Holding up very well. Still fruity at the front with tertiary notes chasing for attention. Must be at or around peak drinking. If you’ve been holding these with some dark knowledge that it could end up this good, well your smug grin is well deserved.
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just peaking with strong leather and earth notes to complement the solid fruit. lasting finish. more dark and brooding but still light enough to be fully approachable.
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Jammy dark fruit, sweet blueberry pie, no noticeable heat from the 16% ABV, smooth and jammy classic MD, 9 plus years old and has held up well but time to drink.
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Jam on jam, topped with jam, in a pool of JAM! Wow. I understand the intent of this wine, and intent is carried out to an amazing degree. A big smooth fruity red wine with some hints of white pepper (slight) and a bit of steminess. Mostly voluptuous fruit though. Ripe and extracted. Like an Aussie Shiraz should be, right? Impressive for it's true to formness.
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This was the year no high end was produced and they rolled all the carnival and blue eyed into the boxer. It is showing really well and will hold for several years.
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We don't often get to taste an aged Aussie Shiraz. We probably caught this one just before it really starts to fade. Typical dark purple almost opaque color. The expected upfront, though mature, blueberry and plum entrance. Less acid than from most other places. Still some youngish vanilla from oak. So wonderfully ripe. The mid palate and finish exhibit black currants mushrooms and earth.
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I have been trying one of these every 2 1/2 years or so. My last tasting, I was not that impressed. This bottle on the other hand was really nice. Time has helped. Huge fruit and still big and in your face in the "M-Dooker style" - but smoother around the edges this time which made it really enjoyable. One to go in the cellar. Will not wait that long as I think these are in a good spot right now.
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PNP, last taste 1.5 years ago, purchased late 2009, has not moved since. Not much else to say, classic, rich all the normal characteristics from Md, but time has, made this smoother and even more approachable than in its youth. Loving the simple, yet interesting secondary nuances.
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Still going. Dark in the glass. Mouthful of raspberry and cherry with spice. Long finish but a little hot. Lots of "fruit weight" compared to other Shiraz. Have 2013 & 2014 in cellar, can't wait to taste these in a few years. Agree, good way to end the day.
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Huge amounts of heat on the nose and had a okay aroma to it. Some dried red fruits and remnants of vanilla and nutty flavors. On the palate, the wine was tart and acidic. Most of the fruit had dissipated and all that was left was a slight cedar and herbal taste. This is a wine that should have been drunk as soon as it was bottled.
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Loosing a bit of it's punch, not the heavy hitter it once was, still there is plenty of bang and even a core of elegance. The blackberry is still prominent, with hints of blueberry, pomergrantit, spice and chocolate. I have always thought that the wines from MD at this level newer best consume young for their big in your face fruit, if you have them I would seriously consider consuming soon.
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Lordy, still great! Wonderful nose, rich fruit, lovely finish. Opened in the morning and decanted. Left in the decanter with light cover in the wine room until Christmas dinner. Fabulous with turkey.
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Still punching, plenty of rich, sweet blackberry syrup, hints of chocolate, never going blow you away with complexity, but plenty of bang for the buck. Nice wine to end an evening!
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The Boxer is a tough one to rate as it's that BIG, monster, alcoholic, Aussie style. I like it occasionally and this one was good. Smooth as silk, cherry, blueberry. And it's 6 years old, for a reasonable price.
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2 1/2 years since my last bottle. Not sure if I am outgrowing this MD style or not - but this is just a little too much "in your face" for my liking these days. Perhaps I was just not in the right mood. Nothing bad/wrong with this wine - just have to be into this style. Plenty of time left with these too. As this big boy will not go easily into the night and will be drinking "in your face" for years to come. I will make sure I am in the mood to get "punched" next time.
This is smoothing out some with time. Still lots of black cherry fruit with some spice notes on the side. Would like to have had another couple of bottles in the cellar to see if it develops more, but its all gone now. Must look to future vintages. A nice wine.
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Very well integrated, full bodied, lots of fruit and extremely smooth. Great flavor with a lot going on in the mouth along with pleasant long silky finish.
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Wow, what a difference a few years makes. There is still powerful dark fruits, but they are more in balance from beginning to end. Firm tannins and some nice pepper notes.
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This served as a fine end of the night wine at last night's dinner party. It must be accompanied by a high acid refreshing white wine (in this case, a delicious albarino from Walla Walla) lest one suffer a black eye and split lip from numerous punches to the face.
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Big, bold and smooth as silk. No tannins left, with a nice balanced fruit, mostly cherry. I was surprised it had some sediment, no other bottle did. Great quality for price.
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Day 1 had me wondering if I had outgrown this big Aussie wine but everything that was out of balance on day 1 was perfectly integrated on day 2. Still a nice bottle but in a weird place right now for a pop and pour.
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A much different experience from our first bottle back in November of 2011 (Which I had incorrectly logged as the 2009 for some reason), although I was surprised by the integration of this wine with a 17.2% alc. back then, the secret was that we opened the bottle amongst 8 adults with (at most) a glass a piece, and one glass is more than enough as last night my wife and I split this bottle and it was akin to splitting a bottle of Port between 2 people, simply 'too much of a good thing' and the heat and sting of this was simply too overwhelming for a table wine, very tasty for sure, but not with a meal - Dark, full bodied with a nose of black licorice, blackfruit, pepper, blueberry, plum, spice and vanilla, surprising structure and integration considering the alc., intense and overpowering on the palate for more than a glass, sweet, smooth with a slight burn on the palate with excellent length (88 Points).
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Deep red, cherry/jammy goodness in a glass. Very smooth drinking (give me The Boxer over Mollydooker's Two Left Feet any day) with a medium finish. I tried this at a steakhouse and liked it enough to seek it out. Wine shop only had 1 left so I put it in my cellar. Pulled it out last night and really wish I had bought more...Yum!
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A guilty pleasure, if you will. Mega-fruit and spice, jam and a touch of vanilla. Hard to complain -- it didn't pretend to be anything other than it is. One oddity: some hardened and perfectly shaped sediment rings that survived in the glass, intact. The waitress told me she sees this all the time...
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Big dark fruit with a lots of alcohol. This wine has the balance to pull it off. Nice acidity with dark fruit mid pallet and hint of vanilla and spice on the finish. I feel this wine is a little overpriced but very enjoyable.
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Dark inky red. A very hot nose. Blackberry, vanilla, cinnamon and stewed fruit - lots of alcohol. The palate is far more balanced than the nose would have you think. Dark berries, raisins, a hint of pepper, very soft tannin and good acid structure. Ready to drink now and for the next few years I would think.
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Great fruit concentration with boysenberry and black raspberry flavors framed by mocha and warm spices. Full bodied with an inky bright complexion and very long finish. This wine is just entering its drinking window and is outrageously rewarding for the fruit bomb new world style aficianados. Drank over 3+ hours and got better every step of the way.
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Mon Dieu this is huge. My amazing gf gets some spices on the nose, but I only get fruit steeped in alcohol. But it's not unpleasant. Concentrated, yes, syrupy, somewhat, sure. But...well, I'd drink it.
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only had a few sips of this. huge, but more balanced than i expected. obviously overripe for many people's tastes, but as a cocktail it is very enjoyable. tons of jammy cherry, black raspberry, spice, and plenty of creamy vanilla oak. i dug it. if scoring, 87-89.
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Still one of a kind. Age does not have any impact here I think. This is best described as a lot of everything. Not for everyone but fun and an expressive personality. Serve at 16 degrees Celsius to avoid dizziness because of the 17 percent alcohol.
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ok bottle of Australia Shiraz. Decent value. Nothing refined about it - fruit forward dark ruby color. Very heavy wine - pairs well with heavy foods (i.e. grilled meats).
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A good wine but one that confirms i will not be buying a Mollydooker wine again. Has a little spice along with the blackcurrent and chocolate, very mclaren Vale. Initially I thought it was very nice but the 16% alcohol gets in the way and makes each glass less enjoyable than the previous. Not my cup of tea.
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Age does not seem to harm The Boxer. He is performing just as vivid and somewhat crazy as ever before. Truly up for a fight I see no reason to hold off drinking. Best enjoyed to some cheese and fig marmelade after dinner.
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- Brick color and aromas of cherry, chocolate and black pepper. It's in total harmony and has flavours of prune, raisin, strawberry jam, oak and vanilla with a full body. Juicy texture with a long finish.
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Desiring something delicious, we opened this. Though not as "big" as past vintages, similar in style. Loads of blackberry up front, a hint of sweetness through the midpalate, and a little heat to go along with the soft tannin on the back. No acidity. Cotie Not for the faint of heart. Cote-Rotie it ain't,...but that certain "delicious factor" is undeniable. [16% abv.; $24.00].
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I was actually VERY surprised by this wine, I know it's a quality producer, but I just couldn't see a 17.2% alc. having any redeeming value as a table wine - Dark, full bodied with a nose of blackfruit, pepper, blueberry, spice and vanilla, very well structured, surprisingly integrated, quite a fruit bomb, but well balanced, sweet, silky smooth on the palate with terrific length, nice!! (91 Points). (4098 views)
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This is an unctuous glass of blueberry cobbler with creme brulee. Only mild heat (despite 16% abv) that was held in check with a decanter. Fatigues the palate. A crowd pleaser.
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Decanted 2 hours. Though I gave this a decent score, I expected a lot more before drinking this wine. Not as much as a fruit bomb as I was led to believe. Still very enjoyable.
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No formal notes taken, but as other users have noted, this was hot out of the bottle, but opened up to a huge delicous lip-smacking fruit bomb after about an hour.
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Loved it! Fruity, bold, great finish. Brought it at a dinner party. Was a hit especially with the guys. The 16% alcohol content is surprisingly not overdone. I'm a fan now, need to find more. Wife did not like it as much though.
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Dark purple inky color. Strong berry smell. Tastes of blueberry, blackberry and a bit of pepper spice. A very fruit-forward example of an Aussie Shiraz. Consistent with prior tasting notes.
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1.5 hour decant, but recommend at least 2 hours. Black cherry, currant, blackberry, and white pepper notes. Some alcohol heat on the nose and palate, but not excessive. Dark, jammy fruit with a strong tannic backbone on the mid-palate, leading to a long finish with good acidity. Paired well with mac and cheese.
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Big bold fruit bomb , a little hot at first but smoothed out . the 2nd day it was wonderful. we have enjoyed "boxer " for alotta bottles, enough to name a dog after the winery "the Dook"
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More complex as after breathing for an hour. Fruit was more subtle with more smoky tobacco notes showing through. Medium finish with some spicy flavors.
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Very good, typical Mollydooker style. Very high alcohol content that is evident - a lot of heat even after a couple of hours. Luckily there was big jammy fruits to help balance it out. I like their Blue Eyed Boy better - but this was still a good Shiraz if you like this big, bold style. There was a lot of sediment in the bottom of this bottle, so I will make sure you to decant through a strainer for the rest from this vintage.
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Wow. This Boxer packs a punch. 17% of a punch in fact. It's too much. I opened it, tried it, fell backwards, put the screwcap back on and opened it again 23 hours later. Then I let it sit for an hour and tried again. I would score it less but it is clearly well made and doesn't have the nasty unfinished feel of a truly awful wine but it also doesn't have any finesse at all. There is little other than smoky, peppery black fruit power on both the nose and palate. A bit like eating the blackberry, flower, stem, roots and earth all at once, having previously covered it in meths. Way too much alcohol and not my thing at all.
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This is always a big hit at a bbq. Nose is adding a bit more complexity and the wine has started to settle down. A two hour decant helps. Fruit forward as expected and high octane. Enjoyable.
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16% abv and it shows. Lots of heat, black cherry and licorice. Nice body and spice, but just could not get past the alcohol, even 2 hours after opening.
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Better than the screw off lid suggests. Just kidding. I like shiraz. I've read reviews of this wine and had high expectations. I was not disappointed. Deep and flavorful. Fruity with a spicy aftertaste.
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Yes, this wine is over the top, contains plenty of heat and is actually quite crazy, but tell me which other wine pairs this nicely to grilled tomatoes, salsiccia and BBQ sauce? This is why I love Mollydooker: they do make crazy wines that compare to no other. Recommended.
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Tonight showing a rather one-dimensional side this wine is still drinking perfectly, but its youth is about to disappear. In my opinion the simpler wines from Mollydooker needs to be drunk in their early years. They do not gain any complexity with age. I guess the 2008 The Boxer will drink well for another 3-5 years. Recommended.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Blackberry, plum, currant, and pepper notes on the nose and palate. Full bodied with a thick, rich, long dark fruit finish. This bottle clearly benefited from the air time. Paired well with corned beef and cabbage. Nice Aussie Shiraz.
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Popped and poured. Dark fruit and alcohol aromas. Cherry, plum, blackberry, and white pepper flavors with some alcohol heat as well. Full bodied, rich, and jammy with nice tannins on the finish. I'd like this more if the alcohol was less noticeable. Will decant next time to see if the alcohol mellows.
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Dark purple inky color. Strong berry smell. Tastes of blueberry, blackberry and a bit of pepper spice. A very fruit-forward example of an Aussie Shiraz. A very reliable wine. I enjoy this type of Shiraz.
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the color of this wine is dark and rich. on the nose im getting lots of fruit like cherry and strawberry and lots of chocolate and licorice, and tons of oak. on the initial palate i get nice strawberry and cherry fruit then it moves to a strong chocolate licorice mid palate and the it finishes with an incredible spiciness and huge amounts of oak splintering in my mouth. the mouth feel of this wine is the best part of this wine. it is the most silky, smooth, thick, chewy feeling. the longer this wine sat the more the fruit blossomed and the more the oak calmed down so it eventually balanced. at 16% im surprised there wasnt more heat but it was not noticeable. overall i like this wine but really i was expecting more.
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Dark purple inky color. Strong berry smell. Tastes of blueberry, blackberry and a bit of pepper spice. A very fruit-forward example of an Aussie Shiraz. A very reliable wine. I enjoy this type of Shiraz.
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much more balanced that last 2 vintages. I would actually drink this would food which says a lot. $25 seems a little steep as the Mollydooker name has lost its prestige, but this is a nice wine non the less.
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When tasting Sparky and Sarah's wines, I find myself subconsciously doing a gear change - anticipating all the stuff that made them famous and contentious - big, full, rich, full throttle wine. This wine was none of that for me. In fact it was none of anything. Sure you could recognise that it was South Australian and McLaren Vale but that is where it all ended. The wine was just blah...no particular character - good or bad. Not gonna rush out for more.
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Strong alcohol in the nose and a little hot overall. Nice dark rich color and rich fruit which dances on the tongue. Vanilla with hints of cinnamon round it out for an enjoyable glass of wine. Sipping on this one before dinner and enjoying the lingering flavors between sips.
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Strong nose upon opening so I sent the bottle through my Venturi which only enlarged the nose. It was very dark and thick in texture with the strong taste of berry. It was sweet ansd smooth. I enjoyed every sip.
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Shiraz tasting with some big wines: 17% ABV. The nose offers sweet plum, blackcurrant, blackberry fruits, it's ripe but not overripe, even though it's a late harvested wine. Oak plays a supporting role with chocolate and coconut notes, and there is also some Aussie mint. Silken entry onto the palate which is smooth and loaded with dark fruits. Full-bodied with oak spices, medium acidity and tannins. Initially balanced, but high alcohol becames more obvious as the palate builds towards the end, resulting in a hot finish. Rather delicious than serious, it's a fun fruitbomb, if slightly hot.
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Consistent with prior notes. Not as much depth as some of the earlier vintages, that brought the big reviews. This wine has it's place, and can be nice from time to time, but I could not drink it regularly. Big black berry fruit assaults the palate on first blush. Once that settles in, there are some secondary burnt sugar, creme caramel, flavors, and even some vanilla extract. If you are open to it, then this bottle can be fun from time to time. Drinking this daily is likely to fry your palate!! Very concentrated and thick, but in the end this is a well-made wine!!
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Deep, inky purple. I performed the Mollydooker shake and poured immediately into the glass. Powerful berry aromas...lots of alcohol burn-off. Full bodied. This sucker coats the mouth with the viscosity of a 10W-30; literally stains the glass. This is a fruit bomb. Blueberries, blackberries and more blueberries. Totally hedonistic in every way at 16%. Balance is not a description that climbs to the top when describing this one but I can enjoy it none-the-less. It was just too much fun.
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color: deep purple; nose: lots of cherry, some alcohol; taste: heavy mouth feel, tastes of deep bright plum and dark chocolate, yummy medium-to-long velvety pepper finish; overall: easy-to-drink lush fruit bomb, coherent package from start to finish
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This wine is very smooth on the palate with lots of sweet berry note and sweet vanilla. It is a 'warm' wine (most likely driven by the high alcohol content) that will serve well with red meat dishes/stews. When I taste it I immediately think of strawberry cream swirls. Very amiable wine.
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Heavy blueberry bomb, reminds me of Verucca in Willy Wonka. Even the ole Mollydooker shake couldn't "shake" out the huge nose and flavors of blueberry pie and melted chocolate. Admittedly, this has a lush, rich vanilla mouthfeel, but this Mollydooker really needs some time to develop into a more fully integrated Shiraz. Right now, this is basically a blueberry liquer, but enjoyable to those who appreciate this type of Aussie composition. The Boxer is one to try each year to see how they've developed and transitioned.
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Opened and poured after the "Mollydooker shake", let ope in glass about 30 minutes; dark inky color; nice nose of jammy fruit, cherry, a little smoke; very nice taste with blueberry and cherry, a little pepper/spice, integrated with oak, a little vanilla; long finish; fantastic for a $25 shiraz for every day drinking
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Syrah Tasting (My place): A clear, inky purple wine with a hot jammy nose, moderate tannin, and long finish. Heavy on the black fruit. We agreed it should be drunk without comparing it with others, as it seems much to "clunky" and not well put together.
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Jammy and ripe cherries, blueberries. For a high alcohol wine very drinkable even without food - nothing complex but for a little over 20 bucks a good value.. - drank after a mollydooker shake and a hour and a half decant
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'Dooker shake and 5 hours decanted. Quite lovely overall. Fantastically smooth, with vibrant fruit and integrated oak. Mouthfeel is very voluptuous and the finish is long.
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Addition to previous review, must look at web site about "the shake", this wine is uniquely prepared to minimize sulfites and this would appear to explain the abundance of alcohol on the palate (that plus it IS 17% alcohol). Tried with a friend's bottle and it was much much better.
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Big bold Aussie fruit bomb. Deep ruby-red, 16% abv, huge nose of blueberries and other dark fruits, jam, chocolate. Even my 3-yr old proclaimed "it smells like blueberries!" Quite sumptuous. Did the Mollydooker shake - not sure how useful that was - this wine needs to be decanted due to massive amounts of sediment.
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very jammy nose, quite a bit of dark fruit, a hint of chocolate, and fair amount of alcohol. This is a very high alcohol wine, and it comes through both in the nose and on the palate. Very well balanced wine, good wieght, nice fruit but offset by the alcohol burn.Nice long finish with some chocolate and blackberry. I liked it and would try it again, but I think it could still lay down a while, and it did get better over the couple of days it took to drink it, so be sure to let it sit and get some air.
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My favorite hedonistic fruit monster from the regular MD lineup. Big palate with major fruit and a great spicy Shiraz nose. Poured through a venturi into a decanter to release the magic. Some clumps of sediment is appearing towards the end so I suggest filtering into a decanter to get the best from this wine.
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As expected, major alcohol, big fruit, spice. Very powerful, dark, velvet mouth, smooth finish. This was a treat with friends at the end of a long evening. The alcohol on this one could have been restrained a little - i'd have given it 2 more points. A struggle as I expect better balance for the price (I generally like this producer)
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As always this wine just keeps hitting you in the face. Still I think this is somewhat of an awesome effort made to please rather than to set a standard. At its best this wine is accompanied by cheese and marmalade -after one or two other wines during the dinner (tonight 2005 Torbreck The Struie). Palate of mature boysenberry, blueberry, sweet cinnamon mixed with pepper. Finish lasting about 45+ sec and an alcohol component which is rather nicely disguised. Recommended.
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Huge, fruit-bombish but incredibly fantastic pizza wine. It has depth and layers, great mouth feel and finish. This is not a wine for the timid, and it needs food. Alcohol, at 16%, was surprisingly balanced (thanks to prior reviews, I remembered to do the "shake").
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A nose of bold fruit and spice with noticeable alcohol, dark black purple in color. A bold full bodied over the top Shiraz, I really like this wine when it’s a few years old, when it’s young the alcohol overwhelms the fruit, plum, blueberry, bacon. I have tried The Boxer in 2005, 06, 07 and now 08, wait a couple years and this will calm down.
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Had this at a local restaurant, it was half-price wine night and we were in the mood for something big and jammy. Popped (unscrewed) and poured (forgot about "The Shake"). This wine really coats the glass. Huge, sweet nose that can best be described as opening a jar of half-eaten Smuckers Blueberry / Blackerry Jam, along with vanilla and cedar. Palate has cream soda on the front end, followed quickly by more black & blue fruit and just a touch of oak that was well integrated, then the alcohol became apparent on the back end and finish. Great wine that will only get better with some cellar time in my opinion, but this wine is definitely not for everyone.
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Did the shake, and I really believe it made a difference. I took a taste of what I poured out to do the shake and compared it with the glass after the shake. The alcoholic taste goes away (I think the reason for one reviewers low rating). What's left is rich, dark fruit and a pleasant berry nose. I did not decant at all after doing the Molly Dooker shake. Be sure to look it up on the website before drinking. What a difference it makes.
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Funy artificial purple color. Black fruit & licorice nose. Nice going in, the initial palate of melted black black black fruits, tar, licorice, nicccce, then falls apart into an acidic, oak, alcholic mess. Not a fan.
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Sweet jammy fruit at the onset while still remaining well balanced-not sure how that happens but it did. Flavors lingered on with lightchewy tannins that echoed for a very long time.
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Oh BOY! Big Dark Color. Opaque. Thick nose of Big Briar Black Berry fruit. Hot on the Palate, but this does disapate. Its more of a desert in a bottle, than food friendly, but it has it's place in the collection. It can add alot to a mixed pairing, and can give those new to Shiraz a WOW factor.
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Don't even think about drinking this wine within the first hour of it being opened - it's all heat and blueberry pie...no structure. Once it settles down, the tannin and acids show up but are ultimately overshadowed by the sweet and spicy fruit.
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Ordered pizza from Papa Johns now what do we drink? Popped and poured this Boxer (after the Mollydooker shake). Tastes great. Nice balance since trying last year. It's aging nicely and can be consumed now. Noticeable strong black and red berry flavors on the palate. Good nose. Picky wife gave this a big thumbs up. Worth extra points in my book.
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3 hour decant. Loads and loads of blueberry (blueberry pie), blackberry, vanilla, pie crust. A massive wine, has definitely benefited from last 6 months. Outstanding QPR. 92-93
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As always this wine just hits you in the face. It is an awesome effort made to please rather than set a standard of what an Australian Shiraz -should- be like. Palate of mature raspberry, blueberry, tones of cinnamon mixed with black pepper. Nice finish and an alcohol component which is rather nicely disguised (as disguised as it can be at around 16-17%...). Perfect to cheese or honey glaced charcoal grilled spare ribs or short ribs.
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Decanted 1.5 hours. Deep ruby, nearly opaque. Clean nose of ripe red raspberry and black licorice with a sweet and smoky vanilla-baking spice undertone. Palate of sweet red fruit (raspberry, cherry), creamy mouth feel, vanilla, cinnamon. Med(-) acidity, Med(-) tannin, Med(+) alcohol, a bit hot. Long finish of licorice and spice.
I wrote this note before food was served. I paired this with grilled bone-in loin lamb chops (marinated in the wine with herbs) and tomato-herb couscous. The match was awesome. The wine brought out the gamey flavor of the meat.
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Dark and thick. Gave it the Mollydooker shake and left screw cap off for 1 hour before tasting. Alcohol had mostly blown off and was ready to drink. Delicious! Big cherry and spice flavors on the palate. Approachable despite the syrupy, dense appearance and high alcohol level. Not overly hot. Long red fruit finish. This wine is ready to drink now.
