Twin Fin Shiraz 2002
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One of the great things about Shiraz is its ability to thrive in both cooler, coastal climates as well as some of the warmer inland appellations. We took advantage of that when we sourced grapes for our Shiraz. Hames Valley, located in the southern tip of Monterey County, has a climate very similar to our native Barossa Valley. As a result, there is a wonderful backbone of white pepper and ripe, red berry fruit. Lodi is also a great area for Shiraz. While some grapes cannot stand up to the warmer climate of Lodi, Shiraz loves to soak up the sun! Lodi gives us the generous forward fruit and ripe plum that adds to the complexity of this wine. Finally, North Coast and Paso Robles grapes finish out the wine.
With Shiraz, we do everything possible to extract as much flavor as we can from the grapes. That means extended cold soaks before fermentation, as well as leaving the grapes on their skins for 10 days to harness as much flavor and concentration as possible. Monthly racking and aging in 100% American oak for ten months contributed to the overall toasty complexity of the finished blend.This is a spicy bomb! Great fruit sweetness gives the wine fleshy, round flavors with generous dabs of chocolate, exotic spice and ripe, red raspberry. Have this wine close to the Weber, because it will work with just about anything you throw on the grill!
“Twin Fin is all about fun: relaxed, and always comfortable,” says Sam. “Good wine is like those experiences that become memories, where the horizon signifies not an end, but a beginning—of the next wave, the next adventure, the next possibility. It’s where quality and personality, character and substance all meet in one bottle.”
Hugh and Sam are not what you’d expect from winemakers; these guys are better. While they both have impressive backgrounds – Hugh graduated from Australia’s top winemaking school and Sam has worked with wineries in all of the major wine regions of Australia – they also know how to have a good time. They really live in the spirit of the wine they create: people that work hard and play hard.
“We get the grapes from select vineyards along California’s Central Coast,” says Sam. “That gives us great wine quality, and a chance to travel to all the places we love to visit.” This winemaking duo makes six wines: Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir. The wines are fresh and fruit-driven and offer tremendous quality for the price—just right for everything from beach barbecues to dinner with the in-laws. “The perfect night, the perfect friends and the perfect wine—it’s that easy with Twin Fin,” says Hugh.