLaren Vale

Perhaps the world is in need of divine intervention right now. We got some help from angels when we opened this bottle.

The Angels’ Share

Angels' Share refers to the small amount of wine that evaporates from oak barrels while it matures. Medieval winemakers assumed that angels watched over the wines, and that they took their share.

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We took our share recently when we opened Two Hands 2018 Angels’ Share Shiraz from McLaren Vale. McLaren Vale is a standout Australian wine region with a Mediterranean climate. It is known for consistently great reds, especially velvety smooth Shiraz.

Two Hands is one of our favorite Australian wineries. Their focus is to make the best possible Shiraz-based wines from prized growing regions throughout Australia. Determined to be different than the formulaic style of Shiraz sold internationally, Two Hands turns the focus on spotlighting the regional and vineyard characteristics. In short, they are focused on the fruit.

The Brickle Debate

The Angels’ Share is deep purple in the glass. Plunging in coats your tongue with rich and luxurious blue and black fruit flavors. The texture is silky with flavors of brickle, roasted cherries and raspberry on the finish.

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As we sipped we got into a discussion about brickle. Is it even a thing? I recalled a once-popular ice cream flavor called Butter Brickle. My wife is a toffee fanatic and felt that the flavor in the wine was even better than her beloved Heath bars. We were trying to identify the toffee flavor in the wine and brickle, perhaps a bit more silky and buttery, fit the sumptuous flavor of the wine best.

The ABV for this wine is 14.2%, but it is lithe and balanced – never ponderous and plodding. The tannins are very laid back. It really explodes with flavor and continues with layers of satisfaction. This is a bottle that lingers on the tongue with a delightfully long finish.

This is Australian Shiraz at its best, never overplaying its hand to become flabby and uninteresting. We suggest you uncork a bottle or two during your social isolation. Oh yes, to get your Aussie on, we suggest that you pronounce it sheer-azz and not the Americanized sheer-ahs. The SRP is a tasty $33.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.