Mollydooker Shiraz Mclaren Vale Padthaway the Boxer 2009

The 2007 The Boxer Shiraz is a saturated purple color with an expressive nose of balsam wood, violets, scorched earth, and blueberry compote. Dense and rich on the palate, it has layers of succulent fruit, lots of spice, and a lengthy finish. It is surprisingly elegant for its size. It, too, can be enjoyed through 2017.

Supple and generous, with spicy blackberry and tar flavors, lingering effortlessly with a thin veil of fine tannins. Drink now through 2013.

Bright and jazzy, offering an effusive mouthfeel of cherry, pomegranate and spice flavors that are as aromatic as they are long and vivid. This has density without great weight, and the finish keeps on going. Drink now through 2015.

Sparky and Sarah Marquis, whose Marquis-Philips partnership ended abruptly last year, have come out swinging with their new value-oriented label, Mollydooker (Aussie slang for a left-hander, which they both are). In the Boxer, they blend Shiraz from three different regions to get layers of dark fruits, spices and integrated tannins.

Ripe and smoky. A big, polished mouthful of cherry and raspberry, with peppery, spicy overtones that mingle effortlessly with the fruit as the finish sails on. Drink now through 2011.

Dense, focused and juicy in the mouth, a powerhouse that brims with blueberry, currant, smoke and spice flavors, segueing seamlessly into the long finish. Drink now through 2016.

Dark and dense. A big wine, yet lively with nutmeg and cinnamon-scented blackberry, cherry and licorice flavors, balanced against firm but well integrated tannins. Needs some time to soften. Best from 2007 through 2014.