Mollydooker Wines 2009 Carnival of Love - 94-95pts

Mollydooker Wines 2009 Carnival of Love (McLaren Vale) South Australia - Australia

Availability: BCLDB and Private wine shops
Cost: $100-110
Alcohol: 15.5%
Date Tasted: March 21st, 2012

Tasting Notes: When compared to the winery's iconic Velvet Glove, the Carnival of Love shiraz is a bit more attention seeking and blatantly superb. The Avis rental cars of elite level Shiraz - it has to try a little harder. This effort tends to make it, again comparatively, a better bargain than the aforementioned icon wine, delivering most of the refinement and all, if not more, of the concentration and pure expression of fruit. A trophy wine to be sure, but one you're likely to actually open. Drink Now-2020+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

On a side note: If you stand a bottle of Carnival of Love next to its cousin, the Enchanted Path, the two labels make one complete design linking the stories of all the Mollydooker wines together.

Mollydooker Wines 2009 Velvet Glove - 95-96pts

Mollydooker Wines 2009 Velvet Glove (McLaren Vale) South Australia - Australia

Availability: Limited. BCLDB and Private wine shops
Cost: $250
Alcohol: 15.5%
Date Tasted: March 21st, 2012

Tasting Notes: For a truly iconic and cellar worthy wine, the Velvet Glove Shiraz is surprisingly approachable in its youth. The massive concentration is so well refined and balanced that just a drop on your tongue will express enough character for you to remember that moment forever. The sweet plum fruit opulence and silky smooth texture is described by the winemaking team as "fruit weight" for which they award it a near perfect score. Whatever the language used, this wine sits in your mouth like it was destined to be there. The finish goes on and on with complex layers of fruit and savoury flavours. Drink now-2024+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Château de Beaucastel 2009 Chateauneuf-du-Pape - 92-94pts

Château de Beaucastel 2009 Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Rhone Valley) France

Availability: BCLDB Signature stores
Cost: $90
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: March 1st, 2012

Tasting Notes: Not quite the powerhouse the 2007 vintage delivered, yet, unmistakable Chateauneuf expression of concentrated, rich dark fruit, warm rock, garrique and tobacco characters. The opulent, ripe fruit is balanced nicely with crisp acidity and presented in the ultra-fine, silky smooth manner we expect from the iconic Château.
The 2009 is tasting quite youthful today and would benefit from a patient slumber in one's cellar - a further 2-3 years should do it. Drink 2014-2025+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Antinori 2008 Solaia - 92+pts

Antinori 2008 Solaia (Tuscany) Italy

Availability: BCLDB Signature stores
Cost: $250
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: March 1st, 2012

Tasting Notes: This blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged in 100% new oak, opens with a gorgeous, delicate nose of sweet cassis and blackberry fruit aromas and light earthy notes. The youthful, acidic palate follows with layers of berry, smoke and sun-drenched rocks flavours supported by a lovely weight and soft, fine tannins. Not overly intense, yet balanced and complex. The short finish leaves one wanting a bit more length for the price.

This is a fabled Super-Tuscan that really doesn't need any more press in order to sell (or not sell), but for the uninitiated and curious, for equal the fun and quality, my recommendation is to seek-out a bottle of Antinori Tignanello and leave the Solaia to the hard-core collectors who aren't concerned about the concept of "value". Drink 2014-2010.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Paul Hobbs Winery 2009 Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard - 95-97pts

Paul Hobbs Winery 2009 Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard (St. Helena) Napa Valley - California

Availability: Limited
Cost: $180-200
Alcohol: 15.2%
Date Tasted: March 1st, 2012

Tasting Notes: Dense, complex and focused to the nth degree, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon single vineyard release nears perfection. Aged in 100% new oak for 20 months, the wine seems to have soaked-up every once of character it could extract from the barrel and blended it, effortlessly, with the naturally endowed spectrum of dark fruit and earth flavours bestowed upon the Beckstoffer Dr, Crane Vineyard fruit. A special occasion wine for the celebration you're expecting sometime in 2014 when this wine will start to come into its own. Drink 2014-2022+.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca