There is something wonderfully nostalgic about the Mollydooker wine. Sure, everyone knew about the hype the brand had initially received from the wine publications — but I wanted to try these wines on my own. I took the liberty to taste their top wines and was absolutely floored with the combination of texture, flavor range and flavor density. Quite simply, these wines were the real deal.
It was an exceedingly short amount of time that Sarah and Sparky Marquis made Mollydooker one of the top wine brands of Australia. Their first wine, the 2005 ‘Carnival of Love’ Shiraz was immediately awarded 99 points by Robert Parker and was sold out in five days. I was amazed with what the produced even in very tough vintages like 2011 as the wines seemed to exceed quality compared to other producers. It has now been more than five years since Sarah has taken sole control of the winery and now has her son, Luke, the ‘Blue Eyed Boy’, leading global sales. Many people have considered the 2021 vintage in South Australia to be one of the best that they have witnessed in history. Fruit set was marvelous as was the even ripening found this year.
I adored the new Mollydooker lineup. I know you will love the deep and concentrated 2021 Mollydooker ‘Carnival of Love’ Shiraz (OB, 96) which is pillowy and soft with a seamless texture. I was super impressed with the latest 2021 Mollydooker ‘Gigglepot’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) which shows serious value and offers lovely herbal undertones alongside a great concentration of dark fruit flavors. Learn more about this famed South Australian winery at https://www.mollydookerwines.com.au/ Here are the beautiful new wines by Mollydooker.
2021 Mollydooker ‘The Scooter’ Merlot- The outstanding 2021 ‘The Scooter’ Merlot shows fresh Bing cherry and coffee ground notes on the nose with shades of black plum melding together in the glass. The palate is soft with a silky mouthfeel and good length, showing some bright underling acidity. This is delicious stuff to consume now. Drink 2023-2027- 91
2021 Mollydooker ‘Two Left Feet’ Red Wine- The 2021 Mollydooker ‘Two Left Feet’ Red Wine is a really great blend of Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is immediately gratifying on the palate with cassis, wild blackberry and cedar notes alongside shades of black olives. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy this great new blend over the next five plus years.Drink 2023-2028- 91
2021 Mollydooer ‘The Maitre D’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2021 Mollydooer ‘The Maitre D’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows lovely herbal undertones with red bell pepper, tobacco leaf and shades of wild blackberry on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied and nicely balanced with a good concentration of black and blue fruits alongside tar and espresso ground flavors. Medium to full-bodied, this is another downright killer value that is best consume now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2023-2029- 92
2021 Mollydooker ‘The Boxer’ Shiraz- A killer value, the 2021 ‘The Boxer’ Shiraz offers ripe boysenberry, juicy plum, Black Forest Cake and tar notes on the palate alongside espresso bean accents. Medium to full-bodied this is delicious wine to enjoy now. Drink 2023 2028- 92
2021 Mollydooker ‘Gigglepot’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 Mollydooker ‘Gigglepot’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in 80% American oak before bottling. This edition is been better than that produced in 2020. The garrigue notes here are really rocking as green bell pepper, white pepper dusted brisket, tar and Turkish coffee notes all seamlessly meld on the palate. Very refined and similarly weightless as the 2020 edition, this beauty is showing marvelously now and will surely live on for another decade. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2021 Mollydooker ‘Blue Eyed Boy’ Shiraz- A beautiful new edition of the BEB, this 2021 Mollydooker Shiraz was aged in 100% new American oak before bottling. While at 16% alcohol, this has a fantastic underling finesse with dark currants, mocha, tar and violet flavors that all frame this beautiful wine. With more air the smoky, salty and savory notes meld beautifully as this outstanding wine is already nicely evolved and will show well for another decade to come. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2021 Mollydooker ‘Enchanted Path’ Red Wine- A total show-stopper, the 2021 Mollydooker ‘Enchanted Path’ combines 70% Shiraz with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, all sourced from the Gateway and Rivers Lane vineyards in McLaren Vale. Stored in nearly all new French oak, this opens with Asian spices and Earl Grey tea notes alongside huckleberry and suggestions of dark chocolate covered espresso bean on the nose. The palate is very powerful and rich, yet shows an outstanding sense of poise despite weighing in at 16% alcohol. The heady core of black and blue fruits greets you alongside its pillowy texture. Savor this beauty now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 96
2021 Mollydooker ‘Carnival of Love’ Shiraz- Another sensational edition of the Mollydooker ‘Carnival of Love’ Shiraz from 2021 — and I am not the least surprised. I’ve had every edition of this wine for more than a decade. This bottling was as usual aged in all new American oak. On the nose this takes on dense black currant jelly, cigar box and shades of creosote with Arabica bean. The palate is soft and inviting with its plush texture and seamless mouthfeel as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. A joy to drink now so young, this will easily cellar for another ten years and potentially more. But why wait? Drink 2023-2036- 96