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Dark, deep and dense colour. Soft supple warm initial mouthfeel. A slather of dark berry jam on sizable chunk of oak drizzled in melted licorice. Not overly complex. Finish dominated by the oak.
This is not a shy wine, it will smash you in the mouth - it is called The Boxer after all. Too bad it doesn't have a little more footwork in it's arsenal. It's not Mohamed Ali as much as George Foreman. If it were a woman it would be wearing a dress one size too small with a plunging neckline. She is also a little on the plump side but quite shapely. It's just that you're not really going to have a stimulating conversation with her (Ladies please adjust the analogy as required.) If someone came into my store wearing a Christian Audigier t-shirt I would sell them this wine. Nothing against Christian Audigier or this wine, they are just don't agree with my personal taste. I can see people who like this style giving it a 92 but for me I can't go higher than an 90. This lass is quite young and perhaps in a few years she'll won't need to really on her carnal charms and develop into a well rounded gal. I'll call her again when she matures a bit, maybe she'll surprise me - I hope so.
Sorry about all the multiple metaphors but I think they get my point across.
Day 2 addition: I kept this pretty much sealed off from any air by putting the leftovers in a glass juice bottle and filling it right to the point where when I put the top on it squeezes out a little wine and then into the fridge overnight. While driving home today I had the thought that this wine would go well with Bullseye BBQ sauce and, as it turns out it does. It pairs very well with cold tenderloin, Old West Hickory Bullseye, and grilled cheese. The crazy hickory in the sauce tends to cancel out some of the wild oak in the wine. Ditto with the sweetness of the sauce and the jamminess of the wine. In this context I'm willing to boost it's score up to a 92.
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Nearly opaque. Heavy alcohol & oak on the nose. Big blueberry milkshake on the palate. Medium bodied mouthfeel, which is surprising for such a highly extracted wine. Low acidity. Soft, fine tannins. No improvement the 2nd day. [16.00% abv.; $24.00].
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Really BIG and chunky right now. All sorts of black fruit happening here, and while it is big alcohol, it certainly isn't overwhelming by any means. Incredibly inky dark purple color too. Think I'll buy a case and lay it down a year or two or three.
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Loads of blackberry liqueur and cracked pepper on the nose. Dense, almost syrupy mouthfeel is full of juicy, concentrated red and dark fruit. Some heat on the fruity finish. Good for what it is, but not my thing. Seems like it would be hard to pair with food.
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I do like this vintage! Quite dark, with a deep, brooding nose of creamy oak, berries, & alchohol. Not a lot of acidity here, at any temp., but I'm now convinced a "goldie locks" temperature exists to serve this wine: less than room, but more than cellar. Say, 65-66 degrees. If cooler, the middle hollows out & the tannins, already soft to begin with, don't show through on the back-end. Too warm, and the really nice spiced chocolate notes won't unfurl. [16.00; $22.00].
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16% ABV. A little Inky in appearance, somewhat translucent. Ripe jammy blackberry cherry nose with a hint of liqueur and licorice. Ripe full bodied sweet black and blue fruit with a bit of vanilla and a creamy texture. Enjoyed this bottle more than previous. I know these wines have their detractors, but they are distinctive and hedonistic.
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As with previous vintages, a big black wine with huge fruit. Remarkable (I guess) the consistency they're getting year to year. But if you have too many of these, it gets harder to discern real character there; it becomes too "standard".
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Thick, viscous offering with loads of dark fruit and licorice; but the oak influence and alcohol was over the top and hard to get past. A bit one dimensional, but potentially better with some bottle age? This wine does not have the balance of the earlier vintages (2005) - Yes, there is a modicum of restraint in the 2005 :); not here
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Black color with a purple rim. Loads of black cherry liqueur and licorice on the nose. Similar on the palate with a very liqueur drive black fruit first and packing loads of black licorice and bitter dark chocolate on the midpalate and finish. A bit one dimensional at the moment.
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Quite the paradox. On the one hand the wine is clearly thick syrupy dreck. On the other, it somehow captures an almost archetypical aussie shiraz flavor profile of deep black fruits and ripe blueberries. Once a year is enough for me.
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Opened it and it was good, but certainly needed to be decanted. Recommend aging it for 2 years and trying again. It will certainly get better with age.
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Decanted for 3hrs. Intense in your face nose of blackberry jam, spice licorice and chocolate with just a touch of alcohol. Rich and jammy on the palate, with lots of dark fruit and a nice touch of chocolate. Smooth and almost an elegant finish, that is moderately long. Exactly what I expected and what I wanted on a cold snowy night, served with stilton cheese, dark chocolate and walnuts.
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Inky, dark purple and it just looks jammy and viscous even on the initial pour. Black fruits and vanilla in the nose. Blackberries, spice and earth in a very full and velvety mid-palate. Not much acidity, not that you would expect any. Not sure what this wine will do with age, but tannins are there for the aging potential. Touch of bitterness in the aftertaste, having a hard time nailing it down. Not a great QPR, typical Aussie shiraz and not much better than the Penfolds entry level Cab/Shiraz that is $15 per bottle cheaper.
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Nose of chevre goat cheese (fades once poured) underlain with bright cassis, plum and licorice; I could anticipate how thick it would be in the mouth. Three stage profile with little backbone. First, earth giving quickly away to a fleshy, dense, viscous and hot, alcohol-driven black fruit experience, and finishing with a long and rich mix of black raspberry (almost like an ice cream cone) and candied yams. An glimpse of Am. oak transitions the mid-profile intensity to softer, silky fruits. Over several hours the finish muddles into a generic black fruit thing as the wine becomes more syrupy and unfolds hints of floral. The mid-profile remains intense with the wine hanging ever so slightly like bourbon in the mouth and verges on becoming overbearing, but the timing of the flush of wonderful black fruit takes you to the end. Distinctive and fun to drink!
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Poured some out to do the "shake" and tried what i poured into the glass and spit it out. That said, after the shake it was better. After 2 hours it was at my rating. Nothing remarkable on the nose, the wine went from concentrated cough syrup (16% alcohol) to prune juice to a plum/raisin flavor that was pleasant. Only one bottle left. Not sure I'll buy future vintages, though.
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Similar with previous note, even just a month of resting seemed to help (or maybe the fact I did the MD shake). Big, extracted fruit with a bit more smokey and cocolate notes. Very Good, curious what a little more time will do. 89-90 (2 hour aggressive decant)
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16% ABV. After being open a day, this MD Shiraz was more open and seeming less concocted. Inky in appearance, this Shiraz had a nice licorice note on the nose along with some sweet vanilla mocha oak. Sweet ripe black berry fruit on the palate. Pretty good.
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This went to our heads. 16% alcohol. You can't taste it, but you can feel it. Lots of cherry, vanilla, and a heavy, somewhat unpleasant oak aftertaste. Definitely not for me, but if you like this style, you might find it has some merit.
Follow up: No appreciable difference after two days.
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Deep purple hue in the glass. On the nose I got blackberries, plum, and earth. On the front palate blackberries, pepper, and spice carry the day. This had the velvet mouthfeel of a well-made merlot. Great long finish with a nice tannic bite there at the end. Big and bold yes, but done with a touch of finesse. Paired very well with a steak off the grill.
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Wines of Australia (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had cherry, spice, and blackberry. The palate was thick and rich, and had blackberry, tar, cherry, spice, and a pomegranate finish.
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Wanted something delicious while unwinding after a hard day of work, but was somewhat disappointed here. Our first two bottles from '08 were PnP'd at room temp., & were awesome: rich, plush, with surprisingly nice acidity & soft tannins. Even the color was more pure & less cloudy. Made me wonder if I'd drunk my `07's too cool? Here, this 3rd bottle was stored & served at 57 degrees, and damn if it didn't drink more like the the `07s: a little monolithic, artificial tasting, & by comparison, quite flat.
These Dookers may just need to be drunk quite early. Alternatively, I'm storing & serving my remaining `08s at room temp...[16% a.b.v.; $22.00].
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I really enjoyed this wine. I did not find its ripeness and forwardness to be offensive. It changed from day 1 to day 2, and I preferred day 2.
Day 1- initial pop and pour offered intense aromas of ripe cherries and other red fruits. Some dough on the nose that blew off quickly. With lots of swirling this offered gobs of fruit preserves and jam. The mouth was medium to full bodied with (surprisingly) silky tannins and good depth of fruit. The finish was ripe and delicious with a nice lingering note of cracked pepper and smoke.
Day 2 offered more black fruits on the nose than red fruits. The nose also picked up an earthy complexity that I welcomed. The mouth was about the same, and the finish had a nice chocolatey component.
This would probably overwhelm most food given its gobs of jammy fruits and 16% alcohol, but I enjoyed it as a sipper on day 1 and an accompaniment to beef vegetable soup and grilled cheese on day 2.
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3 hour decant. A bit hot, moreso than past vintages. Other than that, gobs of blackberry and black fruit jam, vanilla and a bit of pomegranate seeds n spice in the mid palate. Nice medium-long finish. Just way too hot at this point - hopefly this resolves with time. 89-92+ potential
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Strong coconut/American oak on the nose. Intensely sweet on the palate, moreso than previous Mollydookers I've had. Just plain out of balance right now, can't see ever wanting to buy this, though I don't quite find it offensive the way some people do. Interesting when it comes to deciding how to rate this- for me, something like an 84-86, but I know that for some people, this is a 92-94.
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Black purple color. Nose of cherry and tobacco. Palate bursting with supple, ripe BLACK cherries with prominent cigar box flavor along with bitter chocolate. Long finish. Nothing subtle in this wine. Enjoyed it with filet mignon and mushrooms and with 65 pct dark chocolate thereafter.
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Decanted and enjoyed over four hours, starting with a spicey chinese food dinner. Very concentrated fruit charateristics at first. Seemed imbalanced until it opened up more. This wine came together very nicely as a rich spicey shiraz. I recommend decanting over the MD shake because this wine responds well to more air.
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This is a wonderful wine - if you enjoy the Sparky Marquis style Shiraz... Extremely ripe fruit with tones of Euqalyptus. Found some strange Cedar wood tones as well, but they disappeard after an hour or so. The high alcochol content is nicely disguised and actually "drives" the feeling of this wine. Works very well with oven roasted sweet potatoes, red wine sauce (of course made from Shiraz) and filét mignon...
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Had a taste. The nose was quite strong, but not too much alcohol on the nose like in previous vintages. Dark, dense and fruity, but good finish with traces of tar on top of the fruit. It improved a bit after 15-30 min swirling in a glass. 88-89pt
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Popped and poured. First whiff and taste gave me the impression of a HUGE fruit bomb. However, after some air time, this balanced out a little bit. On the nose, blueberry and cherry pie. On the palate, the same notes applied, with the addition of some spice box and pepper. It had a very nice finish. Overall a solid bottle of wine.
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16% ABV. Given a quick MD shake then consumed. Deeply colored, opaque in the glass, just a bit shy of inky. Big jammy black fruit. There is an element of chlorine swimming pool water on the nose that I've gotten before in some marquis phillips bottles in the past...perhaps my MD shake was too short. Hedonistic, slightly confectionary. Pretty good, though I didn't enjoy it as much as some previous vintages. Probably hold on to my remaining bottles for 6-9 months before trying again.
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A little thick. On the nose: black cherry soda, some blueberry, a little black olive, a little whiff of American Smarties or Sweet Tarts, lots of vanilla. Someone pointed out that the empty glass smelled of extinguished matches or candle wick. Somewhat jammy and spicy, and continues with the dark fruits. Not nearly as hot as I was expecting. Not my style, but I can appreciate it.
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Didn't enjoy this the first night. Notes from Day 2 - sweet dark fruit with hints of menthol on the nose. On the palate, the deeper/dark style I prefer. Long finish. A lot going on with this wine.
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I thought that this wine would be a jammy, hot cocktail, but it was nice. Its definately fruit forward, but amazingly the 16% alcohol doesnt singe your nose or your mouth. Not a good QPR, but you have to appreciate the winemaker's effort in bringing out the best in another crazy vintage.
