92-Points by Robert Parker & Wine Spectator
The 2021 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz is far more on the blue fruit spectrum than the 2020, which has a complex array of sweet/savory/spice characters. The detail here errs to blackberry, blood plum and resin—a spicy, full-bodied Shiraz. Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz is made fom Shiraz grapes and aged in 100% American oak, using 55% new, 45% one year old barrels. Not for the faint of heart!
 
The term Mollydooker is old slang for a lefthander – owner Sarah Marquis is a southpaw.
Mollydooker is a family owned and operated winery based in McLaren Vale, South Australia. The dedicated team make a portfolio of wines that beautifully represent the warm, coastal climate of the region, but with the uniqueness that results from their trademarked winemaking techniques. Established in 2005, the name Mollydooker – Aussie slang for a left-handed person – was a fitting choice given the majority of the team were left-handed. This point of difference runs through all the winery’s operations, from greeting visitors with a left hand, to always placing the wine glass to the left of a table setting. In 2007, Mollydooker found a permanent home in McLaren Vale, with 116 acres of vineyards, and the following decade saw ambitious growth.
The label made its debut in 2006, though owner Sarah Marquis already had extensive experience working in the wine trade. Success came rapidly for Mollydooker; The Wine Advocate rated the first edition of The Boxer Shiraz the best value red wine in the world, with the estate's Two Left Feet Shiraz – Cabernet coming second. Mollydooker's Maitre D' Cabernet Sauvignon came in fourth, and just for good measure The Violinist white wine topped the best value white wine list.
Unsurprisingly, the inaugural vintage sold out in a matter of days. This early success fueled the purchase of vineyards and a winery in 2008.
The wines are made to emphasize fruit over tannin, and Mollydooker has even trademarked a tasting system to test this. The red wines are barrel-fermented, then oxygenated in tanks before barrel-aging. Specific vineyard lots are vinified and aged separately.
Producer Notes
The Blue Eyed Boy is Sarah’s son, Luke. Stomping grapes as a kid and now heading up the Mollydooker Sales Team.
South Australia
South Australia is one of the Australia's six states in the central south of the vast island continent. It is the engine room of the Australian wine industry, responsible for around half of the country's total output each year. 
The south-eastern corner of South Australia is significantly cooler and less arid than further north, which is simply too hot and dry for vitis vinifera vines to perform. The climate is moderated by two large gulfs, which bring the cool waters of the Southern Ocean hundreds of miles inland from the main coastline. Between the eastern side of the Gulf of St. Vincent (the smaller of these two) and the Murray River is a belt of green about 80km (50 miles) wide, clearly visible on satellite images. Here, the famous Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale vineyards are to be found.
McLaren Vale
The McLaren Vale wine region, in the north-west of Fleurieu Peninsula, is located approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) south of Adelaide. It is by far the most important wine-producing area in the Fleurieu zone and is also regarded very highly throughout Australia and the world.
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.
Overall, the climate is Mediterranean, with fresh sea breezes helping to moderate temperatures during the growing season. Chilly winds from the hills also cool the grapes on specific vineyard sites, helping to retain acidity and structure.