Winemaker Notes
Aphrodite is the second wine in Two Hands' Flagship line up, representing the very best Cabernet Sauvignon made by Two Hands. Sourced from mature single vineyard on Radford Road in the Greenock sub district.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Michael Twelftree can turn a trick or two with Cabernet Sauvignon, as evidenced by one of the finest Cabernets I have ever tasted from Australia, the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Aphrodite. This amazing 100% Cabernet tasted even better from bottle than it did last year from barrel. Aged in 100% new Taransaud wood, it boasts an extraordinary perfume of black currants, melted licorice, blueberries, cigar smoke, and espresso roast. A superb texture, fabulous concentration, sweet, melted tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute will cause Cabernet lovers to go bonkers. Still young and primary, it will be even better with 2-3 years of bottle age, and should age for two decades or more.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Historically and presently the most important wine-producing region of Australia, the Barossa Valley is set in the Barossa zone of South Australia, where more than half of the country’s wine is made. Because the climate is very hot and dry, vineyard managers work diligently to ensure grapes reach the perfect levels of phenolic ripeness.
The intense heat is ideal for plush, bold reds, particularly Shiraz on its own or Rhône Blends. Often Shiraz and Cabernet partner up for plump and powerful reds.
While much less prevalent, light-skinned varieties such as Riesling, Viognier or Semillon produce vibrant Barossa Valley whites.
Most of Australia’s largest wine producers are based here and Shiraz plantings date back as far as the 1850s or before. Many of them are dry farmed and bush trained, still offering less than one ton per acre of inky, intense, purple juice.