No rating. Trying to get after past-prime wines and this one should be all done. Fully expected to pour it out. Surprisingly tasty. It has a minty tactile thing going on ... fairly strong acid, faded tannins, raisins ... I'll say, I don't dislike this wine. An interesting experience.
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This is a 17o bottle that was my gamble when i bought a dozen mixed bottles from different wine store. The cork crumbled with waiter's corkscrew. Used an Ah So and it came out pristine so i was optimistic...
Still opaque dark red, bright red fruit on nose, sweet redcurrant and raisin fruit, lush, thick, soft tannins, enough acidity to hold this together, It has a long appealing finish. This is much better than it has a right to be - delicious and I will return for another bottle.
BTW - I paid $44.99 for this bottle. I just saw the same vintage in another store for $79.99 New York wine prices are crazy.
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Our final bottle. Unfortunately, past its prime. Still thick and heavy, still has fruit, but definitely some prunes in there. Still enjoyable but starting on the downside. Too bad...we've enjoyed many bottles over the years! Ric
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Aging for 14 years finally has been kind to this wine. The color remains impressively black almost to the edge. The aromas are inviting, and in place of a prune and raisin, now features a grilled meat. The texture in the mouth is velvety, juicy and dense without any excessive alcoholic burn. The flavors are distinctly concentrated and coat the mouth in the sip and fill the throat in the swallow. Overall, a well integrated, rich, and enjoyable Shiraz that now is the best it has ever been.
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This opened up oddly, and I did not care for it (burnt rubber mercaptans?), but with vigorous swirling and decanting it was drinkable after an hour. Significant age shown based on color and bricking. This was a meaty syrah and paired well with a chicken meatloaf. Otherwise... meh. Just not much here. However, my wife loved it. This was recently purchased on the secondary market from Benchmark. Me - 88, Wife - 91/92
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I was looking forward to drinking this and had saved it for a special evening with great hope. For the most part I was disappointed when I compare my experience with other Shiraz or GMS blends of similar age (2000-2005) that I have drunk in the last two weeks. The color was dark and dense garnet with no purple/pinks edges. The wine was very smooth and fruity with raisin and plum flavors. No leather or earthy undertones were evident. The biggest issue was the absence of acid to provide an edge to the fruit and so it felt flabby in the mouth almost making it port like. In reading other reviews I suspect that I missed its peak and that it is on its downward track.
I had high hopes that aging this wine would take out the features I least liked and leave the wine more enjoyable. But no, while the wine has kept its darkness and density, the only dimension that has improved is the lush and caressing texture. The tannins and acidity that made the young wine more attractively structured, are now unfortunately softer and more subdued. The wine remains heavy, overripe, raisin and prune sweet, portly alcoholic, licoricey, flabby, and invaded by oaky flavors of clove and vanilla, taking the brightness out of what would otherwise be delicious Syrah fruit.
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After 12 years, still dark garnet-purple, completely opaque. Pronounced aroma of blackberries, black raspberry, with smoky, toasty oak. Quite viscous and mouth-coating. It has lost the sharpness and angularity of its youth, and is now beautifully round, balanced, and supple, though still quite full-bodied. No signs of prunes or raisins yet. Some anise late on the palate and definitely in the long aftertaste. Fully mature, at its peak, may last a couple more years but it's best to drink soon. Ric
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The 2003 Shiraz 9 at show the same at a dozen years as it did at eleven, still opaque inky dark garnet with tinge of purple colored, full-bodied, complex, intensely concentrated tongue coating notes of super ripe black currants and plum but the aging fruits are taking on notes of raisin and fig with tones of espresso roast, smoked meats and leather on the layer of mocha, burnt sugar with hints of anise and a finish of black and white pepper with a leathery texture on the lingering finish.
This bold expressive forward wine begs for the tangy spicy bar-b-cue and vica versa!
This was one of the stars at one of those epic Sams tastings back in the day (almost ten years), Bacchanalian feasts indeed. I had always wanted to bring it out on a "special" occasion but such occasion never seemed to transpire, so in the end it was opened without much fanfare on an ordinary evening. Still showing its power, inky dark, somewhat brooding aroma of ripe dried fruits, smooth and velvety palate-coating, coffee and chocolate. I thought had still plenty of life yet mature and settled down.
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This is my last bottle and a good thing as this is on the way down. There is fruit (it was a fruit bomb after all), but it is going murky and the flavors are starting to go off. The tannins, which were never big, have now gone. Still managed to finish the bottle though!
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Still opaque inky purple. No brown at the edges. Typical Marquis style, very big and full, definitely not for everyone. Big jammy shiraz aromas, showing some raisin and prunes. Hugely concentrated, fruit maybe starting to fade, also with some raisin notes. Tannin and alcohol are starting to dominate the fruit. Very hot finish. This wine is in the late maturity stage and should be enjoyed now. Ric
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While big, complex and concentrated, this '9' Shiraz has proven to be a wine to be consumed during its first 7-8 years of life as this eleven year old attests. This like others vintages held beyond ten years is showing its age as the intense fruit is giving way to a funkiness of non-fruit wood, leather and earth notes.
In their youth, they were big vibrant powerful wines with super rich, ripe luscious tongue-coating fruit sourced from McLaren and Padthaway in South Central Australia.
The 2003 Shiraz 9 at eleven years of age is still opaque inky purple-colored, full-bodied, complex, intensely concentrated tongue coating notes of super ripe currants, plum but the aging fruits are taking on notes of raisin and fig with tones of espresso roast, smoked meats and leather on the layer of mocha, burnt sugar with hints of anise and white pepper. It still has leathery texture on the lingering finish.
Brought to a gathering where a friend likes Australian wines. Dark red, nose is cassis and other dark fruit. Still alive, a bit hot, but better with time in the glass. Some secondary notes, but modest. Others loved it and it went quickly.
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Typical Sarah and Sparky wine, still loaded with concentrated fruit, tannin in the background. Excellent and balanced, can easily last for another 5 years!
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Hmmm. I remember 4 or 5 years ago drinking the basic Marquis Philips offerings, and they were beautiful. They were just a bit fruit-bomby but that never bother me because they were totally delicious and immediately drinkable. In spite of the temptation to guzzle up on release, they also seemed to have the stuffing to fill out and bring on some nice secondary notes in time. Back then, if I remember right, the wine rags were even claiming these Aussies would defy conventional wisdom and reward substantial cellaring.
With that expectation and historical experience - I have to say I'm disappointed with this bottle. I mean, it's ok. But I really expected this "select" offering would offer a bigger/better version of the $12 slurpers I was loving in their youth.
Alas, no. After about 30 mins in glass, the heat is finally subsiding, but it still dominates the fruit. Maybe that's because the fruit is fading - showing none of the thick jammy blueberry/raspberry with a hint of black pepper I remember; instead just some muted, thinning cherries in the middle. It's drinkable, and even decent, but disappointing for sure. This has been properly cellared - but to no avail. I wish I would have popped this a few years ago.
Oh well, time to drink up the bold/brash Aussies and replace them with some long aging and more refined Brunellos and Barolos ....
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Good and actually quite enjoyable first two nights, but third night under pump seemed grapey and medicinal and couldn't finish. Don't wait if you have any left.
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Hard to believe I liked this wine. I bought it at a weak moment in my wine buying life, but just got around to drinking a bottle. Actually very tasty. Alcohol still dominate, but it's getting more mellow now. Very pleasant...a pizza or ribs wine.
