If you think that me being asked to review a wine and wear a costume is weird, you really don’t know me. Or maybe you do! Celebrating Halloween and The Big Lebowski‘s 20th anniversary with a lovely Australian red wine is exactly my kind of weird. So here’s my review of Two Hands Wines Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2017 and The Dude costume “who wore it better?” between my husband, myself, and a friend of ours.
What better setting than Las Vegas for costume shenanigans and wine tasting with friends? We’re in Las Vegas for our friends’ wedding this gorgeous Halloween weekend so we enlisted help with both!
Two Hands Wines Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2017
Barossa Valley, Australia
SRP $30 (750ml)
Sheila’s Notes: Loving this non-jammy Shiraz for its spice and dark fruit taste. A bold, dry, medium-full bodied red with just enough acidity to make this Chianti loving girl happy. Tasted without food, I was very pleased at just how lovely this wine is on its own. Would pair well with beef, sausage, or game…although we eat a lot of fully seasoned chicken that would be excellent with this wine as well. Also pairs well with great friends and bad great decisions. My friends loved it too, so I guess that means I have to share.
Winemaking Specs from the Winemaker: The many parcels making up this wine were crushed into and fermented in three, five, seven and 10 tonne open top vessels. Regular pump overs three times daily were performed during the peak of fermentation to extract flavours, colour and tannins. At pressing, the free run and pressings were combined to tank, then racked to barrel for oak maturation where malolactic fermentation occurred. All batches were kept separate and blended just prior to bottling. Matured for 12 months in French oak, which 15% was new, and the remainder in one to six year old puncheons and hogsheads.
Tasting Notes from the Winemaker: (Aroma) Notes of black cherry, fresh blackberry, fresh lavender, pastry crust, and dark chocolate. (Palate) Hits the palate with vibrancy and pop. Bright berry notes dance across the palate. Medium to full bodied with richness of fruit balanced by bright refreshing acidity. Tannins are prominent but melt beautifully into a wall of fruit. Finished with a lovely long palate, accented by notes of red licorice, lavender, and dark chocolate with a creamy texture from lees contact.
And now onto The Dude costume, and who wore it better?
Jerome: The Husband
Always a great sport and never turning down an opportunity to make his wife laugh with his awkwardness, Jerome “The Dude” Lebowski lounged by the pool, and didn’t care about, like, your opinion, man.
Sheila: Yours Truly
Nobody calls her Lebowski, not with those perfect eyebrows, Sheila “The Dude” Lebowski wants everyone to be careful, man, there’s a beverage down here.
Mark: The Groom
About to marry his fiery redheaded love in just a few short hours by not one but two Elvii, Mark “The Dude” Lebowski lounged on the couch that tied the room together. This guy brought his own authentic beard and claims he’s housebroken, man.
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The Costume
You, too, can abide. All of these pieces (and his signature sweater, not pictured) can be found on Amazon.
Robe: The Big Lebowski The Dude Bathrobe – ST
Pants: Big Lebowski the Dude Pants Jeff Bridges Costume Pajamas (L)
Wig/Beard/Mustache: Big Lebowski Adult The Dude Wig and Beard Kit – ST
Sunglasses: Forum Novelties Unisex Blues Sunglasses, Black, One Size
Sweater: Big Lebowski Jeffrey The Dude Sweater Men’s Large Movie Replica Cardigan Costume
“The Dude abides.”