2006 Carnival Of Love Shiraz
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Tasting notes
Inky purple. Expansive, superripe aromas of boysenberry and blackberry compote, cherry and roasted plum, with exotic oak spice and dark chocolate elements gaining strength with air. Broad and fleshy, with deep, viscous dark fruit liqueur flavors, soft tannins and a strong note of vanilla. Weighty and impressive for its sheer mass and curious emulsified texture; I find this less cloying and soupy than the 2005 version, which I suppose is like comparing 40- to 30-weight motor oil. When people stereotype Australian wines as over-the-top and devoid of balance and subtlety, I suspect that a wine like this is what they have in mind. I actually finished every one of these bottles, in the name of science.
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Josh Raynolds
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
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The 2006 Shiraz “Carnival of Love” was sourced from a single vineyard. The sensational nose, consisting of violets, lilacs, meat, game, leather, blueberry, and chocolate, leaps from the glass. On the palate this full-bodied wine somehow manages to combine power with elegance. The sweet tannins are well-concealed and the finish lasts for at least one minute. It will provide pleasure for 25 years but who will be that patient? Mollydooker (the Australian equivalent of “Southpaw”– both Sparky and Sarah Marquis are left-handed) is the label of the renowned winemaking team of Sparky and Sarah Marquis. This is their second vintage following the schism with The Grateful Palate and the end of their involvement in the hugely successful Marquis Philips project. Total case production is 72,000, down from the 120,000 cases produced under the Marquis Philips label. They have also set up their own importing company in the United States. Mollydooker has been divided into four tiers beginning with “The Lefty Series”. These five wines are line-priced at $20. Next up the ladder is “The Party Series” priced at $50 a bottle, followed by two wines comprising “The Love Series” priced at $80. At the top of the pyramid is one wine, “The Velvet Glove” Shiraz priced at $175. Importer: Mollydooker International, www.mollydookerwines.com.au