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past its prime. some nose buthing to remember. the wine was not decanted. there was no need. Had typical shiraz fruity essences. I would rate passable but not great
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Chocolate and dark fruit. Great front, mid, and end. Great drinker by itself and Just enough tannin to hold up to a grilled steak. One of the better aged Aussies I've had in a while. Yummy. Why didn't I buy more?
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Powerful big inky wine that is in its prime. Had with Memphis style baby back ribs and holds up to the spicy meat. Aussie style wines have fallen out of favor but if you can sit on wines such as this for a few (10) years they become exceptional.
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Interesting how controversial this wine is. What I was surprised with is how well it is holding up. Not all of the early 2000 southern Aussi shiraz's are. You have to like this style; but this is an impeccable example of it. It is huge over-the-top alchohol (at least 16%) and fruit. However it is integrated and the fruit is hanging in there. Hot, red fruit and plums on the nose. Leather, integrated tannin and acid in the mouth. This is comfort food wine. They don't make wines like back in the early 2000s; especially these guys who are no more in this incarnation. A lovely wine to sit and drink and let it flow over you.
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Tasted from 375/screw capped bottle that was poured off last night. Big black/blue fruit nose. Heavy, sweet and tannic, an over the top style that I seldom enjoy any more unless it's balanced and delicious. This, after 9 years is no better than what you can get from many Aussie Shiraz's at under $15- $20, a few of which I'll be tasting over the next few weeks.
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This wine surprised me and probably not a wine for everyone. Big chocolate, coffee nose. Plummy fruit. Changed over time bringing on some mint. Actually a good after dinner sipper. It was almost like desert.
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Phenomenal transformation since the last bottle, which was frankly nearly undrinkable due to overwhelming alcohol. Presently, the alcohol has submerged and the wine was very pleasant. A dark purple color,with a huge nose of eucalyptus, vanilla, and herbs. Dense bodied wine, with dark fruits, a long and pleasant finish.
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Still large, powerful and full of life. No way this wine is nearing its end. Thre is a ton of dark fruit... Black Cherries, raspberries, currant, plums, cassis. It does show a touch hot and alcoholic for my taste but that burns off in 15 minutes for the most part. Mouthfeel is a little thinner than I would like but overall a great wine with hearty food. Alone it may be a bit too much.
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Jumped the shark:(. Hot, unbalanced, porty and tough to drink. The 02 I had last month was so much better... Have 3 more to check in on and I am not looking forward to it.
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Intrigued by CMCARNES' comments about this and '03 Henry's Drive as flawed, I opened a bottle of '03 Shiraz 9 this evening. The only thing that may be flawed might be how the other bottles were stored or shipped, but my bottle is outstanding (and perfectly stored since buying it on release). Still very dark and opaque, with no brown edges; wonderful pronounced complex shiraz aromas; full-bodied flavors with excellent fruit, light tannin, slight heat from high alcohol, but a very long sweet oaky aftertaste. A wonderful combination of aromas and flavors that should hold for several more years (as their '98 Fox Creek Reserve is still doing in my cellar).
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The way these are made, they just don't stand up to time very well. I am revising this tasting note. The wine is not flawed in a traditional sense. It doesn't have VA, Brett., heat spoilage, cork taint, etc. I think it tastes exactly like it is intended. With that said I literally cannot muster one swallow when I force the wine into my mouth. If one were to take everything that ruins a wine for my palate, high alcohol, hot flabby fruit, oak toasted shards, over-extraction, over-ripeness, and put it in a blender and mix it until it congeals, that would be this wine to me. My big question to myself is weather or not to flaw the wine or score it as a horrible wine that I believe is inherently flawed, but that some people really like. I have said in the past that many people like these wines and I have tried to stop being harsh about the wine and just let things go. The fact is, I was cleaning out my cellar last night and saw a couple from this genre, took a chance and pulled about 5 or 6 corks, maybe hoping for a miracle.
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A big massive wine that stained the glass inky black. A wonderful earthy, red fruit nose. Very smooth mouthful of red fruit-raspberry and black cherry with nice pepper/spice. Bottle was opened about an hour bfore pouring and spent 15 minutes in glass before tasting. Wonderful depth. No signs of aging in this wine. Tasted Mollydooker "Boxer" at the same time and there was no comparison. This was the winner in my mind.
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Consumed after Schaefers 2011 Warehouse Sale; yes, it is big and rich but without being too candied or syrupy and it is working well - no oak or alcohol (although it's there) getting in the way. It's the Australian shiraz version of Clio...you are gonna get what you expected. Some of the tasting notes surprise me, almost as though people had no idea of the nature/history of this wine, "oh no, someone substituted #9 for my sauvignon blanc." Bash "The Boxer" for the glycerine taste and being out of balance, but not here.
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opened 9/25/2010. Needed very little breathing - we allowed an hour. Extraordinary dark fruits, rich, lush. lovely rich bouquet. Remained thoroughly delicious for at least 24 hours. We have about a case left. yum.
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Outstanding Shiraz that didn't dissapoint. One hour of decanting was perfect. Been drinking MollyDooker's, which are great wines, but his exceeded anything in the $25 range. One more left, and it's a keeper...
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Aussie Shiraz Wines at Minneapolis Wine Club (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): This wine was a bit of an enigma. Well rated and respected in general, but this bottle showed very poorly to our group. The 16% alcohol was overwhelming on the nose and created enough heat on the palate to be too distracting. The were some good elements to the wine with nice big black fruit on the palate. and a good spice/pepper quality. But this wine is out of balance at least and not really my style.
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Minneapolis Wine Club 4/24/10 ~ Aussie Shiraz at Kevin's: Nose: Coffee and some toffee with some alcohol. Palate: Fire in the hole!! Big alcohol burn and really no fruit. If you're camping this could replace a Sterno can to cook your food. The nose was actually not that bad. If not for the nose this would not make 80 points for me. Perhaps this bottle was not representative.
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Coming into its prime. Fruit is becoming integrated, still needs to decant, has the glycerine smoothness of Sparky and Sarah. An aussie wine without the overwhelming alcohol.
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Much better than the previous bottle. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of licorice, boysenberry, black berries and cherries that carries through to the palate. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink now. In a good place.
Despite not being a huge fan of Aussies, I like this one. Initially it was a bit overwhelming, but with 15 minutes of air it settled down. Plenty of fruit, along with cocoa and coffee elements, decent tannins, reasonably long finish. The burnt/roasted cherry that I often get was missing (thankfully), but there was still some dark red/black cherry, and warm, toasty notes.
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Still a very big wine. Opened 8 hours early, decanted 4 hours later. Somewhat overwhelmed by its size. hard to say when would be ideal at this point in its lifespan.
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While an over the top Aussie fruit bomb made only the way Sarah and Sparky can do it, there was still pleasure taken from consuming this wine. It displays a fine nose and drinking it against some hearty winter food will put this wine in its place. Not for the weak of heart.
