Mollydooker The Scooter Merlot

Mollydooker The Scooter Merlot is a full-bodied, 100% Merlot from McLaren Vale, South Australia, bottled at approximately 15% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 91 points by James Halliday and a Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, this expression showcases the ripe, concentrated fruit style that has become a hallmark of winemakers Sarah and Sparky Marquis.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~15%  |  Origin: McLaren Vale, South Australia  |  Varietal: 100% Merlot  |  Producer: Mollydooker Wines (Sarah & Sparky Marquis)

Production & Heritage

Mollydooker Wines was founded by husband-and-wife team Sarah and Sparky Marquis, both left-handed — "mollydooker" being Australian slang for a left-hander. The Scooter sits within their Lefty series, barrel fermented and matured in a blend of 96% American oak and 4% French oak, using 28% new barrels, 31% one-year-old barrels, and 41% two-year-old barrels. Production is guided by the proprietary Marquis Fruit Weight™ system, a measurement unique to Mollydooker that prioritizes fruit concentration; The Scooter's 2021 vintage registered a Fruit Weight of 66%, within the Lefty series target range of 65%–75%.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with fresh Bing cherry and black plum, followed by coffee grounds and a subtle violet floral lift. Oak-derived cinnamon and vanilla round out the aromatics as the wine opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is plush and immediate, filling the palate with ripe raspberry, fresh plum, and redcurrant. Mid-palate, layers of stewed plum and blueberry emerge alongside espresso, dark chocolate, and a savory black olive tapenade character. The fruit is generous and ripe but held in check by spice notes of chai tea and bay leaf.

Finish: Medium to long, with supple tannins and lingering coffee and vanilla custard flavors. Cherry and warm spice persist through the close, leaving a rich but balanced impression.

How to Drink The Scooter

This Merlot rewards best at a slight cellar chill — around 16–18°C (60–65°F) — served in a large-bowled red wine glass to let its aromatic layers develop. Decanting for 20–30 minutes softens the structure and opens the espresso and plum notes further.

• Sangria: The Scooter's concentrated dark fruit and warm spice hold up against citrus and spirits without losing identity.
• Mulled Wine: The existing cinnamon, chai, and plum character means less spice is needed, and the wine's natural richness stands up to heating.
• Red Wine Spritz: The bold fruit concentration at 15% ABV allows dilution with sparkling water while retaining flavor depth.

Best For

• Steak night dinners where a bold, fruit-driven red is the centerpiece
• Gifting an Australian wine enthusiast something outside the Shiraz mainstream
• Winter evenings with braised dishes and slow-cooked meats
• Introducing curious drinkers to the power and richness of McLaren Vale reds

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Scooter taste like? It leads with ripe plum, cherry, and blueberry, layered with espresso, dark chocolate, and a savory olive tapenade character. Warm spice notes of cinnamon and chai tea add complexity on a full, supple body.

How does The Scooter compare to Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz? Both sit in Mollydooker's Lefty series and share a similar oak regimen and fruit-forward philosophy, but The Scooter is 100% Merlot, giving it a softer tannin structure and more red-fruit brightness compared to The Boxer's denser Shiraz-driven dark fruit and pepper profile.

Is The Scooter good for sipping on its own? Yes — its plush texture, layered fruit, and moderate tannins make it very approachable as a standalone pour, especially after a brief decant to let the aromatics open fully.

Where is The Scooter made? The Scooter is produced by Mollydooker Wines in McLaren Vale, a premium wine region in the Fleurieu zone of South Australia known for its warm maritime climate and rich, ripe red wines.

What foods pair well with The Scooter? Braised beef short ribs complement the wine's dark fruit and espresso depth. Lamb shoulder with rosemary matches its herbal, savory undertones. Hard aged cheeses like Manchego echo the vanilla and spice oak character. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the cocoa and coffee notes. Mushroom risotto bridges the wine's earthy, olive tapenade quality.

What sizes does The Scooter come in? The Scooter is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is The Scooter worth the price? The Scooter positions as a mid-range Australian Merlot that over-delivers on concentration and complexity for its tier, backed by consistent critical recognition including 91 points from James Halliday and a Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Why The Scooter?

In a market where Australian Merlot rarely gets the spotlight, The Scooter stands as a compelling argument for the variety's potential in McLaren Vale's warm climate. The proprietary Marquis Fruit Weight™ system — a metric no other producer uses — ensures each vintage meets a strict concentration threshold before release, resulting in a wine that is unapologetically rich yet structurally sound. Consistent scores from James Halliday (91 points) and Wine Spectator (90 points for the 2019 vintage) confirm its quality across multiple releases. For drinkers who appreciate bold, fruit-driven reds but want something beyond the ubiquitous Australian Shiraz, this Merlot fills a genuine gap.