Mollydooker the Velvet Glove Shiraz Review

Sparky and Sarah Marquis had spent years working for other producers when, in 2006, they decided to strike out with their own brand, Mollydooker.

Mollydooker, which is Australian slang for someone who is left-handed, named as such because both Sparky and Sarah are left-handed, was an instant hit among wine-lovers and critics alike.

In June of 2006, Robert Parker, one of the world’s most respected wine writers, declared The Boxer as the “Best Value Red Wine in the World,” Two Left Feet as the second, and Maitre D’ as the fourth, also declaring the Violinist the best value white wine in the world.

The wines were sold out in just nineteen days after the announcement.

Mollydooker the Velvet Glove Shiraz Review

The Velvet Glove is largely considered to be one of the best Shiraz bottlings of all time. In fact, the first vintage sold out in just a matter of days.

The grapes were grown on the Gateway vineyard in McLaren Vale and hand-sorted and harvested prior to fermentation.

Afterward, the wine is barrel fermented and matured entirely in American oak, using 100% new barrels for the entire process.

Mollydooker the Velvet Glove Shiraz Summary

• Brand: Mollydooker
• Country: Australia
• Region: Mclaren Vale, South Australia
• Wine Type: Red Wine
• Varietal: Shiraz
• ABV: 16%

Appearance

The wine is a really deep purple shade in the glass, with a garnet-like meniscus forming around the edges of the wine.

After a bit of a swirl, incredibly thick, dense legs become apparent and slide down the glass just as swiftly as they had appeared.

Smell

This wine boasts some seriously impressive aromatics. Rich mocha, stewed plums and blackberries, maraschino cherries, and cinnamon-laced baking spice explode from the glass and make themselves known with very little effort.

Taste

This wine is as flavourful as it is aromatic. Notes of Chambord, blackberry jam, rich plum sauce, cherry cordials, and dark chocolate dominate the majority of the palate.

Some secondary notes of anise, fresh-ground coffee, and cedar follow through after. The flavors are incredibly rich without coming across as cloying or saccharine, which I really enjoyed.

The mouthfeel of the wine is full and heavy but still smooth, with very little perceived tannin or acid going on.

After just one sip, it is easy to see what makes these wines such crowd-pleasing bottles. The taste sits on your tongue like a boulder long after you have taken your last drink of it.

What Does Mollydooker the Velvet Glove Shirazpair With?

This wine is pretty versatile where food pairing is concerned.

I really enjoy going down the more decadent pathway here and would recommend trying it with dishes featuring plenty of dark chocolate, such as a dark chocolate mousse cake topped with fresh blueberries and a cherry compote.

If you would prefer to pair this wine with the main course of your meal, don’t worry, as there are plenty of options here as well!

Grilled pork chops, veal tenderloin, and roasted duck breast would all be some excellent options to reach for with this bottle.

What Are Wines That Are Similar to Mollydooker the Velvet Glove Shiraz?

I would recommend trying some of Mollydooker’s other bottlings, starting with their original staple, The Boxer Shiraz.

Pretty much each and every bottle from this winery over delivers on big, intense fruit, food-friendly structure, and just overall value, so you really can’t go wrong.

Outside of that, I would recommend trying other warm-climate Shiraz. I would start with one of my personal favorite producers, Ben Glaetzer.

His flagship bottle, the Eye of Amun Ra, is exceptional. They tend to have a lot of the same intensity of fruit that you see here, and you are sure to have fun experiencing all of the options available.

Final Thoughts

This wine is an absolute ringer, as it does a lot right. It is powerful without being offputting, rich without being too sweet, and complex without turning itself into a puzzle that needs to be solved.

If you haven’t tried this one yet, do yourself a favor and look into picking up a bottle soon.