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Blind on the nose, I'd guess an 03 Northern Rhone as it reminds me of some recent 03 Cornas. You can smell the ripeness - not exactly pruney, but close, with wild notes of kippered beef, wet fur, brown sugar, cigar smoke and road tar. Completely over the top, and coming from me that says a great deal. Dense and uncomfortably rich fruit with a lavish, mammoth amount of oak, plenty of unresolved tannins, and lots of booze. The tannins suggest that it will age, but given the amount that I suspect are from wood, the wincingly intense fruit, and the booze, I'm unclear as to what this may turn into. The color is a dark purple with NO signs of age. Oily, thick, and chewy. As odd as it may sound, I think the bottle is correct with some components that are indicative of a well-made wine; but in context and in the aggregate, the results are atrocious. Capped and set aside. (NR)
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Great McLauren Vale Shiraz. Big Fruit Bomb with a spicy mid-palet and long finish. Reminds me of MollyDooker's Boxer but with a bit more oak and complexity.
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A really good, ripe, very concentrated yet very smooth great Aussie shiraz enjoyed earlier this month at the monthly Hickory Wine Club wine tasting as part of a flight of higher end Australian shirazs. I liked this one better then the '02 in the blinded tasting. Aerated in the glass for about two hours prior to consumption. Dark purple, big yet very smooth and in a great drinking window right now. Slightly sweet nose with cedar, eucalyptus and spice along with black stone fruit. Primary flavors included dark fruit, black currant, some mocha and caramel as well as tar and black pepper on the finish. Very good, definitely recommend this wine, not an unreasonable QPR at this price range.
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As several others have said: big fruit, lots of flavor. We did give this some air and served it slightly chilled. The alcohol was not intrusive, nor was the oak. Most of the drinkers really liked this wine.
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Decent drinking wine, very hot on the finish. Took a couple hours for the band-aid to blow off. Had some nice fruit but because of that high alcohol, the balance was off. Would recommend decanting and then serving at closer to cellar temp than room temp to help dissipate some of that alcohol.
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12/12/08: Dark opaque purple color with a nose of earth, tar, pepper, dark berries, cherry, oak and vanilla. The flavors are very forward with dark and red fruit, black and white pepper, mocha, coffe and meat. This is a full bodied wine with excellent body and structure with soft tannin and good acidity. The finish is long with eartlhy, spicy, tannic notes.
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Strong nose of American Oak but the dark berries are certainly there too. Like others have noted, fruit bomb but with the high alcohol and obvious oak it works. Would be a definite "party pleaser". If you have issues with American Oak, avoid this one -- not me, as you can see by my 92 points.
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Not quite the fruit bomb it was a year or two ago, but still lots of dark berries on the nose as well as some pepper. Long finish that went really well with a NY strip we had.
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Excuse me as I overcome my disapointment to learn (after just hopping onto Cellar Tracker) that I just had my only bottle of this decadent fruit bomb. I was sure I was sitting on a couple more and could take what I learned and enjoy the next ones with a bit more open bottle time, because this got better and better. While I was happy to run this over to fellow Mollydooker fans (made in the same style by Sparky Marquis) I admittedly would have enjoyed saving it all for MYSELF. The nose was a nice combo of bacon fat and brown sugar but it tooks some time for the bouquet to develop. My friends description of the wine "wow this is really good" says it all. It had a lengthy finish of caramel.
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THe only attribute that keeps this wine from the mid 90's is balance. It really is a classic Aussie fruit bomb, but a very good Aussie fruit bomb! Nose hits you with dark fruits (cherries and blue berries), vanilla, subtle mocha and a bit of eucolyptus. THe finish reinforces the fruit (almost entirely) and lasts a solid 30-40 seconds. This can cellar another five years.
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strong black fruit shiraz profile with a hint of orange (my daughter said it reminded her of orange julius). Not bad, but not completely in harmony. Definitely not my favorite shiraz.
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16% alcohol. Opened and served immediately. Dark purple color in the glass, slightly dusty looking throughout with visible sediment. Nose of smoke, black cherries, meat and a hint of camphor. Flavors of black currants, plums, berries and bitters on the finish. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to full body. Unfortunately the alcohol is completely out of whack in this wine so 3-4 points come off just for that. Drink or hold. Decant for sediment next time and give it just a tiny bit of air before serving.
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broke the cork, but strained & decanted...delicious...alcohol shows its presence, but along with spice & berries it made a fine bottle; it was gone within the hour
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Cellared with care along with the other 9's, this was the last '03 and I'm glad I opened it. Bottle fine and cork intact, typical MP color black and opaque and throwing sediment. Nose was like previous: "sweet" blackberry cobbler along with vanilla and other spices including pepper, plus tar, earth, and oak. Noted within first half hour that the blackberry/blueberry fruit is a bit less vibrant than in the past, and spouse noticed it too. This became apparent over the next 3 hours, where fruit was mildly fading, earth turned to dirt, and the tar, dark chocolate, and pepper were more pronounced through the midpalate and finish. Although I normally love these components, they made this wine more awkward and less characteristic of the fruit bomb we know it is. Overall still quite enjoyable and there are soft tannins that may carry this wine reasonably for another 1-2 years. As the calendar ticks I do not see it getting more interesting, only less fruity.
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Exactly what you'd expect. Ripe, lush, creamy, velvety - almost like a liquid blueberry pie and a complete crowd pleaser for the casual wine drinkers at dinner last night.
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Decanted - heavy sediment. This is a very thick and super ripe wine. Nose is very reduced, notes of treacle, boysenberry jam. Thick and ripe blackberry and currant fruit, very soft tannins, decent currant acidity, but slightly tart salty streak on the finish. Glad i opened this to have a glass after dinner, rather than with it. Cannot think of many foods this would pair with. While full of flavour this is not really for drinking - taken by the teaspoon would be plenty. Not my style.
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Opened and double decanted. Inky dark purple color opaque throughout. Initial nose of blackberry and other dark fruits. Palate slams you with blueberry, brown sugar and caramel. I did not detect any heat that others have mentioned. Long finish with decent balance. This will not fool anyone into thinking old-world style, but it delivers exactly what I expect from an MP Shiraz.
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I have always had mixed feeling about Marquis Philips. On one hand many of thier wines are bursting with that fruit forward new world taste, but they seem hell bent on taking thier alcohol content as high as they can. This on sports a whopping 16% and sometimes I think that it can get in the way of enjoying the wine. That being said, It had hints of earth and mushroom. On the palate it was a bit muted at first but did get a bit better as the night wore on with hints of berries and a faint anise taste. The alcohol was apparent on the intial taste and dominated the finish overriding just about everything else. Retasted on 3/29/07 with consistent notes. Had several people over and all agreed that the alcohol content got in the way of enjoying the wine
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Had this wine two years ago. Summer of 2005. Three of us were coming back from a fishing trip in Buras, Louisiana. Designated driver was behind the wheel. Stopped at Dollar store and got 2 long stem wine glasses. My friend and I tried the wine on the way back home to Alabama I was unimpressed. Later after the wine had been opened for 2 days I poured a glass and went downstairs to watch a dvd. The wine stayed in the glass for about 2 hours. Wow, the wine knocked my socks off. Smooth and mellow. Fruit forward and despite the alcohol, no excessive heat. I still have 6 bottles of the stuff left. The 2002 was even better. Only one bottle of it left. Anyone know where I can get some of the 2002 at $65 or less.
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This was one of those unexpected bottles that didn't show up on cellartracker...looking for something big to go with the cold (for the Southeast evening) today....this was a great big pleasant surprise....no heat from the 16% etoh, with prominent eucalyptus notes you get with a thackrey orion....a beauty of a wine at this point...if you have in your cellar, pull one and give it a try....the aussiesl do shiraz awfully well....