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PnP @ room temp. Worked nicely. Makes me wonder if drinking the `07s at 57 degrees was too cool? Very dark with thick, purple froth [post MD shake]. Big nose of spicy oak & ripe fruit. Full bodied mouthfeel. More plump & plush than the `07...no hole in the middle here. Appreciable acidity & nice, spicey Shiraz typicity emerge from the midpalate and persist along the softly tannic finish. A little hedonism, anyone? [16% abv.; $24.00].
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I've been a fan of big Aussie shiraz including Mollydooker's selection for some time. The 2008 vintage is no exception, but I have to say that it's not at the same level of 2006 or 2007 - not quite as concentrated. Sparky Marquis said that he expected the lower tier 2008's to be better this vintage because the rough growing year prevented them from making the higher end stuff, resulting in the best grapes going into the lower end of this latest vintage. On the other hand, it wasn't a great growing year and can only be so good. I can see why they avoided the high end stuff this time around. Still glad for the purchase.
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Typical mollydooker style, very similar to henry's drive, but more one dimensional and primary. Jammy, maybe a tad over the top, but not like some previous vintages. Recommended for $25 or less
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4/19/2024 - Skotto Likes this wine: 92 Points
Holding up very well. Still fruity at the front with tertiary notes chasing for attention. Must be at or around peak drinking. If you’ve been holding these with some dark knowledge that it could end up this good, well your smug grin is well deserved.
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1/19/2022 - Jaegergeister Likes this wine: 90 Points
Name is program - entertaining 90
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12/30/2018 - whudock Likes this wine: 92 Points
just peaking with strong leather and earth notes to complement the solid fruit. lasting finish. more dark and brooding but still light enough to be fully approachable.
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12/4/2018 - lazman Likes this wine:
Still jammy, dark fruit, blueberry pie...smoooth !
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5/7/2017 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Jammy dark fruit, sweet blueberry pie, no noticeable heat from the 16% ABV, smooth and jammy classic MD, 9 plus years old and has held up well but time to drink.
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5/2/2017 - TallMikeWine Likes this wine: 89 Points
Jam on jam, topped with jam, in a pool of JAM! Wow. I understand the intent of this wine, and intent is carried out to an amazing degree. A big smooth fruity red wine with some hints of white pepper (slight) and a bit of steminess. Mostly voluptuous fruit though. Ripe and extracted. Like an Aussie Shiraz should be, right? Impressive for it's true to formness.
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12/18/2016 - wineshaman wrote: 89 Points
Still plenty of jammy blackberry, blueberry, hints of chocolate, starting to dry out, drink soon.
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11/7/2016 - bradfriedlander Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very good Shiraz. Deep flavor without being a fruit bomb. Good with food and good to just sip.
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10/31/2016 - JMFWC Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was the year no high end was produced and they rolled all the carnival and blue eyed into the boxer. It is showing really well and will hold for several years.
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9/5/2016 - 3marinerfans wrote: 92 Points
Great bottle. Best value from Molly Dooker
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8/25/2016 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 88 Points
We don't often get to taste an aged Aussie Shiraz. We probably caught this one just before it really starts to fade. Typical dark purple almost opaque color. The expected upfront, though mature, blueberry and plum entrance. Less acid than from most other places. Still some youngish vanilla from oak. So wonderfully ripe. The mid palate and finish exhibit black currants mushrooms and earth.
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8/24/2016 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine: 90 Points
I have been trying one of these every 2 1/2 years or so. My last tasting, I was not that impressed. This bottle on the other hand was really nice. Time has helped. Huge fruit and still big and in your face in the "M-Dooker style" - but smoother around the edges this time which made it really enjoyable. One to go in the cellar. Will not wait that long as I think these are in a good spot right now.
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7/22/2016 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
PNP, last taste 1.5 years ago, purchased late 2009, has not moved since. Not much else to say, classic, rich all the normal characteristics from Md, but time has, made this smoother and even more approachable than in its youth. Loving the simple, yet interesting secondary nuances.
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3/5/2016 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 90 Points
Aussie table wine level syrah. But they do improve with time!
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2/29/2016 - Wine Concert Guy Likes this wine:
Decanted it first. Very excellent. Yummy smooth. Great with meats and chocolate. Held up outstandingly
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2/26/2016 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 93 Points
My kind of profile. Big fruit bomb with a solid spine and overall integration. Finish kicks butt!
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12/25/2015 - WilburWine wrote: 91 Points
Very nice, decanted for an hour. Nice berry. Not quite as smooth as Blue eyed boy, but very nice
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7/18/2015 - ksilinskie wrote: 92 Points
Still going. Dark in the glass. Mouthful of raspberry and cherry with spice. Long finish but a little hot. Lots of "fruit weight" compared to other Shiraz. Have 2013 & 2014 in cellar, can't wait to taste these in a few years. Agree, good way to end the day.
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5/2/2015 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bringing this over to a friend's party. He absolutely loves these wines!
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2/1/2015 - Nicholas81 wrote: 80 Points
Huge amounts of heat on the nose and had a okay aroma to it. Some dried red fruits and remnants of vanilla and nutty flavors. On the palate, the wine was tart and acidic. Most of the fruit had dissipated and all that was left was a slight cedar and herbal taste. This is a wine that should have been drunk as soon as it was bottled.
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1/4/2015 - wineshaman wrote: 89 Points
Loosing a bit of it's punch, not the heavy hitter it once was, still there is plenty of bang and even a core of elegance. The blackberry is still prominent, with hints of blueberry, pomergrantit, spice and chocolate. I have always thought that the wines from MD at this level newer best consume young for their big in your face fruit, if you have them I would seriously consider consuming soon.
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12/25/2014 - fbrack wrote: 90 Points
Lordy, still great! Wonderful nose, rich fruit, lovely finish. Opened in the morning and decanted. Left in the decanter with light cover in the wine room until Christmas dinner. Fabulous with turkey.
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10/25/2014 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Still punching, plenty of rich, sweet blackberry syrup, hints of chocolate, never going blow you away with complexity, but plenty of bang for the buck. Nice wine to end an evening!
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4/25/2014 - gr8nrg Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid, tons of flavour and could sit a few years yet without a worry but bold shiraz, as expected.
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3/9/2014 - Tarpon222 wrote: 90 Points
The Boxer is a tough one to rate as it's that BIG, monster, alcoholic, Aussie style. I like it occasionally and this one was good. Smooth as silk, cherry, blueberry. And it's 6 years old, for a reasonable price.
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2/5/2014 - TastesGoodToMe wrote: 86 Points
2 1/2 years since my last bottle. Not sure if I am outgrowing this MD style or not - but this is just a little too much "in your face" for my liking these days. Perhaps I was just not in the right mood. Nothing bad/wrong with this wine - just have to be into this style. Plenty of time left with these too. As this big boy will not go easily into the night and will be drinking "in your face" for years to come. I will make sure I am in the mood to get "punched" next time.
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12/18/2013 - Wine Poor wrote: 90 Points
This is smoothing out some with time. Still lots of black cherry fruit with some spice notes on the side. Would like to have had another couple of bottles in the cellar to see if it develops more, but its all gone now. Must look to future vintages. A nice wine.
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11/28/2013 - sjhoffman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very well integrated, full bodied, lots of fruit and extremely smooth.
Great flavor with a lot going on in the mouth along with pleasant long silky finish.
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10/26/2013 - Darkhorn Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wow, what a difference a few years makes. There is still powerful dark fruits, but they are more in balance from beginning to end. Firm tannins and some nice pepper notes.
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9/8/2013 - arthrovine wrote: 87 Points
This served as a fine end of the night wine at last night's dinner party. It must be accompanied by a high acid refreshing white wine (in this case, a delicious albarino from Walla Walla) lest one suffer a black eye and split lip from numerous punches to the face.
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9/5/2013 - Urodude wrote: 89 Points
Lots of cherry. Don't love the finish
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8/30/2013 - Carniolan Likes this wine:
dark (opaque); fruity full-bodied nose; concentrated, intense, a little sweet; long finish
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8/24/2013 - Bsfoakdale wrote: 90 Points
Fruit forward, lots of cherry. Decanted for an hour (some sediment); really smoothed out. Paired very well with lamb chops. Surprisingly good.
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8/3/2013 - FlyinI Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Cherries and spice, dark purple, amazing structure. More fruity with air, which became fatiguing.
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7/15/2013 - Wine Poor wrote: 89 Points
Brought to a pot luck dinner. We liked it.
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6/2/2013 - ADiamond Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big, bold and smooth as silk. No tannins left, with a nice balanced fruit, mostly cherry. I was surprised it had some sediment, no other bottle did. Great quality for price.
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5/22/2013 - jfurey21 wrote: 88 Points
Pretty standard really. Nice QPR here. we are fans.
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5/18/2013 - jcsf420 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Day 1 had me wondering if I had outgrown this big Aussie wine but everything that was out of balance on day 1 was perfectly integrated on day 2. Still a nice bottle but in a weird place right now for a pop and pour.
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5/10/2013 - ADiamond Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big, bold and smooth as silk. No tannins left, with a nice balanced fruit, mostly cherry I would say. Great quality for price.
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5/5/2013 - jbechdol wrote: 95 Points
Big and fruity. Very delicious. Wish I had more
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4/28/2013 - mike410 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Developing into a nice shiraz. Well balanced, good quantity of red fruit. A touch on the sweet side.
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4/21/2013 - tcarter Likes this wine: 91 Points
Giant fruit, super jammy. Hints of chocolate. You can almost chew this wine. Great on its own because it can overpower some foods.
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4/6/2013 - Tarrant wrote: 88 Points
A much different experience from our first bottle back in November of 2011 (Which I had incorrectly logged as the 2009 for some reason), although I was surprised by the integration of this wine with a 17.2% alc. back then, the secret was that we opened the bottle amongst 8 adults with (at most) a glass a piece, and one glass is more than enough as last night my wife and I split this bottle and it was akin to splitting a bottle of Port between 2 people, simply 'too much of a good thing' and the heat and sting of this was simply too overwhelming for a table wine, very tasty for sure, but not with a meal - Dark, full bodied with a nose of black licorice, blackfruit, pepper, blueberry, plum, spice and vanilla, surprising structure and integration considering the alc., intense and overpowering on the palate for more than a glass, sweet, smooth with a slight burn on the palate with excellent length (88 Points).
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3/31/2013 - boogie96 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Earthy and spicy on the nose. Tastes like Black Pepper, with hints of Strawberry, Raspberry, and Vanilla. Fun, easy to drink, Shiraz.
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3/9/2013 - bin905 wrote: 88 Points
Thick, chewy, spice, green pepper, cedar tobacco and mint flavor with ripe tannins. Best drunk late in the evening after several other bottles.
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2/19/2013 - gr8grapes Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep red, cherry/jammy goodness in a glass. Very smooth drinking (give me The Boxer over Mollydooker's Two Left Feet any day) with a medium finish. I tried this at a steakhouse and liked it enough to seek it out. Wine shop only had 1 left so I put it in my cellar. Pulled it out last night and really wish I had bought more...Yum!
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1/14/2013 - JonnyG wrote: 90 Points
A guilty pleasure, if you will. Mega-fruit and spice, jam and a touch of vanilla. Hard to complain -- it didn't pretend to be anything other than it is. One oddity: some hardened and perfectly shaped sediment rings that survived in the glass, intact. The waitress told me she sees this all the time...
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1/8/2013 - dangdad wrote: 89 Points
Nice balance. opens nicely after breathing for 20 minutes
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12/2/2012 - Tiderunner22 wrote: 91 Points
Big dark fruit with a lots of alcohol. This wine has the balance to pull it off. Nice acidity with dark fruit mid pallet and hint of vanilla and spice on the finish. I feel this wine is a little overpriced but very enjoyable.
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12/1/2012 - deanmillson wrote: 92 Points
Dark inky red. A very hot nose. Blackberry, vanilla, cinnamon and stewed fruit - lots of alcohol. The palate is far more balanced than the nose would have you think. Dark berries, raisins, a hint of pepper, very soft tannin and good acid structure. Ready to drink now and for the next few years I would think.
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11/17/2012 - Wine Poor wrote: 91 Points
Quite enjoyed this one with grilled steak. A nice fruit bomb. Very consistent from vintage to vintage.
