Why give it 83 points? Slighlty above average if you consider Wild Irish Rose, Ripple, Boone’s Farm and my favorite - Zapple Apple Wine (but that’s a story for another day).
2011 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (4/12/2025)
Brought to a Passover Seder by a relative. I wanted to like this wine so I could thumb my nose at the AFWE tyes. I like California Rocket Fuel and I like aged Aussie Shiraz. The largest components of my cellar are Saxum, SQN, Carlise, Aubert, MacDonald and similar wines with punch. However, this wine was a mess. It was not the ABV. It was the disjointed bittereness that made it undrinkable. I could taste the fruit that I enjoy in an aged Aussie Shraz (e.g., 2003 Branson Coach House Coach House Block), but it was at war with, and overshadowed by, an extremely harsh acidic bitterness. I do not believe that it was a flaw, although that is a possibility. I will try COL again if I am offered it, just to make sure, but no way wil I seek it out. Unless I can get it for $10 to add to a beef stew, where I suspect it will do just fine. (83 points)
I discussed the wine tonight with my wife. Her take was different from mine. 78 points. She thought it was awful because she thought it was a syrupy gooey fruit soup. She did not get the bitterness and disagreed with my assessment that it was slightly above average. She said it was definitely below average. And she is a zinfandel lover, which hardly hides its fruit.
Jay, I agree with your wife. It wasn’t bitterness that was the turn-off. COL was an over-ripe, sweet, syrupy mess for me. But that was the 2006 drunk in 2018. I’ve had no desire for another.
Ooof. I’ve got two 2010 Carnival of Loves remaining of the 4 I bought on a friend’s recommendation when released. Haven’t tried one in 8 (or so) years because the first 2 didn’t go down well. Was hoping they’d get better.
I must say I am shocked that you did not like the wine. Shocked. But, I really know how much you wanted to like it to call people out. So, I respect your honesty.
Do you think you would have liked it more if it had been from a more recent vintage? I have to think most people drink this wine at 2-3 years old, not 15 years old. I think you should next try a young Mollydooker Shiraz and see if that helps you call people out. I do love the pain you are willing to put yourself through just to criticize me.
I remember when these wines really came on the scene and exploded in popularity with those egregious scores. I also remember going to a tasting and being horribly underwhelmed.
I feel like I enjoy all types of wines. I appreciate fruit-driven stuff, but I primarily drink wine with food and these were, for me, way too extracted and “sweet”. Not really great food wines. Maybe spicy ribs or something, but that’s what beer is for imho.
Aussie Shiraz has its acolytes I suppose - I went through a very short phase of trying the MP wines, along with an even shorter phase of trying the Big Malbecs from Argentina. At the end of the day, I will go for a big Cali Cab over both of them. I have one bottle of Aussie wine in the cellar - a 99 Grange - 14.5% ABV. COL is 16.5%. Wow…
You should make sure to try a Sami-Odi shiraz if you ever come across one. Fraser is making incredible and singular Shiraz that id be willing to bet you’d dig more than quite a few of the big cali cabs you’re talking about
IMNSHO, and I know that Howard will find this comment revolting, this has much more to do with Mollydooker and its winemaking than it has to do wth Aussie Shiraz. I like Aussie Shiraz, especially with some age. Here are a couple that would send Howard and hs AFWE dirnkig buddies into paroxysms of unhealthy revulsion, but that I found outstanding. I just think that the 2011 COL was, by any reasoable assessment, horrible.
And then there is Hill of Grace. The Rayas of Australia. Oh but, but, but, my AFWE friends woud say, that’s different. Yes, it’s different because it is well made. The Dooker COL is not.
Mollydooker wines in general are not typical. And added to that 2011 was a very wet vintage with most regions struggling to ripen fruit. It is possibly the worst vintage in SA since the 70s.
I cannot imagine the result to very attractive as you point out.