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Wow. Big and tasty. Sweet nose with hints of spice and meat. Palate is a bit daunting, with huge bursts of flavor of dark fruits. Finish a bit too sweet, almost like molasses. A great shiraz, though. For the money there are a couple of better candidates IMO, but content nonetheless.
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Monstrously big, with tons of vanilla and dark fruit. High alc is well integrated. Long (no hot) finish. Didn't go well as a last-minute replacement for a corked pinot noir. Recommended
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Woo-hoo. This stuff is as serious as ever. I think it was a little warm and so it just had a little too much alcohol and heat for me as we worked our way through dinner and the bottle. Still impressively potent stuff though and fun to drink.
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Kavana Wine Tasting: Varietals around the world (Seattle, WA): This has integrated its copious alcohol well over the past couple of years. Mint and eucalypt dance amidst tar, vanilla cookie along with oodles of smoky black fruit. The palate is enormous, a bit sweet, yet buffered by wave after wave of tarry, powerful black fruit, vanillin, and licorice. Hard not to be impressed with the sheer girth of this stuff. Not what I like to drink but I would pour it to make guests swoon at any BBQ.
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This is starting to turn the corner, becoming rich and harmonious. I'll start to accelerate my rate of drinking these and will want to finish them up in another couple of years.
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Dark garnet, almost opaque, pronounced legs on the glass. Smoky meat, oil and fruit (think butcher shop!) Cherries, dark fruit, meat and tar on the palate. Some bitterness ont he finish. An enormous wine, almost a caricature of a wine. Too big for my taste. Opened thois as dinner, not for dinner. Can't think of it as an accompaniment.
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Definitely a Marquis Philips wine, but with more restraint and balance. Intensely dark in the glass, nearly opaque, with a huge nose of black fruit and meat. On the palate this is oily, meaty, and laced with cherries, kirsch, and hints of tar. I think this will improve over time, but it's quite tasty now.
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Really shows itself after a day or so. layers of vanilla, fruit, spice. Concetrated, not extracted. Good balance. Nice tarlike thick tannic backbone that supports the fruit well. Good wine....suprised by the balance given so many aussies I've had lately don't have it.
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Deep ruby. Nose of ripe black fruits (plum), spice, coconut. On the palate it is thick and silky, with notes of sweet fruit and a long finish; huge extraction. Already there are a lot of lees. This is sort of like a Guinness Stout of a wine, it feels like a meal in itself.
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Dark garnet color, from the core to the edge of rim. Mellow, sweet nose of coconut, red raspberries, blackberries and toasty oak. Slightly sweet fruit coats the palate; tannins are mellow through the mid-palate but gain authority on the back and dominate the finish. If this evens out and the fruit survives the toasty oak, the medium acidity may allow it to emerge as a nice, aged wine. 50+5+11+17+6=89
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Spiced vanilla and meaty dark fruits. Jammy and burnt-tasting which turns bitter and flabby on the finish, which doesn't come close to supporting the fruit here. A strange pickled ginger character. Not undrinkable, but heavy and tiring.
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Big nose with nice fruit. Slight vanilla oak. Spices and herbs. Still a little tannic for my liking. I had this after an '04 Godolphin and an '04 GAM and it had a nice nose, but the mouth was a little disappointing. Maybe without those two overpowering wines before this, it might have shown a little better. I'm convinced order is important with these monstrous Aussies.
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Deep, dark, open and rippin' right now. Wife hated it, which means I loved it! Probably has 8+ years left on it, got better and better in the decantur. Decanted one hour before drinking and drank over 5 hours.
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Had this with Pizza at home. Dark purple with a gorgeuous nose of anise, blueberry muffin and caramel. In the mouth, it is full bodied, with very concentrated fruit flavors,and a slightly hot finish which doesn't surprise me as the wine has a reported 16% alcohol. I can easily understand why some people may think it is "too mcuh". I like it.
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Popped and poured. Black raspberry and usual aussie fruit forward style. Tannins at first unpleasant and gravely. Disjointed overall. Next day, smoothed out considerably. Fruit still very prominent with a cough syrup like quality (not as bad as that may sound, but not my thing), tannins mellowed and smooth. I'd decant this for a bit.
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Dark color. Very complex nose...Roasted meats, vanilla, spices were all very obvious...so strong in fact that I felt they masked the fruit. This wine didn't suit my palate very well. Just like the nose, the taste was very complex...but I just didn't find it very enjoyable (not objectionable--I just didn't look forward to the next sip). Decent finish. A well made wine that didn't align with my taste.
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This is an intense, in-your-face wine. Loads of fruit are well matched by richly-textured coffee notes. It explodes on the pallette with a long finish. I also get a lot of oak; this seems like it could integrate with some cellar time. Right now it all seems a bit dissonant, further indicating the need for some more time.
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Decided to open one of these. Last tasted last year. It has improved since then but it still doesn't match the 01 or 02 for flavor or intensity. Big intensity and fruitiness with a little heat from the alcohol. I think some more time will help this wine. Next bottle about 9-12 months from now I think.
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Decanted for 1 hour. Nose of blueberries, vanilla, anise and mint. Very dark garnet color. On the palate; blueberries, blackberries and some pepper. Moderate, well intergrated tannins. Short to medium finish with a salty, not peppery taste. The 16% alcohol wasn't that noticeable. I'm sure this will get better with more bottle age, but I still prefer the Laughing Magpie. 91pts.
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Huge ripe dark fruit with delicious complexity. A little gamy. Too much alcohol for my taste. Decent balance but definitely feels alcoholic. 16% alcohol. Will save the rest of my bottles to see if alcohol integrates better in a few years.
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My notes are about the same as before. I would not buy this wine for myself. It is not my style. Nothing wrong with the way it is made though. A structurally sound wine. I would rate it slightly higher this time. 89-90 points. Others will rate it even higher.
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May have been slightly exuberant with the previous bottle I had...this is a terrific wine, no doubt, but it's not a 95-point wine. There's a nice balance between the fruit and a distinct crushed black pepper finish. A great wine, but I do prefer the '01 and '02.
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This present with a bit more restraint than previous 9s. Nose dominated by blueberry, brown sugar and mint. The palate is lush and full. Somewhat abbreviated finish. This 9 is not as searing as past vintages, and that is a good thing. Actually, reminds me of why I liked the regualr MP shiraz when the '01 first hit.
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My goodness, what a terrific wine. This is the 3rd bottle of the '03 that I've had and it is clearly getting better with age. The bouquet is the most overwhelmingly thick blackberry jam...incredible concentration of fruit. It's a bit less hedonistic than the '02 or '01...there's more earth and spice in here along with the fruit. I'd give it a good half hour after opening...everything seems to even out. This is a superlative effort for the price.
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A hedonistic wine like this deserves to be drunk on Valentine's Day.
Last time I tasted this wine I only had a few sips. This time I got to share a bottle and spend some time with it.
I got a lot of floral notes on the nose -- violets, ripe fruit, tar, even a bit of dill. The fragrance is intense. The tannins are quite mild, and although there isn't a lot of acid, I didn't find the wine unacceptably flabby. The alcohol is prodigious (16%), but that doesn't come across on the nose or the palate. Still, it's clearly a wine to take care with.
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What a knockout! This is an in-your-face Aussie, with a nose of violets and black fruits, and mint, tar and more fruit on the palate. Yeah it's young, yeah it's not very nuanced, but it's definitely a wine I'd like to have again.
