Mollydooker Wines

Carnival of Love McLaren Vale Shiraz

9.3742 ratings
9.378 pro ratings
McLaren Vale, Fleurieu, South Australia, Australia
Shiraz
Beef, Venison, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Lamb, Pasta, Potato, Mushrooms, Salami & Prosciutto, Chili & Hot Spicy, Tomato-Based, Pork, Pungent Cheese, Hard Cheese, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
Bob McDonald

Ripe and oaky. Coffee grounds spices and ripe black fruits. Full bodied rich and opulent but the tannins are a bit astringent. This is a bruising wine and not for everyone but works in the middle of a cold winter with sausages.

Ripe and oaky. Coffee grounds spices and ripe black fruits. Full bodied rich and opulent but the tannins are a bit astringent. This is a bruising wine and not for everyone but works in the middle of a cold winter with sausages.

Jul 15th, 2022
Sipping Fine Wine

Deep Ruby with aromas dark berry fruits, toasty oak and spicy notes. On the palate flavors of ripe dark cherry and blackberry with smoky oak, cacao and licorice. Fine savory tannins, well balanced, long finish ending with fruit, oak and spice. A powerful red, will age for another 10 years. Tasting Sample.

Deep Ruby with aromas dark berry fruits, toasty oak and spicy notes. On the palate flavors of ripe dark cherry and blackberry with smoky oak, cacao and licorice. Fine savory tannins, well balanced, long finish ending with fruit, oak and spice. A powerful red, will age for another 10 years. Tasting Sample.

Nov 16th, 2021
Bob McDonald

Syrupy pruney,very ripe plum and vanilla oak. The Mollydooker style - plenty of everything. A rich palate with those aromas of prune plum and vanilla carrying through with a touch of aniseed. Full bodied for sure with massive fruit and tannic concentration - hedonistic. If you like hugely full bodied wines you will love this. I liked it but don’t drink this style often. A good drink in Winter.

Syrupy pruney,very ripe plum and vanilla oak. The Mollydooker style - plenty of everything. A rich palate with those aromas of prune plum and vanilla carrying through with a touch of aniseed. Full bodied for sure with massive fruit and tannic concentration - hedonistic. If you like hugely full bodied wines you will love this. I liked it but don’t drink this style often. A good drink in Winter.

May 12th, 2021
Bob McDonald

A very dense Ruby in colour. Aromas of coconut oak - very oaky - a match I guess with the ultra ripe red and black fruits - pruney notes. Ultra concentrated McLaren Vale Shiraz writ large! Full bodied and rich - a winter wine par excellence. Medium minus acid. Right to drink this now or the next year or two. This wine was #2 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2014. A great match with Beef Brisket on a cold night. 16% ABV.

A very dense Ruby in colour. Aromas of coconut oak - very oaky - a match I guess with the ultra ripe red and black fruits - pruney notes. Ultra concentrated McLaren Vale Shiraz writ large! Full bodied and rich - a winter wine par excellence. Medium minus acid. Right to drink this now or the next year or two. This wine was #2 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2014. A great match with Beef Brisket on a cold night. 16% ABV.

Jul 26th, 2020
Chris McClellan

Big boozy shiraz..despite its age its still a wild animal..black cherry dominates, pepper, super raisinated, acid diminished, oak, vanilla...alcohol at 16%. Still unbalanced...but it was tasty...

Big boozy shiraz..despite its age its still a wild animal..black cherry dominates, pepper, super raisinated, acid diminished, oak, vanilla...alcohol at 16%. Still unbalanced...but it was tasty...

Jun 28th, 2020
Shawn R

Interesting what a little time does to this wine. Hedonistic is an understatement.

Interesting what a little time does to this wine. Hedonistic is an understatement.

Oct 14th, 2019
Shawn R

14 vintages drinks really well right now.

14 vintages drinks really well right now.

Apr 10th, 2019
Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.5

Deep ruby red with garnet edges. Dark berries and plums in the nose with some cinnamon, spices and some olives. Medium tannins (6/10) and full bodied. Rich palate with layers of plums, dark spices, caramel and some earthiness. Drink till 2025.

Deep ruby red with garnet edges. Dark berries and plums in the nose with some cinnamon, spices and some olives. Medium tannins (6/10) and full bodied. Rich palate with layers of plums, dark spices, caramel and some earthiness. Drink till 2025.

Dec 24th, 2018
Eric

Holiday cheer!!

Holiday cheer!!

Dec 18th, 2018
Jordan Dave

My favorite of the Dooker's :

Very deep green-purple in color, the 2011 Carnival of Love flaunts a very expressive and fragrant nose with floral notes, roses and potpourri intermingled with toasty black cherries, creme de cassis, chocolate, pepper and accents of cinnamon and cloves. Rich, ripe and full-bodied, this concentrated, single-vineyard 100% Shiraz retains crisp acid, has low to medium levels of soft silky tannins before finishing very harmoniously and long. Drink it from 2014 to 2022+.

My favorite of the Dooker's :

Very deep green-purple in color, the 2011 Carnival of Love flaunts a very expressive and fragrant nose with floral notes, roses and potpourri intermingled with toasty black cherries, creme de cassis, chocolate, pepper and accents of cinnamon and cloves. Rich, ripe and full-bodied, this concentrated, single-vineyard 100% Shiraz retains crisp acid, has low to medium levels of soft silky tannins before finishing very harmoniously and long. Drink it from 2014 to 2022+.

7 people found it helpfulOct 25th, 2014