Two Hands Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Two Hands Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a 750ml, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale, South Australia, aged 14 months in French oak hogsheads. This vintage earned 92 points from Wine Spectator, James Suckling, and Jeb Dunnuck alike — a rare consensus that speaks to the wine's quality and consistency across critical palates.

Quick Facts: Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Origin: McLaren Vale, South Australia  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Winery: Two Hands

Production & Heritage

Two Hands was founded in September 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz with a focused mission: showcase Australia's finest vineyard sites through single-region bottlings. The Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 was fermented in traditional open fermenters before spending 14 months maturing in new French oak hogsheads, a regimen that builds structure without overwhelming the fruit. Only 2,500 cases were imported, making this a limited-production release from one of McLaren Vale's warmest and most fruit-forward vintages. The Mediterranean climate of the region — warm days tempered by cool ocean breezes from Gulf St Vincent — gives the grapes the ripeness and concentration that define this bottling.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Blackcurrant and blueberry dominate the nose, followed by layers of smoked earth, tobacco leaf, and pencil shavings. A thread of mint lifts the darker fruit tones, adding complexity as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is plush and velvety, with ripe blackberry and black cherry flooding the mid-palate. Bittersweet chocolate and toasted herbs emerge as the wine builds, framed by sleek, well-integrated tannins. Jeb Dunnuck noted a "dense core of scorched earth" beneath the fruit, and that savory undertow gives the palate real grip.

Finish: Medium-long and textured, with lingering notes of black licorice, cassis, and cigar wrapper. The French oak influence shows in a subtle toast that fades gradually without turning bitter or drying.

How to Drink Sexy Beast Cabernet

Decant for 30 to 45 minutes before serving at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to let the oak and fruit integrate fully. This Cabernet drinks well on its own but truly comes alive alongside food. Pair it with a char-grilled ribeye, where the wine's tannin structure cuts through the fat. Braised lamb shoulder with rosemary brings out the herbal notes woven through the mid-palate. A aged cheddar or Comté cheese board highlights the chocolate and tobacco undertones. For a less conventional match, try dark mole sauce — its earthy spice mirrors the wine's smoked earth character.

Best For

• Gifting a red wine enthusiast who appreciates bold Australian Cabernet
• A Saturday night steak dinner with close friends
• Building a cellar with approachable but age-worthy McLaren Vale reds
• Introducing someone to premium Australian wine beyond Shiraz

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sexy Beast Cabernet taste like? It delivers a rich, fruit-driven palate of blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry layered with bittersweet chocolate, toasted herbs, and a savory smoked earth undertone. The tannins are plush rather than aggressive, making it approachable despite its concentration.

How does Sexy Beast Cabernet compare to Penfolds Bin 407? Both are 100% Cabernet Sauvignons from South Australia, but Penfolds Bin 407 typically draws fruit from multiple regions and leans toward a more structured, restrained profile, while Sexy Beast sources exclusively from McLaren Vale and delivers a riper, more overtly fruit-forward style with prominent French oak influence.

Is Sexy Beast Cabernet good for drinking now? Yes — the 2018 vintage is drinking well in its current window thanks to its supple tannins and generous fruit, though it has enough structure to reward another three to five years of cellaring if preferred.

Where is Sexy Beast Cabernet made? It is produced by Two Hands Wines in McLaren Vale, a renowned wine region approximately 35 kilometers south of Adelaide in South Australia, known for its Mediterranean climate and rich, well-drained soils.

What foods pair well with Sexy Beast Cabernet? Char-grilled red meats like ribeye steak match its tannin structure; braised lamb with rosemary echoes the herbal notes; aged hard cheeses such as Comté highlight the chocolate tones; dark chocolate desserts complement the finish; and mushroom risotto ties into the wine's earthy, savory core.

What sizes does Sexy Beast Cabernet come in? The Two Hands Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Sexy Beast Cabernet worth the price? Positioned as a mid-range Australian Cabernet, it punches above its weight — earning 92-point scores from three major critics places it alongside wines that often cost significantly more, making it one of the stronger values in the McLaren Vale Cabernet category.

Why Sexy Beast Cabernet?

Scoring 92 points across Wine Spectator, James Suckling, and Jeb Dunnuck is a feat few wines at this price tier achieve, and that critical unanimity signals a vintage that delivered exactly what McLaren Vale Cabernet should. The traditional open-fermenter approach and 14 months in new French oak give the wine a textural richness that separates it from mass-produced Australian reds. With only 2,500 cases imported, availability is limited enough to make a bottle feel special without being impossible to find. For drinkers who want serious, concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon without paying Coonawarra or Napa Valley premiums, the 2018 Sexy Beast remains a benchmark for the category.