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Intense, dark red color. Aromas of jam and vanilla. Jammy sweet with nuances of blackberry, blueberry and I think eucalyptus. Thick in the mouth and no signs of alcoholic heat despite the 16% level. Good shiraz, but for me, not worth the tariff. Had with roasted chicken.
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Tasted my first of this wine sipping with friends. The wine had a very dark red color and a pleasant fruity nose. The wine was very fruit forward, jammy, almost sweet with some mild tannin in the finnish. I can understand why this can be a love it or hate it type of wine. For me, I think I will wait a while before I try another to see how the wine develops.
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Flamboyant in a good way--moreso that previous tastings of this vintage, and more aligned with 2002 and 2001 in the ostentatiousness department. Deep, inky garnet color. Fragrant, complex nose exhibits syrah typicity with its game notes, along with copious blackberry, vanilla, anise, tar, and oak. Great concentration and extract, with mouthcoating, jammy fruit and a white pepper finish. Good structure. Tasted after the Glaymond Landrace, and superior in complexity, fruitiness, and flamboyance on the nose and palate. Alcohol 16.0%. $39.99 at The Wine And Cheese Shop in Highlands.
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A deep, dark red color. Lots of fruit and vanilla on the nose. Huge blackberry jam on the palette, though a bit tight even after being open an hour. Very good, still needs time in the bottle. I'll open the next one in 2006 or so.
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($40) Blind Red Hot and Blue Wines: Blind 2 - Subdued nose. Slightly floral…then vanilla. Aussie? Touch of sour caramel. We made comparisons to the S9, but didn't think this had the concentration to be it. Surprisingly disappointing.
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have had each of the prior 2 vintages of this wine and the 2003 is on par with each of them. It is a hube behemoth of a wine. We drank it over a 44 hour period (we took it to dinner one night and recorked it when we did not finish it). Carmel, cocoa, blackberry and pepper notes. I can't say that this wine is really my style and I think Pinot Envy felt the same. The 16% alcohol was not a problem; but, it lacked the subtlety and nuance that I prefer. Others will undoubtedly rate this higher. 88 points.
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Deep, dark blood red. Complex nose shows blackberry, blueberry, tar, and licorice notes. This wine is very light on its feet for such a strong and powerful wine. Incredible. On the palate, a narrow, laser-like focus of blackberry and tar suggests that this wine will open with time. Finishes with white pepper notes and very fine tannins. Builds upon the '02 and '01--much more seamless and sophisticated than prior vintages; subtle lack of expected ostentatiousness knocks a point or two off of my previous experiences with other vintages of this wine. $39.99 at the wine shop in Highlands.
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Blackberry, tar, vanilla, toasted meat. This is an excellent bottle of ewine. I love drinking this while I cook my jambalaya for a party/charity contest tonight. I may be getting some flavor profile from my cooking, buit clearly this is a delicious wine. Yummy. I look forward to those other two bottles. I am definitely tempted to get a few more, since I saw it in the store today as I was buying ingreedients for the jambalaya.
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An expressive nose of mint, blueberry pie, roasted blackberry, road tar, and vanilla wafts from the glass. On the palate this is silky and lush with some tannin hiding beneath a huge wall of ripe, black fruit. Unlike this 2002's, this is already pretty well defined and shows both savory and sweet flavors with a peppery mid-palate and a saline quality. The MP 9 has consistently been my favorite MP, and this 2003 is a nice reminder of that. Lighter in weight and more restrained than the searing-hot 2002's, this is already enjoyable with a steak and a long evening. Well done!
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The 2003 MP Shiraz 9 exhibits a ridiculous and nearly obscene level of black & blue fruit. This is an impenetrable deep purple concoction exhibiting a rich, thick, visceral liquid. Full throttle, no heat. Three [five even?] more years should yield a kinder, gentler experience [94+]. Probably the best bargain so far for the 2003 vintage. If the 9 is this wonderful, where will the Integrity register?
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This doesn't pull any punches - vivid purple Marquis shiraz. This needed three hours to open, but was really singing for the style - quite nice if this is what you wanted in wine. The fact that it needed three hours to open suggests that it will get bet
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I purchased three of these recently at just under $30, with the discount. Given favorable reviews as to the "balance" achieved in '03 - as opposed to prior vintages - I decided to kill a baby in the name of curiosity and perhaps with designs to purchase a few more. This wine is just about as rich a wine as I've had. It seems to have more than its share of everything, yet is so young and primary I really have little ability to evaluate it's potential. But, despite a label that boasts 16% alcohol, the wine does not seem "hot" (as did the '02 Sarah's Blend and particularly the '02 Shiraz I drank young last year about this time), and instead is pure intense, rich, and concentrated fruit at this stage, with what I consider that unique MP flavor. How can these wines be properly evaluated so young? I dunno. But despite this concern, I expect I will be buying more of this at the price, as I'm willing to gamble that with some age this wine will develop some secondary characteristics and be truly quite interesting.
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10/1/2021 - ghanbai Likes this wine: 94 Points
91 the first day but rewarded me with a 94 half bottle on the next.👍🏻
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5/13/2021 - BostonDoug wrote:
No rating. Trying to get after past-prime wines and this one should be all done. Fully expected to pour it out. Surprisingly tasty. It has a minty tactile thing going on ... fairly strong acid, faded tannins, raisins ... I'll say, I don't dislike this wine. An interesting experience.
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12/20/2020 - alohashirt Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a 17o bottle that was my gamble when i bought a dozen mixed bottles from
different wine store. The cork crumbled with waiter's corkscrew. Used an Ah So and it came out pristine so i was optimistic...
Still opaque dark red, bright red fruit on nose, sweet redcurrant and raisin fruit, lush, thick, soft tannins, enough acidity to hold this together, It has a long appealing finish. This is much better than it has a right to be - delicious and I will return for another bottle.
BTW - I paid $44.99 for this bottle. I just saw the same vintage in another store for $79.99
New York wine prices are crazy.
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2/1/2020 - Ex-Ray wrote: 88 Points
Our final bottle. Unfortunately, past its prime. Still thick and heavy, still has fruit, but definitely some prunes in there. Still enjoyable but starting on the downside. Too bad...we've enjoyed many bottles over the years!
Ric
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12/1/2018 - davidhklein wrote:
Bad - couldn’t drink
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11/19/2017 - Mossrose wrote: 92 Points
Aging for 14 years finally has been kind to this wine. The color remains impressively black almost to the edge. The aromas are inviting, and in place of a prune and raisin, now features a grilled meat. The texture in the mouth is velvety, juicy and dense without any excessive alcoholic burn. The flavors are distinctly concentrated and coat the mouth in the sip and fill the throat in the swallow. Overall, a well integrated, rich, and enjoyable Shiraz that now is the best it has ever been.
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6/8/2017 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This opened up oddly, and I did not care for it (burnt rubber mercaptans?), but with vigorous swirling and decanting it was drinkable after an hour.
Significant age shown based on color and bricking.
This was a meaty syrah and paired well with a chicken meatloaf. Otherwise... meh. Just not much here. However, my wife loved it.
This was recently purchased on the secondary market from Benchmark.
