Mollydooker Velvet Glove Shiraz 2021

Viticulture

Gateway Vineyard, McLaren Vale
Sustainably Grown
 

Vinification

Barrel fermented and matured: 100% American oak 100% new

Marquis Fruit Weight
Required: 95%+ Actual: 96%
Marquis Fruit Weight™ is the percentage of your palate (from the tip of your tongue going all the way back) that's covered by the velvety sensation of fruit before you experience any of the structural components of the wine.

Tasting notes

Dark in color, deep in flavor and rich in texture; the Velvet Glove is the ultimate expression of Mollydooker Fruit Weight. Black plum, blueberries and roasted coffee intermingle with anise in its lifted fragrance. A supremely smooth mouth-feel like molten chocolate accentuates the precise balance of structure whilst licorice and allspice linger on the palate.

Producer Description

Mollydooker, which is an Aussie slang term for a left-hander, is owned by left-handed winemaker Sarah Marquis. Mollydooker's mission is to “make wines that make people go ‘WOW’ through attention to detail and commitment to excellence.” Mollydooker is located in beautiful scenic McLaren Vale, about 30 minutes from Adelaide. Bordered by the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale is a great place for growing Shiraz. Mollydooker vineyards are situated on the magical Seaview Ridge, which with its ancient soils and Mediterranean climate, is home to some of the most iconic Australian wines. Mollydooker has three separate vineyards – Long Gully Road, Coppermine Road and the Home Blocks, giving a total of 116 acres of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot. All Mollydooker grapes are grown sustainably.

Wine Philosophy and Practices:

Marquis Vineyard Watering Programme
Sarah and Sparky met while studying winemaking in 1987 where they learned that great wines are made in the vineyard. Over the last 20 years, they have created the trademarked Marquis Vineyard Watering Programme. This program focuses on watering the vines to lower sugar ripeness while flavor ripeness catches up. This results in wines with intense color, flavor and a velvety sensation.

Marquis Fruit Weight
Sarah and Sparky have also developed a term to help you describe your own wine experience using Marquis Fruit Weight. The fruit weight is the “measure of how far back, from the tip of your tongue, the velvety sensation of the fruit goes.” The further it goes, the higher the fruit weight (as measured in percentages). The Marquis Vineyard Watering Programme helps to achieve the highest fruit weight in all their grapes.

Mollydooker Shake
Mollydooker has come up with a unique way to minimizes the amount of sulfites in the wine by using nitrogen, a natural preservative. When you get a bottle, you need to do The Mollydooker Shake in order to release the nitrogen and allow the wines to show their full potential. Before the shake, the wine is more concentrated.  After the shake, the wine is softer and the aromatics are lifted. This is recommended for all Mollydooker wines except for The Violinist, Miss Molly, Girl on the Go or any wine over two years old.

The tremendous effort of this dynamic duo has resulted in unparalleled success. The following are just some of the many accolades they have received in their careers.

Crowned McLaren Vale’s Bushing King and Queen a record three times
Australian Winemakers of the Year
“Two of South Australia’s Leading viticulturists and winemakers are undoubtedly Sarah and Sparky Marquis” Robert Parker
Five 99 point Wine Advocate Scores
Wine Spectator Top 10 Wines in the World three times
Winestate’s Australian and New Zealand Wine of the Year