Mollydooker Carnival of Love Shiraz 2018

Mollydooker's 2018 Carnival of Love Shiraz is more red-fruited and structured than I expected, given the wine's stated 16% alcohol. Raspberries and cedar mark the nose, with hints of chocolate, espresso and baking spices. In the mouth, it's full-bodied, dense and powerful, with ripe but firm tannins supporting the bright berry flavors, then easing into a long, velvety and mouthwatering finish. It should drink well for around a decade, but if you're shy of tannins, you may want to wait another year or two before opening. Drink Date: 2020-2027.

Aromatic and distinctive, with chai tea, black walnut liqueur and sandalwood details to the plump blackberry and kirsch flavors at the core. Generous and ripe, but the spice and cigar box elements on the finish add a restrained punctuation point. Drink now through 2035.