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11/14/2012 - mtnbarry wrote: 91 Points
Great fruit concentration with boysenberry and black raspberry flavors framed by mocha and warm spices. Full bodied with an inky bright complexion and very long finish. This wine is just entering its drinking window and is outrageously rewarding for the fruit bomb new world style aficianados. Drank over 3+ hours and got better every step of the way.
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11/4/2012 - Wineson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fruit forward. Sweet. Very enjoyable. Not subtle. Pnp after end of meal. Everyone liked it.
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10/30/2012 - alpha_ori wrote: 90 Points
Mon Dieu this is huge. My amazing gf gets some spices on the nose, but I only get fruit steeped in alcohol. But it's not unpleasant. Concentrated, yes, syrupy, somewhat, sure. But...well, I'd drink it.
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10/24/2012 - Food Daddy wrote: 90 Points
Big ripe flesh eating monster of a dark fruit wine. These never seem to improve with age. Eat with grilled meat and won't be disappointed.
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9/29/2012 - caeleric wrote:
only had a few sips of this. huge, but more balanced than i expected. obviously overripe for many people's tastes, but as a cocktail it is very enjoyable. tons of jammy cherry, black raspberry, spice, and plenty of creamy vanilla oak. i dug it. if scoring, 87-89.
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9/23/2012 - MonkeyBiz101 wrote: 89 Points
Too hot and full on for me. A lot of alcohol here.
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9/11/2012 - Twinkles wrote: 89 Points
Great fruit bomb. Again a crowd favourite. But this one had an odd acid finish. Not as good as the other ones.
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8/26/2012 - AIB wrote: 87 Points
jammy but good at the price. Can handle heavy smoke and BBQ.
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8/25/2012 - Christoffer78 wrote: 90 Points
Still one of a kind. Age does not have any impact here I think. This is best described as a lot of everything. Not for everyone but fun and an expressive personality. Serve at 16 degrees Celsius to avoid dizziness because of the 17 percent alcohol.
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8/19/2012 - jwhisler wrote: 90 Points
Still one of my favorites. Always a dependable choice. Fruit forward with a nice finish.
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8/18/2012 - truckseller wrote:
Gave as gift
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5/8/2012 - AIB wrote: 86 Points
ok bottle of Australia Shiraz. Decent value. Nothing refined about it - fruit forward dark ruby color. Very heavy wine - pairs well with heavy foods (i.e. grilled meats).
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4/7/2012 - discoduckglue wrote: 89 Points
A good wine but one that confirms i will not be buying a Mollydooker wine again. Has a little spice along with the blackcurrent and chocolate, very mclaren Vale. Initially I thought it was very nice but the 16% alcohol gets in the way and makes each glass less enjoyable than the previous. Not my cup of tea.
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3/10/2012 - Christoffer78 wrote: 90 Points
Age does not seem to harm The Boxer. He is performing just as vivid and somewhat crazy as ever before. Truly up for a fight I see no reason to hold off drinking. Best enjoyed to some cheese and fig marmelade after dinner.
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3/4/2012 - truckseller wrote: 91 Points
Delicious. Lots of fruit, don't even notice the high alcohol.
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2/29/2012 - bboomer wrote: 90 Points
Big bold and jammy...fruit forward...don.t even need food with this.
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2/10/2012 - Wineson Likes this wine: 89 Points
PnP after Molly shake thru aerator. Still a very nice bottle. Fruit forward wine.
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2/4/2012 - Boom Baby! wrote: 83 Points
Very extracted, heavy oak, tar, leather. Fruit is muted and has a cough syrup finish. Would not by this again
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2/4/2012 - DanH wrote: 90 Points
Fruity, awesome, jammy, but too hot.
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1/25/2012 - midtownmac wrote: 90 Points
Whats not too like. Big Jammy and lip smacking good!
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1/14/2012 - GT3Mike wrote: 90 Points
Fruit Bomb is a good description. Very tasty.
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1/2/2012 - Gustavo Brambila wrote: 91 Points
- Brick color and aromas of cherry, chocolate and black pepper. It's in total harmony and has flavours of prune, raisin, strawberry jam, oak and vanilla with a full body. Juicy texture with a long finish.
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12/31/2011 - Santaliz wrote: 93 Points
Fruit Bomb again which softened over 2 hours and more the next day, enjoyed over the 2009 hopefully the 09 develops like 08.
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12/17/2011 - Bacchant wrote: 86 Points
Desiring something delicious, we opened this. Though not as "big" as past vintages, similar in style. Loads of blackberry up front, a hint of sweetness through the midpalate, and a little heat to go along with the soft tannin on the back. No acidity. Cotie Not for the faint of heart. Cote-Rotie it ain't,...but that certain "delicious factor" is undeniable. [16% abv.; $24.00].
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12/11/2011 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Not as much heat compared to last bottle, good balance between the sweet jammy blackberry fruit and spicey creamy vanilla, lip smacking good!
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12/11/2011 - sumshark wrote: 88 Points
One hour decant time to completely open up. Full throttle, typical Shiraz from Sparky. No other complexity in the wine other than the fruit profile.
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12/3/2011 - ecnemergut wrote:
No formal notes. Enjoyed with popcorn during a movie.
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11/30/2011 - jwhisler wrote: 92 Points
This continues to be one of our favorites. Fruit-forward but easy to enjo.
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11/26/2011 - Tarrant wrote: 91 Points
I was actually VERY surprised by this wine, I know it's a quality producer, but I just couldn't see a 17.2% alc. having any redeeming value as a table wine - Dark, full bodied with a nose of blackfruit, pepper, blueberry, spice and vanilla, very well structured, surprisingly integrated, quite a fruit bomb, but well balanced, sweet, silky smooth on the palate with terrific length, nice!! (91 Points). (4098 views)
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11/15/2011 - ashife Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not sure why, but this bottle was particularly good.
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11/13/2011 - arthrovine wrote: 88 Points
This is an unctuous glass of blueberry cobbler with creme brulee. Only mild heat (despite 16% abv) that was held in check with a decanter. Fatigues the palate. A crowd pleaser.
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11/13/2011 - mike410 wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Though I gave this a decent score, I expected a lot more before drinking this wine. Not as much as a fruit bomb as I was led to believe. Still very enjoyable.
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11/11/2011 - brythephotoguy wrote: 90 Points
No formal notes taken, but as other users have noted, this was hot out of the bottle, but opened up to a huge delicous lip-smacking fruit bomb after about an hour.
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10/19/2011 - ADiamond Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big, bold and smooth as silk. No tannins left, with a nice balanced fruit, mostly cherry I would say. Enjoyed.
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10/9/2011 - Twinkles wrote: 91 Points
Loved it! Fruity, bold, great finish. Brought it at a dinner party. Was a hit especially with the guys. The 16% alcohol content is surprisingly not overdone. I'm a fan now, need to find more. Wife did not like it as much though.
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9/27/2011 - MXL wrote: 89 Points
Love this wine. It is one of our favorites to go to when we are in the mood for Shiraz. It never disappoints.
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8/26/2011 - dase13 wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple inky color. Strong berry smell. Tastes of blueberry, blackberry and a bit of pepper spice. A very fruit-forward example of an Aussie Shiraz. Consistent with prior tasting notes.
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8/21/2011 - hoservin wrote: 89 Points
1.5 hour decant, but recommend at least 2 hours. Black cherry, currant, blackberry, and white pepper notes. Some alcohol heat on the nose and palate, but not excessive. Dark, jammy fruit with a strong tannic backbone on the mid-palate, leading to a long finish with good acidity. Paired well with mac and cheese.
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8/13/2011 - jcsf420 wrote: 89 Points
No real notes but was not as nice as previous vintages.
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7/23/2011 - pols wrote: 90 Points
Big bold fruit bomb , a little hot at first but smoothed out . the 2nd day it was wonderful.
we have enjoyed "boxer " for alotta bottles, enough to name a dog after the winery "the Dook"
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6/22/2011 - scottmlew wrote: 89 Points
More complex as after breathing for an hour. Fruit was more subtle with more smoky tobacco notes showing through. Medium finish with some spicy flavors.
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6/18/2011 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very good, typical Mollydooker style. Very high alcohol content that is evident - a lot of heat even after a couple of hours. Luckily there was big jammy fruits to help balance it out. I like their Blue Eyed Boy better - but this was still a good Shiraz if you like this big, bold style. There was a lot of sediment in the bottom of this bottle, so I will make sure you to decant through a strainer for the rest from this vintage.
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6/7/2011 - ecnemergut wrote: 91 Points
Sure, it's big, bold, an over-extracted; but, it's great for $25! Great with pepper and BBQ.
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5/30/2011 - christhewino Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Wow. This Boxer packs a punch. 17% of a punch in fact. It's too much. I opened it, tried it, fell backwards, put the screwcap back on and opened it again 23 hours later. Then I let it sit for an hour and tried again. I would score it less but it is clearly well made and doesn't have the nasty unfinished feel of a truly awful wine but it also doesn't have any finesse at all. There is little other than smoky, peppery black fruit power on both the nose and palate. A bit like eating the blackberry, flower, stem, roots and earth all at once, having previously covered it in meths. Way too much alcohol and not my thing at all.
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5/30/2011 - brigcampbell wrote:
This is always a big hit at a bbq. Nose is adding a bit more complexity and the wine has started to settle down. A two hour decant helps. Fruit forward as expected and high octane. Enjoyable.
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5/21/2011 - dchisholm wrote: 92 Points
Butterscotch nose. Plum, dark cherry and berry on a long smooth fruity finish. An excellent wine with mild tannins. Do the Mollydooker shake!
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5/20/2011 - ashife Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great as always
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5/15/2011 - jd2007 wrote: 89 Points
16% abv and it shows. Lots of heat, black cherry and licorice. Nice body and spice, but just could not get past the alcohol, even 2 hours after opening.
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5/4/2011 - dwolf1087 wrote: 89 Points
Better than the screw off lid suggests. Just kidding. I like shiraz. I've read reviews of this wine and had high expectations. I was not disappointed. Deep and flavorful. Fruity with a spicy aftertaste.
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5/2/2011 - Wineson Likes this wine: 90 Points
I have been drinking this bottle on and off for a few days now. Excellent nose and taste.
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4/29/2011 - Philly NQ King wrote: 89 Points
This is becoming completely cliche to say about 'dooker wines, but...it is what it is.
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4/23/2011 - Christoffer78 wrote: 90 Points
Yes, this wine is over the top, contains plenty of heat and is actually quite crazy, but tell me which other wine pairs this nicely to grilled tomatoes, salsiccia and BBQ sauce? This is why I love Mollydooker: they do make crazy wines that compare to no other. Recommended.
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4/17/2011 - hoservin wrote: 90 Points
2 hour decant once again. I liked this bottle. It really opened up with the decant time.
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4/16/2011 - Christoffer78 wrote: 90 Points
Tonight showing a rather one-dimensional side this wine is still drinking perfectly, but its youth is about to disappear. In my opinion the simpler wines from Mollydooker needs to be drunk in their early years. They do not gain any complexity with age. I guess the 2008 The Boxer will drink well for another 3-5 years. Recommended.
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4/15/2011 - Grape Stuff wrote: 92 Points
2hour decant. Consistent with my previous notes.
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4/10/2011 - neng wrote: 87 Points
Dark purple color with black Fruit, sweet, lots of tannin, too young to appreciate now. Should wait for 2-3 years.
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4/10/2011 - wineshaman wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured, showing more heat than privious bottles, still intense blackberry, chocolate and a bit sweet.
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3/19/2011 - hoservin wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Blackberry, plum, currant, and pepper notes on the nose and palate. Full bodied with a thick, rich, long dark fruit finish. This bottle clearly benefited from the air time. Paired well with corned beef and cabbage. Nice Aussie Shiraz.
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3/11/2011 - hoservin wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Dark fruit and alcohol aromas. Cherry, plum, blackberry, and white pepper flavors with some alcohol heat as well. Full bodied, rich, and jammy with nice tannins on the finish. I'd like this more if the alcohol was less noticeable. Will decant next time to see if the alcohol mellows.
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3/8/2011 - knapp wrote: 89 Points
Dark and juicy. Currants that dance on your tongue. Not a lot on the nose, may need to open a bit. Shiraz on the nose.
