We have a love/hate relationship with the Wine Spectator.  We subscribe, we read, we consider...and yet we try not to slavishly follow their rating system, which is often, to our taste, wrong.  But the September 30 issue raved about  Mollydooker Shiraz "The Boxer" 2006 as a "Smart Buy" and gave it a 90 point rating.  The editors noted that its "Smoky cherry and raspberry flavors also have the pepper and spice tyical of Shiraz, in a polished, full-bodied package."  At $20, it seemed like a worthwhile investment. And Gary, who worships at the altar of Barossa Valley Shiraz, was eager to see if this McLaren Vale entry could compete.

But tracking down Mollydooker (Aussie for Left Hand) the Boxer was not so easy.  We went to five local wine shops before finding it at a small liquor store in a strip mall. We coughed up $23 a bottle ($3 more than WS paid) and went home to cook up some burgers to go with the Shiraz.

One taste and we had to admit WS got it right.  This was a big, bold Shiraz; inky black, intense on the nose, with wonderful fruit and spice flavors.  We picked up the cherry the WS noted but also sensed a hint of plum and some leather. We loved the smokiness and full-bodied flavor from start to finish.

We bought two bottles tonight; we'll be back to the strip mall tomorrow to stock up.  This is a keeper.