Me - 88, Wife - 91/92
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1/15/2016 - sma Does not like this wine: 89 Points
I was looking forward to drinking this and had saved it for a special evening with great hope. For the most part I was disappointed when I compare my experience with other Shiraz or GMS blends of similar age (2000-2005) that I have drunk in the last two weeks. The color was dark and dense garnet with no purple/pinks edges. The wine was very smooth and fruity with raisin and plum flavors. No leather or earthy undertones were evident. The biggest issue was the absence of acid to provide an edge to the fruit and so it felt flabby in the mouth almost making it port like. In reading other reviews I suspect that I missed its peak and that it is on its downward track.
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10/19/2015 - Mossrose wrote: 89 Points
I had high hopes that aging this wine would take out the features I least liked and leave the wine more enjoyable. But no, while the wine has kept its darkness and density, the only dimension that has improved is the lush and caressing texture. The tannins and acidity that made the young wine more attractively structured, are now unfortunately softer and more subdued. The wine remains heavy, overripe, raisin and prune sweet, portly alcoholic, licoricey, flabby, and invaded by oaky flavors of clove and vanilla, taking the brightness out of what would otherwise be delicious Syrah fruit.
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7/3/2015 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 95 Points
After 12 years, still dark garnet-purple, completely opaque. Pronounced aroma of blackberries, black raspberry, with smoky, toasty oak. Quite viscous and mouth-coating. It has lost the sharpness and angularity of its youth, and is now beautifully round, balanced, and supple, though still quite full-bodied. No signs of prunes or raisins yet. Some anise late on the palate and definitely in the long aftertaste. Fully mature, at its peak, may last a couple more years but it's best to drink soon.
Ric
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6/12/2015 - rmcnees wrote: 88 Points
The 2003 Shiraz 9 at show the same at a dozen years as it did at eleven, still opaque inky dark garnet with tinge of purple colored, full-bodied, complex, intensely concentrated tongue coating notes of super ripe black currants and plum but the aging fruits are taking on notes of raisin and fig with tones of espresso roast, smoked meats and leather on the layer of mocha, burnt sugar with hints of anise and a finish of black and white pepper with a leathery texture on the lingering finish.
This bold expressive forward wine begs for the tangy spicy bar-b-cue and vica versa!
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/06/marquis-philips-9-shiraz-2003.html
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5/17/2015 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
This was one of the stars at one of those epic Sams tastings back in the day (almost ten years), Bacchanalian feasts indeed. I had always wanted to bring it out on a "special" occasion but such occasion never seemed to transpire, so in the end it was opened without much fanfare on an ordinary evening. Still showing its power, inky dark, somewhat brooding aroma of ripe dried fruits, smooth and velvety palate-coating, coffee and chocolate. I thought had still plenty of life yet mature and settled down.
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3/29/2015 - Winevestor wrote: 89 Points
This is my last bottle and a good thing as this is on the way down. There is fruit (it was a fruit bomb after all), but it is going murky and the flavors are starting to go off. The tannins, which were never big, have now gone. Still managed to finish the bottle though!
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1/1/2015 - Tarpon222 wrote: 91 Points
Heavy duty Aussie Shiraz; high alcohol; blueberry
"syrup." Nice for a change
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1/1/2015 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Well aged and tasty!
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12/16/2014 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still opaque inky purple. No brown at the edges. Typical Marquis style, very big and full, definitely not for everyone. Big jammy shiraz aromas, showing some raisin and prunes. Hugely concentrated, fruit maybe starting to fade, also with some raisin notes. Tannin and alcohol are starting to dominate the fruit. Very hot finish. This wine is in the late maturity stage and should be enjoyed now.
Ric
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9/27/2014 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine continues to soften and improve. Still a powerhouse of flavor. I really think most people don't age these wines enough!
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8/4/2014 - rhanke wrote: 89 Points
time to drink up, slight signs of oxidation
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7/4/2014 - rmcnees wrote: 88 Points
While big, complex and concentrated, this '9' Shiraz has proven to be a wine to be consumed during its first 7-8 years of life as this eleven year old attests. This like others vintages held beyond ten years is showing its age as the intense fruit is giving way to a funkiness of non-fruit wood, leather and earth notes.
In their youth, they were big vibrant powerful wines with super rich, ripe luscious tongue-coating fruit sourced from McLaren and Padthaway in South Central Australia.
The 2003 Shiraz 9 at eleven years of age is still opaque inky purple-colored, full-bodied, complex, intensely concentrated tongue coating notes of super ripe currants, plum but the aging fruits are taking on notes of raisin and fig with tones of espresso roast, smoked meats and leather on the layer of mocha, burnt sugar with hints of anise and white pepper. It still has leathery texture on the lingering finish.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/07/marquis-philips-9-mclaren-vale-shiraz.html
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4/21/2014 - RR47 wrote: 87 Points
Brought to a gathering where a friend likes Australian wines. Dark red, nose is cassis and other dark fruit. Still alive, a bit hot, but better with time in the glass. Some secondary notes, but modest. Others loved it and it went quickly.
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11/26/2013 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 95 Points
Outstanding, better integrated than when young. Very drinkable now, should easily hold another 5 years.
Ric
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11/7/2013 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 95 Points
Typical Sarah and Sparky wine, still loaded with concentrated fruit, tannin in the background. Excellent and balanced, can easily last for another 5 years!
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7/31/2013 - thelostverse wrote:
This was beautiful upon opening, but after 30 minutes it turned into a syrupy mess. Drink soon, and drink fast.
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5/3/2013 - Adventr.us Likes this wine: 86 Points
Hmmm. I remember 4 or 5 years ago drinking the basic Marquis Philips offerings, and they were beautiful. They were just a bit fruit-bomby but that never bother me because they were totally delicious and immediately drinkable. In spite of the temptation to guzzle up on release, they also seemed to have the stuffing to fill out and bring on some nice secondary notes in time. Back then, if I remember right, the wine rags were even claiming these Aussies would defy conventional wisdom and reward substantial cellaring.
With that expectation and historical experience - I have to say I'm disappointed with this bottle. I mean, it's ok. But I really expected this "select" offering would offer a bigger/better version of the $12 slurpers I was loving in their youth.
Alas, no. After about 30 mins in glass, the heat is finally subsiding, but it still dominates the fruit. Maybe that's because the fruit is fading - showing none of the thick jammy blueberry/raspberry with a hint of black pepper I remember; instead just some muted, thinning cherries in the middle. It's drinkable, and even decent, but disappointing for sure. This has been properly cellared - but to no avail. I wish I would have popped this a few years ago.
Oh well, time to drink up the bold/brash Aussies and replace them with some long aging and more refined Brunellos and Barolos ....
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3/6/2013 - levinml wrote: 90 Points
Good and actually quite enjoyable first two nights, but third night under pump seemed grapey and medicinal and couldn't finish. Don't wait if you have any left.
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2/20/2013 - Edclr Likes this wine: 88 Points
Hard to believe I liked this wine. I bought it at a weak moment in my wine buying life, but just got around to drinking a bottle. Actually very tasty. Alcohol still dominate, but it's getting more mellow now. Very pleasant...a pizza or ribs wine.
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10/22/2012 - vino_Kaz wrote: 94 Points
Opulent vanillin oak, smooth, concentrated, exceptional Shiraz.
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8/22/2012 - Gclout0944 wrote: 85 Points
past its prime. some nose buthing to remember. the wine was not decanted. there was no need. Had typical shiraz fruity essences. I would rate passable but not great
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7/30/2012 - LCHammer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Chocolate and dark fruit. Great front, mid, and end. Great drinker by itself and Just enough tannin to hold up to a grilled steak. One of the better aged Aussies I've had in a while. Yummy. Why didn't I buy more?