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3/4/2011 - sonakul_t wrote: 89 Points
Juicy and full of fruit....
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2/19/2011 - Muchacho wrote: 90 Points
Fruit forward, strong, and dark. Needs some air
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2/11/2011 - dase13 wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple inky color. Strong berry smell. Tastes of blueberry, blackberry and a bit of pepper spice. A very fruit-forward example of an Aussie Shiraz. A very reliable wine. I enjoy this type of Shiraz.
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2/11/2011 - BigGer wrote: 89 Points
Heavy on the currants, chalky and powerful not for everyone but good with tonight's Tbones.
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1/29/2011 - Briangray77 wrote: 93 Points
the color of this wine is dark and rich. on the nose im getting lots of fruit like cherry and strawberry and lots of chocolate and licorice, and tons of oak. on the initial palate i get nice strawberry and cherry fruit then it moves to a strong chocolate licorice mid palate and the it finishes with an incredible spiciness and huge amounts of oak splintering in my mouth. the mouth feel of this wine is the best part of this wine. it is the most silky, smooth, thick, chewy feeling. the longer this wine sat the more the fruit blossomed and the more the oak calmed down so it eventually balanced. at 16% im surprised there wasnt more heat but it was not noticeable. overall i like this wine but really i was expecting more.
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1/23/2011 - msilver wrote: 90 Points
Showing well. Very nice Shiraz. Excellent with spicy mexican dishes.
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1/18/2011 - Mattkic wrote: 85 Points
Good solid Shiraz.
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1/7/2011 - dase13 wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple inky color. Strong berry smell. Tastes of blueberry, blackberry and a bit of pepper spice. A very fruit-forward example of an Aussie Shiraz. A very reliable wine. I enjoy this type of Shiraz.
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1/3/2011 - Normones wrote: 91 Points
much more balanced that last 2 vintages. I would actually drink this would food which says a lot. $25 seems a little steep as the Mollydooker name has lost its prestige, but this is a nice wine non the less.
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1/3/2011 - RRees wrote: 82 Points
When tasting Sparky and Sarah's wines, I find myself subconsciously doing a gear change - anticipating all the stuff that made them famous and contentious - big, full, rich, full throttle wine. This wine was none of that for me. In fact it was none of anything. Sure you could recognise that it was South Australian and McLaren Vale but that is where it all ended. The wine was just blah...no particular character - good or bad. Not gonna rush out for more.
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12/24/2010 - buddy22 wrote: 89 Points
Strong alcohol in the nose and a little hot overall. Nice dark rich color and rich fruit which dances on the tongue. Vanilla with hints of cinnamon round it out for an enjoyable glass of wine. Sipping on this one before dinner and enjoying the lingering flavors between sips.
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12/18/2010 - jwhisler wrote: 90 Points
Strong nose upon opening so I sent the bottle through my Venturi which only enlarged the nose. It was very dark and thick in texture with the strong taste of berry. It was sweet ansd smooth. I enjoyed every sip.
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12/12/2010 - Zoltán Németi Likes this wine: 89 Points
Shiraz tasting with some big wines: 17% ABV. The nose offers sweet plum, blackcurrant, blackberry fruits, it's ripe but not overripe, even though it's a late harvested wine. Oak plays a supporting role with chocolate and coconut notes, and there is also some Aussie mint. Silken entry onto the palate which is smooth and loaded with dark fruits. Full-bodied with oak spices, medium acidity and tannins. Initially balanced, but high alcohol becames more obvious as the palate builds towards the end, resulting in a hot finish. Rather delicious than serious, it's a fun fruitbomb, if slightly hot.
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12/10/2010 - mpricher wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with prior notes. Not as much depth as some of the earlier vintages, that brought the big reviews. This wine has it's place, and can be nice from time to time, but I could not drink it regularly. Big black berry fruit assaults the palate on first blush. Once that settles in, there are some secondary burnt sugar, creme caramel, flavors, and even some vanilla extract. If you are open to it, then this bottle can be fun from time to time. Drinking this daily is likely to fry your palate!! Very concentrated and thick, but in the end this is a well-made wine!!
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12/5/2010 - thesternowl wrote: 89 Points
Deep, inky purple. I performed the Mollydooker shake and poured immediately into the glass. Powerful berry aromas...lots of alcohol burn-off. Full bodied. This sucker coats the mouth with the viscosity of a 10W-30; literally stains the glass. This is a fruit bomb. Blueberries, blackberries and more blueberries. Totally hedonistic in every way at 16%. Balance is not a description that climbs to the top when describing this one but I can enjoy it none-the-less. It was just too much fun.
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12/4/2010 - Epic Tale Likes this wine: 90 Points
color: deep purple; nose: lots of cherry, some alcohol; taste: heavy mouth feel, tastes of deep bright plum and dark chocolate, yummy medium-to-long velvety pepper finish; overall: easy-to-drink lush fruit bomb, coherent package from start to finish
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11/23/2010 - Grape Stuff wrote:
consistent with previous notes.
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11/16/2010 - EricasChoice wrote: 89 Points
This wine is very smooth on the palate with lots of sweet berry note and sweet vanilla. It is a 'warm' wine (most likely driven by the high alcohol content) that will serve well with red meat dishes/stews. When I taste it I immediately think of strawberry cream swirls. Very amiable wine.
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10/28/2010 - wine maestro wrote: 88 Points
Heavy blueberry bomb, reminds me of Verucca in Willy Wonka. Even the ole Mollydooker
shake couldn't "shake" out the huge nose and flavors of blueberry pie and melted chocolate.
Admittedly, this has a lush, rich vanilla mouthfeel, but this Mollydooker really needs some
time to develop into a more fully integrated Shiraz. Right now, this is basically a blueberry
liquer, but enjoyable to those who appreciate this type of Aussie composition. The Boxer
is one to try each year to see how they've developed and transitioned.
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10/4/2010 - gesusser wrote: 91 Points
very nice; unusually sweet; great QPR
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9/23/2010 - Chrismmcguire wrote: 92 Points
Very nice big wine
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9/22/2010 - mdkraft99 wrote: 92 Points
Opened and poured after the "Mollydooker shake", let ope in glass about 30 minutes; dark inky color; nice nose of jammy fruit, cherry, a little smoke; very nice taste with blueberry and cherry, a little pepper/spice, integrated with oak, a little vanilla; long finish; fantastic for a $25 shiraz for every day drinking
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9/20/2010 - Troon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Just as good as the first bottle I tried a few months back. Definitely make sure that you do the Molly Dooker shake.
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9/16/2010 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
VACATION TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD; 9/13/2010-9/18/2010 (BALTIMORE, MD/MARTHA'S VINEYARD/ATLANTIC CITY): Popped and poured, drank on the ferry coming back from Marta's Vineyard to Woods Hole. Big intense, concentrated, thick, not too sweet, not much heat, fun to drink every once in awhile.
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9/12/2010 - powrsurg wrote: 89 Points
Fruity, some pepper up front.
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9/5/2010 - ashife Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still one of my favorite wines. Though this one is a bit sweeter than others for some reason
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8/29/2010 - patrickt wrote: 84 Points
Syrah Tasting (My place): A clear, inky purple wine with a hot jammy nose, moderate tannin, and long finish. Heavy on the black fruit. We agreed it should be drunk without comparing it with others, as it seems much to "clunky" and not well put together.
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8/28/2010 - Cacophony82 wrote: 90 Points
Jammy and ripe cherries, blueberries. For a high alcohol wine very drinkable even without food - nothing complex but for a little over 20 bucks a good value.. - drank after a mollydooker shake and a hour and a half decant
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8/24/2010 - vegasoenophile wrote: 75 Points
Didn't really dig it this time. Big smoky nose. It's so big and dense, it lacks some finesse. Too intense.
- Tasted at Marché Bacchus 8/21/10
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8/1/2010 - RuralTom wrote:
'Dooker shake and 5 hours decanted. Quite lovely overall. Fantastically smooth, with vibrant fruit and integrated oak. Mouthfeel is very voluptuous and the finish is long.
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7/25/2010 - cprudcalg wrote: 89 Points
A bit fruity at first but opened nicely after about an hour
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7/23/2010 - StuckinPA wrote: 88 Points
Addition to previous review, must look at web site about "the shake", this wine is uniquely prepared to minimize sulfites and this would appear to explain the abundance of alcohol on the palate (that plus it IS 17% alcohol). Tried with a friend's bottle and it was much much better.
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7/21/2010 - Bacchant wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous notes. [16% abv.; $22.00].
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7/20/2010 - marcellevi Likes this wine: 89 Points
Big bold Aussie fruit bomb. Deep ruby-red, 16% abv, huge nose of blueberries and other dark fruits, jam, chocolate. Even my 3-yr old proclaimed "it smells like blueberries!" Quite sumptuous. Did the Mollydooker shake - not sure how useful that was - this wine needs to be decanted due to massive amounts of sediment.
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7/18/2010 - StuckinPA wrote: 86 Points
very jammy nose, quite a bit of dark fruit, a hint of chocolate, and fair amount of alcohol. This is a very high alcohol wine, and it comes through both in the nose and on the palate. Very well balanced wine, good wieght, nice fruit but offset by the alcohol burn.Nice long finish with some chocolate and blackberry. I liked it and would try it again, but I think it could still lay down a while, and it did get better over the couple of days it took to drink it, so be sure to let it sit and get some air.
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6/25/2010 - ashife wrote: 92 Points
Exceptional as always. This wine is always consistent which is great, because if you love it, you're going to get exactly what you love.
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6/11/2010 - ashife Likes this wine: 92 Points
Amazing as always. Would definitely recommend some decanting time to settle the high alcohol content.
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6/11/2010 - Amy Huff wrote: 100 Points
Love it but where can I get it?
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6/8/2010 - ksde wrote: 91 Points
My favorite hedonistic fruit monster from the regular MD lineup. Big palate with major fruit and a great spicy Shiraz nose. Poured through a venturi into a decanter to release the magic. Some clumps of sediment is appearing towards the end so I suggest filtering into a decanter to get the best from this wine.
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6/5/2010 - cheersthanks wrote: 88 Points
As expected, major alcohol, big fruit, spice. Very powerful, dark, velvet mouth, smooth finish. This was a treat with friends at the end of a long evening. The alcohol on this one could have been restrained a little - i'd have given it 2 more points. A struggle as I expect better balance for the price (I generally like this producer)
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6/5/2010 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 92 Points
As always this wine just keeps hitting you in the face. Still I think this is somewhat of an awesome effort made to please rather than to set a standard. At its best this wine is accompanied by cheese and marmalade -after one or two other wines during the dinner (tonight 2005 Torbreck The Struie). Palate of mature boysenberry, blueberry, sweet cinnamon mixed with pepper. Finish lasting about 45+ sec and an alcohol component which is rather nicely disguised. Recommended.
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6/5/2010 - burgundyhound wrote: 91 Points
Huge, fruit-bombish but incredibly fantastic pizza wine. It has depth and layers, great mouth feel and finish. This is not a wine for the timid, and it needs food. Alcohol, at 16%, was surprisingly balanced (thanks to prior reviews, I remembered to do the "shake").
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5/31/2010 - corkscrews wrote: 89 Points
A nose of bold fruit and spice with noticeable alcohol, dark black purple in color. A bold full bodied over the top Shiraz, I really like this wine when it’s a few years old, when it’s young the alcohol overwhelms the fruit, plum, blueberry, bacon. I have tried The Boxer in 2005, 06, 07 and now 08, wait a couple years and this will calm down.
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5/12/2010 - brythephotoguy wrote: 90 Points
Had this at a local restaurant, it was half-price wine night and we were in the mood for something big and jammy. Popped (unscrewed) and poured (forgot about "The Shake"). This wine really coats the glass. Huge, sweet nose that can best be described as opening a jar of half-eaten Smuckers Blueberry / Blackerry Jam, along with vanilla and cedar. Palate has cream soda on the front end, followed quickly by more black & blue fruit and just a touch of oak that was well integrated, then the alcohol became apparent on the back end and finish. Great wine that will only get better with some cellar time in my opinion, but this wine is definitely not for everyone.
