2009 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The hedonistically styled 2009 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love might not have the elegance and balance of the Velvet Glove, but man oh man does it have richness and depth. Sporting an inky purple color, the wine displays massive amount of blackberry liqueur, licorice, smoked meat, and black olive like aromatics that just come leaping out of the glass. This is followed by a full bodied wine that saturates the palate with sweet fruit, carrying a seamless, polished texture, notable balance, and a finish that just won’t quit. Not for the faint of heart (seriously, if you don’t like Mollydooker, this isn’t going to change your opinion), but this is straight up delicious and a pleasure-seeking delight that you just can’t get from anywhere (or anyone) else. I’ve no idea how it will age and would drink bottles over the coming 4-6 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2009 Carnival of Love is 100% Shiraz coming from a single vineyard of 9 year old vines and matured in 97% new and 3% one year American oak. Very deep garnet-purple colored, it gives intense creme de cassis, vanilla, spice, mocha and licorice notes. Crisp and firmly structured with a high level of grainy tannins, this is a full-bodied, powerful Shiraz with a great deal of ripe dense fruit giving very good persistence. It finishes seriously spicy and just a little hot. Consider drinking this one 2012 to 2019+. Following a challenging 2008 vintage when no Velvet Glove, Gigglepot, Blue Eyed Boy, Enchanted Path or Carnival of Love wines were made, Sparky Marquis and his inimitable Mollydooker line-up is back to firing on all cylinders in 2009. \ Importer: Bacchus Importers, Dundalk, MD; tel. (410) 484-2700