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7/29/2012 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great bottle. Actually, really want to taste this again in about five years!
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7/15/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
Powerful big inky wine that is in its prime. Had with Memphis style baby back ribs and holds up to the spicy meat. Aussie style wines have fallen out of favor but if you can sit on wines such as this for a few (10) years they become exceptional.
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7/7/2012 - Winevestor wrote: 92 Points
Interesting how controversial this wine is. What I was surprised with is how well it is holding up. Not all of the early 2000 southern Aussi shiraz's are. You have to like this style; but this is an impeccable example of it. It is huge over-the-top alchohol (at least 16%) and fruit. However it is integrated and the fruit is hanging in there. Hot, red fruit and plums on the nose. Leather, integrated tannin and acid in the mouth. This is comfort food wine. They don't make wines like back in the early 2000s; especially these guys who are no more in this incarnation. A lovely wine to sit and drink and let it flow over you.
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6/4/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
Lots of leather and graphite. Needs to decant to blow off some of the alcohol and scorched earth. Turned into a very good wine.
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4/4/2012 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
CHOCOLATE, BLACK CHERRIES, AND BLACKBERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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4/4/2012 - MoreWinePlease wrote: 88 Points
Tasted from 375/screw capped bottle that was poured off last night. Big black/blue fruit nose. Heavy, sweet and tannic, an over the top style that I seldom enjoy any more unless it's balanced and delicious. This, after 9 years is no better than what you can get from many Aussie Shiraz's at under $15- $20, a few of which I'll be tasting over the next few weeks.
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3/24/2012 - rben_mvp wrote: 91 Points
This wine surprised me and probably not a wine for everyone. Big chocolate, coffee nose. Plummy fruit. Changed over time bringing on some mint. Actually a good after dinner sipper. It was almost like desert.
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1/21/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
Drinking very well. A tad of leather, still with massive fruit and mellowing alcohol.
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11/23/2011 - sumshark wrote: 91 Points
Drinking well at this point in time.
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10/1/2011 - markcvino wrote: 95 Points
Phenomenal transformation since the last bottle, which was frankly nearly undrinkable due to overwhelming alcohol. Presently, the alcohol has submerged and the wine was very pleasant. A dark purple color,with a huge nose of eucalyptus, vanilla, and herbs.
Dense bodied wine, with dark fruits, a long and pleasant finish.
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9/23/2011 - spectrumphoto wrote: 89 Points
Still large, powerful and full of life. No way this wine is nearing its end. Thre is a ton of dark fruit... Black Cherries, raspberries, currant, plums, cassis. It does show a touch hot and alcoholic for my taste but that burns off in 15 minutes for the most part. Mouthfeel is a little thinner than I would like but overall a great wine with hearty food. Alone it may be a bit too much.
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6/3/2011 - LikeABC wrote:
Jumped the shark:(. Hot, unbalanced, porty and tough to drink. The 02 I had last month was so much better... Have 3 more to check in on and I am not looking forward to it.
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4/12/2011 - BigSchmove wrote: 91 Points
Simply outstanding. Had a lot of body and fruit. The more a drank it the more complex it became. It was enjoyable bottle.
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3/23/2011 - Ex-Ray wrote: 96 Points
Intrigued by CMCARNES' comments about this and '03 Henry's Drive as flawed, I opened a bottle of '03 Shiraz 9 this evening. The only thing that may be flawed might be how the other bottles were stored or shipped, but my bottle is outstanding (and perfectly stored since buying it on release). Still very dark and opaque, with no brown edges; wonderful pronounced complex shiraz aromas; full-bodied flavors with excellent fruit, light tannin, slight heat from high alcohol, but a very long sweet oaky aftertaste. A wonderful combination of aromas and flavors that should hold for several more years (as their '98 Fox Creek Reserve is still doing in my cellar).
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3/23/2011 - Charlie Carnes Does not like this wine:
The way these are made, they just don't stand up to time very well. I am revising this tasting note. The wine is not flawed in a traditional sense. It doesn't have VA, Brett., heat spoilage, cork taint, etc. I think it tastes exactly like it is intended. With that said I literally cannot muster one swallow when I force the wine into my mouth. If one were to take everything that ruins a wine for my palate, high alcohol, hot flabby fruit, oak toasted shards, over-extraction, over-ripeness, and put it in a blender and mix it until it congeals, that would be this wine to me. My big question to myself is weather or not to flaw the wine or score it as a horrible wine that I believe is inherently flawed, but that some people really like. I have said in the past that many people like these wines and I have tried to stop being harsh about the wine and just let things go. The fact is, I was cleaning out my cellar last night and saw a couple from this genre, took a chance and pulled about 5 or 6 corks, maybe hoping for a miracle.
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3/13/2011 - winemo wrote: 86 Points
Popped and poured. Didn't care for this wine. Over the top spicy. It's the last Austalian Shiraz in my cellar and now I remember why.
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2/13/2011 - sma wrote: 93 Points
A big massive wine that stained the glass inky black. A wonderful earthy, red fruit nose. Very smooth mouthful of red fruit-raspberry and black cherry with nice pepper/spice. Bottle was opened about an hour bfore pouring and spent 15 minutes in glass before tasting. Wonderful depth. No signs of aging in this wine. Tasted Mollydooker "Boxer" at the same time and there was no comparison. This was the winner in my mind.
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2/11/2011 - peeks13 wrote: 92 Points
Consumed after Schaefers 2011 Warehouse Sale; yes, it is big and rich but without being too candied or syrupy and it is working well - no oak or alcohol (although it's there) getting in the way. It's the Australian shiraz version of Clio...you are gonna get what you expected. Some of the tasting notes surprise me, almost as though people had no idea of the nature/history of this wine, "oh no, someone substituted #9 for my sauvignon blanc." Bash "The Boxer" for the glycerine taste and being out of balance, but not here.
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2/3/2011 - knlowery wrote: 93 Points
great big australia shiraz. I purchase Mollydooker now which is Sparky Marquis' own wine. He doesn't make wine for M/P any longer
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1/23/2011 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
First bottle in over three years. Still no signs of age in the glass - very dark purple. Nose and palate dominated by brown sugar and caramel.
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12/1/2010 - Colia wrote: 87 Points
The mouthfeel is surprisingly thin for the pedigree. Blueberries and peppercorn. Medium finish
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11/5/2010 - guitonit wrote:
Starting to get past it's prime. Start drinking now!!
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9/30/2010 - vcerf wrote: 95 Points
opened 9/25/2010. Needed very little breathing - we allowed an hour. Extraordinary dark fruits, rich, lush. lovely rich bouquet. Remained thoroughly delicious for at least 24 hours. We have about a case left. yum.
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6/9/2010 - cpdwines wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding Shiraz that didn't dissapoint. One hour of decanting was perfect. Been drinking MollyDooker's, which are great wines, but his exceeded anything in the $25 range. One more left, and it's a keeper...
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5/9/2010 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
My last of these and the best. Very nice sbottle of shiriaz.