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5/12/2010 - Troon wrote: 90 Points
Did the shake, and I really believe it made a difference. I took a taste of what I poured out to do the shake and compared it with the glass after the shake. The alcoholic taste goes away (I think the reason for one reviewers low rating). What's left is rich, dark fruit and a pleasant berry nose. I did not decant at all after doing the Molly Dooker shake. Be sure to look it up on the website before drinking. What a difference it makes.
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5/11/2010 - amateurwino wrote:
Tasted but notes not kept.
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5/10/2010 - paindude wrote: 90 Points
popped and poured. Dark, almost black , fruity wine. Sweet and spicy, long finsih, moderately heavy body. Opens up nicely with time. An excellent wine
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5/9/2010 - wineshaman wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2hrs, sweet blackberry licquer, jammy, big, rich, concentrated in your face thick wine, that is so tasty after a big meal.
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5/4/2010 - tplskylrk wrote: 84 Points
Funy artificial purple color. Black fruit & licorice nose. Nice going in, the initial palate of melted black black black fruits, tar, licorice, nicccce, then falls apart into an acidic, oak, alcholic mess. Not a fan.
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5/3/2010 - scottmlew wrote: 89 Points
Sweet jammy fruit at the onset while still remaining well balanced-not sure how that happens but it did. Flavors lingered on with lightchewy tannins that echoed for a very long time.
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5/1/2010 - mpricher wrote: 89 Points
Oh BOY! Big Dark Color. Opaque. Thick nose of Big Briar Black Berry fruit. Hot on the Palate, but this does disapate. Its more of a desert in a bottle, than food friendly, but it has it's place in the collection. It can add alot to a mixed pairing, and can give those new to Shiraz a WOW factor.
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5/1/2010 - pkatz wrote: 89 Points
A big wine. Not as over the top syrupy as in previous tastings. Settling down. I think they release their stuff too early.
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4/30/2010 - bryanjmatthews Likes this wine: 88 Points
big big big. 16% alcohol! Was nice with persian food (lamb, eggplant, etc), but too heavy to drink without a meal. Great label for collecting.
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4/29/2010 - Philly NQ King wrote: 89 Points
Don't even think about drinking this wine within the first hour of it being opened - it's all heat and blueberry pie...no structure. Once it settles down, the tannin and acids show up but are ultimately overshadowed by the sweet and spicy fruit.
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4/25/2010 - bmilesfl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ordered pizza from Papa Johns now what do we drink? Popped and poured this Boxer (after the Mollydooker shake). Tastes great. Nice balance since trying last year. It's aging nicely and can be consumed now. Noticeable strong black and red berry flavors on the palate. Good nose. Picky wife gave this a big thumbs up. Worth extra points in my book.
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4/25/2010 - chanote44 wrote: 88 Points
overripe and jammy but tasty
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4/23/2010 - danielbleier wrote: 90 Points
big berry flavor all over this wine, blue and blackberries, has enough structure to keep it from syrup
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4/11/2010 - pickhardt wrote: 88 Points
I wanted to like this more, but it was just not my style. Dark, thick, perhaps anise. I'm not saying it was bad, but I would not buy again.
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4/4/2010 - Grape Stuff wrote: 92 Points
3 hour decant. Loads and loads of blueberry (blueberry pie), blackberry, vanilla, pie crust. A massive wine, has definitely benefited from last 6 months. Outstanding QPR. 92-93
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3/27/2010 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 92 Points
As always this wine just hits you in the face. It is an awesome effort made to please rather than set a standard of what an Australian Shiraz -should- be like. Palate of mature raspberry, blueberry, tones of cinnamon mixed with black pepper. Nice finish and an alcohol component which is rather nicely disguised (as disguised as it can be at around 16-17%...). Perfect to cheese or honey glaced charcoal grilled spare ribs or short ribs.
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3/21/2010 - hemanwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smells of blackberries and underbrush. Lots of alcohol but very smooth. Dark purple color with a long finish.
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3/19/2010 - RandyC wrote: 91 Points
Large amount of dark fruit. Good mouthfeel - this is a big wine.
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3/8/2010 - tzelmer wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours. Deep ruby, nearly opaque. Clean nose of ripe red raspberry and black licorice with a sweet and smoky vanilla-baking spice undertone. Palate of sweet red fruit (raspberry, cherry), creamy mouth feel, vanilla, cinnamon. Med(-) acidity, Med(-) tannin, Med(+) alcohol, a bit hot. Long finish of licorice and spice.
I wrote this note before food was served. I paired this with grilled bone-in loin lamb chops (marinated in the wine with herbs) and tomato-herb couscous. The match was awesome. The wine brought out the gamey flavor of the meat.
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3/5/2010 - brigcampbell Likes this wine: 89 Points
notice much more black licorice on this bottle, which I really enjoy.
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3/1/2010 - Black_Pine wrote: 91 Points
Dark and thick. Gave it the Mollydooker shake and left screw cap off for 1 hour before tasting. Alcohol had mostly blown off and was ready to drink. Delicious! Big cherry and spice flavors on the palate. Approachable despite the syrupy, dense appearance and high alcohol level. Not overly hot. Long red fruit finish. This wine is ready to drink now.
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2/28/2010 - ashife Likes this wine: 92 Points
Amazing as always. I think it should be drank a bit warmer than a regular shiraz. Almost at room temperature.
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2/20/2010 - winebot wrote:
Very good on it's own.
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2/20/2010 - BacchuSFO wrote: 80 Points
thick , like fruit syrup; unidimensional and overpowering to most foods
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2/20/2010 - harribr wrote: 83 Points
Single dimensioned and hot. Like blackberry syrup.
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2/18/2010 - ashife wrote: flawed
Great as always.
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2/17/2010 - Gregcrick@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Dark, deep and dense colour. Soft supple warm initial mouthfeel. A slather of dark berry jam on sizable chunk of oak drizzled in melted licorice. Not overly complex. Finish dominated by the oak.
This is not a shy wine, it will smash you in the mouth - it is called The Boxer after all. Too bad it doesn't have a little more footwork in it's arsenal. It's not Mohamed Ali as much as George Foreman. If it were a woman it would be wearing a dress one size too small with a plunging neckline. She is also a little on the plump side but quite shapely. It's just that you're not really going to have a stimulating conversation with her (Ladies please adjust the analogy as required.) If someone came into my store wearing a Christian Audigier t-shirt I would sell them this wine. Nothing against Christian Audigier or this wine, they are just don't agree with my personal taste. I can see people who like this style giving it a 92 but for me I can't go higher than an 90. This lass is quite young and perhaps in a few years she'll won't need to really on her carnal charms and develop into a well rounded gal. I'll call her again when she matures a bit, maybe she'll surprise me - I hope so.
Sorry about all the multiple metaphors but I think they get my point across.
Day 2 addition: I kept this pretty much sealed off from any air by putting the leftovers in a glass juice bottle and filling it right to the point where when I put the top on it squeezes out a little wine and then into the fridge overnight. While driving home today I had the thought that this wine would go well with Bullseye BBQ sauce and, as it turns out it does. It pairs very well with cold tenderloin, Old West Hickory Bullseye, and grilled cheese. The crazy hickory in the sauce tends to cancel out some of the wild oak in the wine. Ditto with the sweetness of the sauce and the jamminess of the wine. In this context I'm willing to boost it's score up to a 92.
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2/14/2010 - dpohlman wrote: 91 Points
This is a great lower end Shiraz. It improves with an hour of being open.
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2/14/2010 - Bacchant wrote: 88 Points
Nearly opaque. Heavy alcohol & oak on the nose. Big blueberry milkshake on the palate. Medium bodied mouthfeel, which is surprising for such a highly extracted wine. Low acidity. Soft, fine tannins. No improvement the 2nd day. [16.00% abv.; $24.00].
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2/7/2010 - Stan wrote: 90 Points
hard to beat.
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2/5/2010 - gquigs wrote: 89 Points
Big, bold wine, strong
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2/3/2010 - ArizonaWineGuy wrote: 90 Points
Really BIG and chunky right now. All sorts of black fruit happening here, and while it is big alcohol, it certainly isn't overwhelming by any means. Incredibly inky dark purple color too. Think I'll buy a case and lay it down a year or two or three.
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2/1/2010 - dirtyharry wrote: 88 Points
nice fruit, good finish, not very complex
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1/28/2010 - Pinot Evil wrote: 90 Points
Really dark all the way to the edge of the glass, no decant, I agree with others on this black cherry liqueur and licorice.
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1/23/2010 - pete s. wrote: 88 Points
Loads of blackberry liqueur and cracked pepper on the nose. Dense, almost syrupy mouthfeel is full of juicy, concentrated red and dark fruit. Some heat on the fruity finish. Good for what it is, but not my thing. Seems like it would be hard to pair with food.
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1/23/2010 - bigdogflow wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Super dark color. Taste is like velvet black licorice. Very smooth. No sense this wine as 16% alcohol.
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1/21/2010 - Bacchant wrote: 91 Points
I do like this vintage! Quite dark, with a deep, brooding nose of creamy oak, berries, & alchohol. Not a lot of acidity here, at any temp., but I'm now convinced a "goldie locks" temperature exists to serve this wine: less than room, but more than cellar. Say, 65-66 degrees. If cooler, the middle hollows out & the tannins, already soft to begin with, don't show through on the back-end. Too warm, and the really nice spiced chocolate notes won't unfurl. [16.00; $22.00].
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1/18/2010 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 90 Points
16% ABV. A little Inky in appearance, somewhat translucent. Ripe jammy blackberry cherry nose with a hint of liqueur and licorice. Ripe full bodied sweet black and blue fruit with a bit of vanilla and a creamy texture. Enjoyed this bottle more than previous. I know these wines have their detractors, but they are distinctive and hedonistic.
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1/12/2010 - pgm wrote: 88 Points
As with previous vintages, a big black wine with huge fruit. Remarkable (I guess) the consistency they're getting year to year. But if you have too many of these, it gets harder to discern real character there; it becomes too "standard".
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1/10/2010 - eelgerg wrote: 91 Points
Very bold beautiful wine. For 16 per it was both fruity and smooth. Next time we'll decant for at least an hour
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1/10/2010 - 46and2 wrote: 87 Points
Thick, viscous offering with loads of dark fruit and licorice; but the oak influence and alcohol was over the top and hard to get past. A bit one dimensional, but potentially better with some bottle age? This wine does not have the balance of the earlier vintages (2005) - Yes, there is a modicum of restraint in the 2005 :); not here
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1/8/2010 - Grape Stuff wrote: 91 Points
No formal notes. Better than previous bottle.
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12/31/2009 - DrFeelgood wrote: 89 Points
Headache-heavy
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12/30/2009 - Terkel wrote: 89 Points
Black color with a purple rim. Loads of black cherry liqueur and licorice on the nose. Similar on the palate with a very liqueur drive black fruit first and packing loads of black licorice and bitter dark chocolate on the midpalate and finish. A bit one dimensional at the moment.
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12/27/2009 - Ombibulous wrote: 83 Points
After Christmas dinner. Fruity. High alcohol.
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12/26/2009 - dkoontz wrote: 92 Points
Really enjoyable even if not nuanced. Same as my first bottle with lots of pipe tobacco, chocolate and black fruit. Lingering finish.
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12/24/2009 - rich01 wrote: 90 Points
Ribena for grown-ups
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12/22/2009 - mreinitz wrote:
Quite the paradox. On the one hand the wine is clearly thick syrupy dreck. On the other, it somehow captures an almost archetypical aussie shiraz flavor profile of deep black fruits and ripe blueberries. Once a year is enough for me.
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12/21/2009 - shinns135 wrote: 90 Points
Opened it and it was good, but certainly needed to be decanted. Recommend aging it for 2 years and trying again. It will certainly get better with age.
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12/19/2009 - wineshaman wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 3hrs. Intense in your face nose of blackberry jam, spice licorice and chocolate with just a touch of alcohol. Rich and jammy on the palate, with lots of dark fruit and a nice touch of chocolate. Smooth and almost an elegant finish, that is moderately long. Exactly what I expected and what I wanted on a cold snowy night, served with stilton cheese, dark chocolate and walnuts.
