From a Mollydooker tasting. Didn't have time to try everything but here is. Noticed there have been many Mollydooker events across South Korea since 2025. I personally think they have a price point argument, although the local fees, tariffs, taxes, and non-tariff barriers are monotonically undermining that opinion. Nonetheless, let's see what happened:
Mollydooker, Two Left Feet, Red Blend, 2021, 15.5% abv.
Nose: young grapes, a lot of grapeskin, rich.
Palate: medium to full body, entry is a rich and creamy grape juice, mid body shows some interesting copper, iron, and softer chewable vitamins, back palate maintains the richness with brown cookie dough, some gummy bear, purple grape gum, hints of alcohol that get stronger with each sip. Somewhat balanced.
Finish: short, can feel and taste the young wood, vines, a sappy chocolate, alcohol.
Vernacular: nose is purple grapes showing some body already. Medium body, creamy, cookie dough, good acidity, good minerality, semi-polished tannins, some alcohol. Finish is short and accentuates the alcohol and tannins.
A good red, rich, flavorful, showing a bit of everything. Couldn't say this was not as good as Carnival of Love (next). I've noticed I've liked the merlot blends from Mollydooker more as they showcase the oak better. Wine Spectator gave this a 92 in 2023.
Grade: C+
Mollydooker, Carnival of Love, Shiraz, 2021, 16.5% abv.
Nose: rich grapes, dark cherries, and sweet currants, intensity noticeably diminishes with air time. Compared to Two Left Feet this is overall more rich and much more inviting, but lasts shorter.
Palate: medium body, entry is smooth, creamy, some brown sugar, mid palate has a good sweetness encapsulation the tongue, like sweet red fruit candy, hints of dessert dressing, and the back palate intensifies the red fruit candy, ending with some grapeskin, purple grapes, and light prunes.
Finish: medium, a good amount of grape and red fruit juice mixed with some decent cinnamon and additional sweet cooking spices, branches, dryness comes out later.
Vernacular: nose is rich and inviting with red and black fruits. Medium body, good sweet acidity, well integrated tannins, light wood, and minor minerailty. Finish is medium, shows well integrated alcohol, red and black fruit, tannins and alcohol.
Couldn't say this was better than Two Left Feet. For some reason, Carnival tends to underperform for me. Wine Spectator gave this a 93 in 2023.
Grade: C+
by starvinggigolo
1 Comment
She Molly on my Carnival until I Dooker