Gnarly Dudes

2009 Shiraz, Two Hands

Two Hands is becoming “a thing” with me. Back in earlier March I raved about the smokey, cherry taste of TWO HANDS ARES. But with the arrival of the latest series from Mad Men, a fine bottle seemed in order.

2009 Two Hands

Gnarly Dudes

Shiraz, $39.99

93 WS, 14.8%

So, Cynthia broke out a Christmas present given by her sister. The sun was setting in her immaculate garden of wandering vegetation that feels like a true English garden. Her patch sits on the edge of the Four Mile Run park in Arlington County. What a beauty…

…like the wine. The aroma slams you in the schnauz (um…is that how you spell it?). It’s an olafactory sensation full of berries and dirt. I loved how potent the experience was and how completely engrossing. We couldn’t put it down. Frank, Cynthia, and I polished this off with a cheese trio of morbier,

Morbier Cheese

a Trader Joe’s brie which we were all quite impressed with, and then with a Tomme that neither wowwed nor stuck in the mind. But the wine soared. The ashey edge of the morbier that bisects the wheel blends with the odorific nature of this beastly white French cheese and makes it a perfect pair with this powerful red.

Full bodied, yet easy enough to drive as an appetizer driver, Two Hands won us over hands down. The Wine Specatator review made me salivate today, as I reflected on last night’s sipping:

“Glass-staining purple. Rich blackberry and blueberry compote, mocha and licorice on the nose, along with a hint of dried violet. Fleshy and large-scaled but with surprising vivacity to the flavors of dark berries, mocha and floral pastilles. A lush, textbook Australian shiraz that finishes long and juicy, with echoing florality…”

I will now share with you the whole story: we ate the cheese and this expensive wine with Triscuits.

Oh yes, That's Right: Triscuits!

Cynthia had the crappy water crackers from Whole Foods there too, but we completely devoured the Triscuits.

In the end, in spite of their strong flavor, these crackers are woven wheat, salt and oil. There were no preservatives or sugars, so they’re a fairly healthy bite. And the salt really works perfectly with the blander Tomme and the savoury red.

Tell no one, it’ll be our little secret.

- See more at: http://www.alunchboxblog.com/wine-post/?preview=true&preview_id=2796&preview_nonce=102a1350e4#sthash.cQAv9LGp.dpuf