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12/17/2009 - JHaslam wrote: 84 Points
Inky, dark purple and it just looks jammy and viscous even on the initial pour. Black fruits and vanilla in the nose. Blackberries, spice and earth in a very full and velvety mid-palate. Not much acidity, not that you would expect any. Not sure what this wine will do with age, but tannins are there for the aging potential. Touch of bitterness in the aftertaste, having a hard time nailing it down. Not a great QPR, typical Aussie shiraz and not much better than the Penfolds entry level Cab/Shiraz that is $15 per bottle cheaper.
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12/12/2009 - flangerhanger wrote: 91 Points
Nose of chevre goat cheese (fades once poured) underlain with bright cassis, plum and licorice; I could anticipate how thick it would be in the mouth. Three stage profile with little backbone. First, earth giving quickly away to a fleshy, dense, viscous and hot, alcohol-driven black fruit experience, and finishing with a long and rich mix of black raspberry (almost like an ice cream cone) and candied yams. An glimpse of Am. oak transitions the mid-profile intensity to softer, silky fruits. Over several hours the finish muddles into a generic black fruit thing as the wine becomes more syrupy and unfolds hints of floral. The mid-profile remains intense with the wine hanging ever so slightly like bourbon in the mouth and verges on becoming overbearing, but the timing of the flush of wonderful black fruit takes you to the end. Distinctive and fun to drink!
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12/12/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Very nice for Spatlese level Shiraz with an American wood chip in every glass.
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12/8/2009 - Susanville43 wrote: 86 Points
Poured some out to do the "shake" and tried what i poured into the glass and spit it out. That said, after the shake it was better. After 2 hours it was at my rating. Nothing remarkable on the nose, the wine went from concentrated cough syrup (16% alcohol) to prune juice to a plum/raisin flavor that was pleasant. Only one bottle left. Not sure I'll buy future vintages, though.
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12/8/2009 - Grape Stuff wrote: 89 Points
Similar with previous note, even just a month of resting seemed to help (or maybe the fact I did the MD shake). Big, extracted fruit with a bit more smokey and cocolate notes. Very Good, curious what a little more time will do. 89-90 (2 hour aggressive decant)
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12/7/2009 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 89 Points
16% ABV. After being open a day, this MD Shiraz was more open and seeming less concocted. Inky in appearance, this Shiraz had a nice licorice note on the nose along with some sweet vanilla mocha oak. Sweet ripe black berry fruit on the palate. Pretty good.
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12/1/2009 - Matt T wrote: 87 Points
This went to our heads. 16% alcohol. You can't taste it, but you can feel it. Lots of cherry, vanilla, and a heavy, somewhat unpleasant oak aftertaste. Definitely not for me, but if you like this style, you might find it has some merit.
Follow up: No appreciable difference after two days.
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11/30/2009 - Joshiemac wrote: 92 Points
Deep purple hue in the glass. On the nose I got blackberries, plum, and earth. On the front palate blackberries, pepper, and spice carry the day. This had the velvet mouthfeel of a well-made merlot. Great long finish with a nice tannic bite there at the end. Big and bold yes, but done with a touch of finesse. Paired very well with a steak off the grill.
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11/23/2009 - brigcampbell wrote: 89 Points
Big sweet jammy Shiraz, just like advertised. not everyone's cup of tea but fun and a great starter wine for those rookies out there.
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11/22/2009 - patrickt wrote: 89 Points
Jammy.
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11/17/2009 - Jim.Hoover wrote: 91 Points
Barrel Room, RB, $11/6 oz glass. Plum/earth/licorise nose, cherry &
Heavy fruit forward with velvet finish and graceful aging in the glass
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11/14/2009 - mmurry wrote: 91 Points
Wines of Australia (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had cherry, spice, and blackberry. The palate was thick and rich, and had blackberry, tar, cherry, spice, and a pomegranate finish.
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11/12/2009 - Bacchant wrote: 86 Points
Wanted something delicious while unwinding after a hard day of work, but was somewhat disappointed here. Our first two bottles from '08 were PnP'd at room temp., & were awesome: rich, plush, with surprisingly nice acidity & soft tannins. Even the color was more pure & less cloudy. Made me wonder if I'd drunk my `07's too cool? Here, this 3rd bottle was stored & served at 57 degrees, and damn if it didn't drink more like the the `07s: a little monolithic, artificial tasting, & by comparison, quite flat.
These Dookers may just need to be drunk quite early. Alternatively, I'm storing & serving my remaining `08s at room temp...[16% a.b.v.; $22.00].
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11/8/2009 - kburie wrote:
Dark & velvety. Dark cherry & plums. Having a hard time describing -it's just GOOD. 16% alc
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11/7/2009 - MXL wrote: 91 Points
jammy but not too hot at 16%, this one makes you smile
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11/5/2009 - caeleric wrote: 89 Points
I really enjoyed this wine. I did not find its ripeness and forwardness to be offensive. It changed from day 1 to day 2, and I preferred day 2.
Day 1- initial pop and pour offered intense aromas of ripe cherries and other red fruits. Some dough on the nose that blew off quickly. With lots of swirling this offered gobs of fruit preserves and jam. The mouth was medium to full bodied with (surprisingly) silky tannins and good depth of fruit. The finish was ripe and delicious with a nice lingering note of cracked pepper and smoke.
Day 2 offered more black fruits on the nose than red fruits. The nose also picked up an earthy complexity that I welcomed. The mouth was about the same, and the finish had a nice chocolatey component.
This would probably overwhelm most food given its gobs of jammy fruits and 16% alcohol, but I enjoyed it as a sipper on day 1 and an accompaniment to beef vegetable soup and grilled cheese on day 2.
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11/1/2009 - Grape Stuff wrote: 89 Points
3 hour decant. A bit hot, moreso than past vintages. Other than that, gobs of blackberry and black fruit jam, vanilla and a bit of pomegranate seeds n spice in the mid palate. Nice medium-long finish. Just way too hot at this point - hopefly this resolves with time. 89-92+ potential
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10/31/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 85 Points
Strong coconut/American oak on the nose. Intensely sweet on the palate, moreso than previous Mollydookers I've had. Just plain out of balance right now, can't see ever wanting to buy this, though I don't quite find it offensive the way some people do. Interesting when it comes to deciding how to rate this- for me, something like an 84-86, but I know that for some people, this is a 92-94.
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10/23/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Still big Mollydooker with very little change. To me just not a whole lot going on.
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10/22/2009 - dkoontz wrote: 92 Points
Black purple color. Nose of cherry and tobacco. Palate bursting with supple, ripe BLACK cherries with prominent cigar box flavor along with bitter chocolate. Long finish. Nothing subtle in this wine. Enjoyed it with filet mignon and mushrooms and with 65 pct dark chocolate thereafter.
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10/3/2009 - MXL wrote: 90 Points
also excellent for a 2008
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10/2/2009 - mrpalmer wrote: 93 Points
Very enjoyable! Super concentrated. Ripe fruit, good balance, plenty of structure.
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10/1/2009 - ksde wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and enjoyed over four hours, starting with a spicey chinese food dinner. Very concentrated fruit charateristics at first. Seemed imbalanced until it opened up more. This wine came together very nicely as a rich spicey shiraz. I recommend decanting over the MD shake because this wine responds well to more air.
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9/26/2009 - Christoffer78 wrote: 91 Points
This is a wonderful wine - if you enjoy the Sparky Marquis style Shiraz... Extremely ripe fruit with tones of Euqalyptus. Found some strange Cedar wood tones as well, but they disappeard after an hour or so. The high alcochol content is nicely disguised and actually "drives" the feeling of this wine. Works very well with oven roasted sweet potatoes, red wine sauce (of course made from Shiraz) and filét mignon...
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9/22/2009 - Mlyles wrote: 89 Points
Very nice - blackberry nose and slow to open up- kept bottle overnight with screwcap on it and much better the next day even after mollydooker shake
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9/19/2009 - dke wrote: 89 Points
Had a taste. The nose was quite strong, but not too much alcohol on the nose like in previous vintages. Dark, dense and fruity, but good finish with traces of tar on top of the fruit. It improved a bit after 15-30 min swirling in a glass. 88-89pt
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9/15/2009 - flwinos wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. First whiff and taste gave me the impression of a HUGE fruit bomb. However, after some air time, this balanced out a little bit. On the nose, blueberry and cherry pie. On the palate, the same notes applied, with the addition of some spice box and pepper. It had a very nice finish. Overall a solid bottle of wine.
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9/13/2009 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 88 Points
16% ABV. Given a quick MD shake then consumed. Deeply colored, opaque in the glass, just a bit shy of inky. Big jammy black fruit. There is an element of chlorine swimming pool water on the nose that I've gotten before in some marquis phillips bottles in the past...perhaps my MD shake was too short. Hedonistic, slightly confectionary. Pretty good, though I didn't enjoy it as much as some previous vintages. Probably hold on to my remaining bottles for 6-9 months before trying again.
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9/13/2009 - Bacchant wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous notes...though I did forget the "shake" this time around. Still, a very nice bottle.
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9/10/2009 - bigdogflow wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Very dark color. Bold fruit taste with super long finish.
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9/10/2009 - fulkerb wrote: 89 Points
Classic Australian Shiraz, but a bit on the pricey side. Big, Jammy and just a tad bit hot. Held it's own against homemade Vindaloo and Tikka Masala.
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9/9/2009 - rmh66 wrote: 89 Points
A little thick. On the nose: black cherry soda, some blueberry, a little black olive, a little whiff of American Smarties or Sweet Tarts, lots of vanilla. Someone pointed out that the empty glass smelled of extinguished matches or candle wick. Somewhat jammy and spicy, and continues with the dark fruits. Not nearly as hot as I was expecting. Not my style, but I can appreciate it.
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9/7/2009 - patrickt wrote: 90 Points
Dense, jammy, high alcohol. fruit, mild spice
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9/7/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 92 Points
Didn't enjoy this the first night. Notes from Day 2 - sweet dark fruit with hints of menthol on the nose. On the palate, the deeper/dark style I prefer. Long finish. A lot going on with this wine.
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8/26/2009 - Chrisinroch wrote: 86 Points
I thought that this wine would be a jammy, hot cocktail, but it was nice. Its definately fruit forward, but amazingly the 16% alcohol doesnt singe your nose or your mouth. Not a good QPR, but you have to appreciate the winemaker's effort in bringing out the best in another crazy vintage.
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8/24/2009 - djreme wrote: 90 Points
Full Bodied and spicy. Opened up fairly quickly
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8/23/2009 - Bacchant wrote: 92 Points
PnP @ room temp. Worked nicely. Makes me wonder if drinking the `07s at 57 degrees was too cool? Very dark with thick, purple froth [post MD shake]. Big nose of spicy oak & ripe fruit. Full bodied mouthfeel. More plump & plush than the `07...no hole in the middle here. Appreciable acidity & nice, spicey Shiraz typicity emerge from the midpalate and persist along the softly tannic finish. A little hedonism, anyone? [16% abv.; $24.00].
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8/18/2009 - neurovino wrote: 89 Points
I've been a fan of big Aussie shiraz including Mollydooker's selection for some time. The 2008 vintage is no exception, but I have to say that it's not at the same level of 2006 or 2007 - not quite as concentrated. Sparky Marquis said that he expected the lower tier 2008's to be better this vintage because the rough growing year prevented them from making the higher end stuff, resulting in the best grapes going into the lower end of this latest vintage. On the other hand, it wasn't a great growing year and can only be so good. I can see why they avoided the high end stuff this time around. Still glad for the purchase.
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8/16/2009 - rfras wrote: 90 Points
Cherry and spice flavors dominate this jammy wine. This is more approachable than previous vintages, less of a fruit bomb and more approachable.
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8/16/2009 - msilver wrote: 90 Points
Nice spicy Shiraz. Gave it the Mollydooker Shake! Opened up well for a young wine.
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8/7/2009 - Beavis77 wrote:
Big spicy dark fruit on the nose.
Thick, full flavors of dark fruits and spice. Kind of has a mashed, overripe feel to it. Not getting much tannin.
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7/13/2009 - robertgoulet wrote: 90 Points
Typical mollydooker style, very similar to henry's drive, but more one dimensional and primary. Jammy, maybe a tad over the top, but not like some previous vintages. Recommended for $25 or less
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