Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz 2024 from Mollydooker in McLaren Vale is an unashamedly bold, full‑throttle South Aussie Shiraz that still manages to feel polished and controlled in the glass. The 2024 The Boxer Shiraz is rich and deep yet surprisingly elegant, a real left‑hand haymaker that lands with plush fruit rather than heaviness. This is classic Mollydooker The Boxer 2024 territory – a big, crowd‑pleasing red that absolutely over‑delivers for the price.

On the nose, it explodes with fresh plum, blackberry, blueberry and black cherry, layered with mocha, dark chocolate, liquorice, sweet spice and a little vanilla and coffee cream from 100% American oak. The palate is lush and velvety, saturated with dark fruits, chocolate and spice, carried on a soft plummy mouthfeel, vibrant berry lift and well‑measured, silky tannins that keep it all in line. Despite the power and 15.5% alcohol, it feels generous rather than hot, with that signature Mollydooker fruit weight sitting in the sweet spot.

From a food point of view, Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz 2024 is a natural with grilled ribeye, slow‑cooked beef ribs, smoky BBQ brisket and lamb chops off the Weber, but it also plays beautifully with loaded burgers, spicy sausages and rich tomato‑based pasta bakes. It is the perfect big red for Friday‑night takeaway pizza or a meat‑heavy barbie with mates – decant it for 30–60 minutes and let those mocha and plum layers really unfurl.