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4/24/2010 - rocknroller wrote: 86 Points
Aussie Shiraz Wines at Minneapolis Wine Club (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): This wine was a bit of an enigma. Well rated and respected in general, but this bottle showed very poorly to our group. The 16% alcohol was overwhelming on the nose and created enough heat on the palate to be too distracting. The were some good elements to the wine with nice big black fruit on the palate. and a good spice/pepper quality. But this wine is out of balance at least and not really my style.
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4/24/2010 - Mattshank wrote: 84 Points
Minneapolis Wine Club 4/24/10 ~ Aussie Shiraz at Kevin's: Nose: Coffee and some toffee with some alcohol. Palate: Fire in the hole!! Big alcohol burn and really no fruit. If you're camping this could replace a Sterno can to cook your food. The nose was actually not that bad. If not for the nose this would not make 80 points for me. Perhaps this bottle was not representative.
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4/24/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 87 Points
Aussie Shiraz Wines at Kevin's; 4/24/2010-4/25/2010 (Minneapolis): Heat on the nose!!! Charcoal, spice box and floral notes across the board. I will sample this day 2 and 3 and see if it improves but at 16% alcohol it shows really poorly.
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4/20/2010 - phenricsson wrote: 92 Points
Still drinking great. Superb value. Fresh, well balanced, good aftertaste.
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4/11/2010 - ogres3 wrote:
Coming into its prime. Fruit is becoming integrated, still needs to decant, has the glycerine smoothness of Sparky and Sarah. An aussie wine without the overwhelming alcohol.
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3/30/2010 - wineismylife wrote: 89 Points
WIML89
Much better than the previous bottle. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of licorice, boysenberry, black berries and cherries that carries through to the palate. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink now. In a good place.
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3/28/2010 - MarkC Likes this wine: 90 Points
Despite not being a huge fan of Aussies, I like this one. Initially it was a bit overwhelming, but with 15 minutes of air it settled down. Plenty of fruit, along with cocoa and coffee elements, decent tannins, reasonably long finish. The burnt/roasted cherry that I often get was missing (thankfully), but there was still some dark red/black cherry, and warm, toasty notes.
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12/12/2009 - GreenDrazi wrote: 93 Points
Sweet, luscious caremel and chocolate dominate along with some bacon fat and white pepper.
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11/27/2009 - MDRwinos wrote: 87 Points
Still a very big wine. Opened 8 hours early, decanted 4 hours later. Somewhat overwhelmed by its size. hard to say when would be ideal at this point in its lifespan.
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10/9/2009 - t4drman wrote: 90 Points
While an over the top Aussie fruit bomb made only the way Sarah and Sparky can do it, there was still pleasure taken from consuming this wine. It displays a fine nose and drinking it against some hearty winter food will put this wine in its place. Not for the weak of heart.
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9/28/2009 - Moorese wrote: flawed
Blind on the nose, I'd guess an 03 Northern Rhone as it reminds me of some recent 03 Cornas. You can smell the ripeness - not exactly pruney, but close, with wild notes of kippered beef, wet fur, brown sugar, cigar smoke and road tar. Completely over the top, and coming from me that says a great deal. Dense and uncomfortably rich fruit with a lavish, mammoth amount of oak, plenty of unresolved tannins, and lots of booze. The tannins suggest that it will age, but given the amount that I suspect are from wood, the wincingly intense fruit, and the booze, I'm unclear as to what this may turn into. The color is a dark purple with NO signs of age. Oily, thick, and chewy. As odd as it may sound, I think the bottle is correct with some components that are indicative of a well-made wine; but in context and in the aggregate, the results are atrocious. Capped and set aside. (NR)
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8/6/2009 - magutowski wrote: 92 Points
Great McLauren Vale Shiraz. Big Fruit Bomb with a spicy mid-palet and long finish. Reminds me of MollyDooker's Boxer but with a bit more oak and complexity.
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7/23/2009 - ikkaariainen wrote: 92 Points
A really good, ripe, very concentrated yet very smooth great Aussie shiraz enjoyed earlier this month at the monthly Hickory Wine Club wine tasting as part of a flight of higher end Australian shirazs. I liked this one better then the '02 in the blinded tasting. Aerated in the glass for about two hours prior to consumption. Dark purple, big yet very smooth and in a great drinking window right now. Slightly sweet nose with cedar, eucalyptus and spice along with black stone fruit. Primary flavors included dark fruit, black currant, some mocha and caramel as well as tar and black pepper on the finish. Very good, definitely recommend this wine, not an unreasonable QPR at this price range.
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7/16/2009 - BonnieM wrote:
As several others have said: big fruit, lots of flavor. We did give this some air and served it slightly chilled. The alcohol was not intrusive, nor was the oak. Most of the drinkers really liked this wine.
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6/26/2009 - ogres3 wrote:
Big and bold, lots of fruit, getting better
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6/9/2009 - KevinS wrote: 92 Points
Still going strong, if you like this style -- ripe, complex and hot.
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3/30/2009 - Winstub wrote: 87 Points
Decent drinking wine, very hot on the finish. Took a couple hours for the band-aid to blow off. Had some nice fruit but because of that high alcohol, the balance was off. Would recommend decanting and then serving at closer to cellar temp than room temp to help dissipate some of that alcohol.
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3/10/2009 - beaver wrote: 94 Points
excellent
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12/13/2008 - enosnob wrote: 93 Points
12/12/08: Dark opaque purple color with a nose of earth, tar, pepper, dark berries, cherry, oak and vanilla. The flavors are very forward with dark and red fruit, black and white pepper, mocha, coffe and meat. This is a full bodied wine with excellent body and structure with soft tannin and good acidity. The finish is long with eartlhy, spicy, tannic notes.
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12/6/2008 - ogres3 wrote:
wife a big fan. not subtle, but good mix of fruit. think it's getting better with age
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11/20/2008 - ilm-pape wrote: 92 Points
Strong nose of American Oak but the dark berries are certainly there too. Like others have noted, fruit bomb but with the high alcohol and obvious oak it works. Would be a definite "party pleaser". If you have issues with American Oak, avoid this one -- not me, as you can see by my 92 points.
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11/15/2008 - alliesteve wrote: 91 Points
Not quite the fruit bomb it was a year or two ago, but still lots of dark berries on the nose as well as some pepper. Long finish that went really well with a NY strip we had.
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9/27/2008 - sakemakibug wrote: 82 Points
hot plums
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7/20/2008 - wineislife wrote: 92 Points
Excuse me as I overcome my disapointment to learn (after just hopping onto Cellar Tracker) that I just had my only bottle of this decadent fruit bomb. I was sure I was sitting on a couple more and could take what I learned and enjoy the next ones with a bit more open bottle time, because this got better and better. While I was happy to run this over to fellow Mollydooker fans (made in the same style by Sparky Marquis) I admittedly would have enjoyed saving it all for MYSELF. The nose was a nice combo of bacon fat and brown sugar but it tooks some time for the bouquet to develop. My friends description of the wine "wow this is really good" says it all. It had a lengthy finish of caramel.
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7/19/2008 - bwaverley wrote: 91 Points
THe only attribute that keeps this wine from the mid 90's is balance. It really is a classic Aussie fruit bomb, but a very good Aussie fruit bomb! Nose hits you with dark fruits (cherries and blue berries), vanilla, subtle mocha and a bit of eucolyptus. THe finish reinforces the fruit (almost entirely) and lasts a solid 30-40 seconds. This can cellar another five years.
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5/25/2008 - Topper wrote: 85 Points
strong black fruit shiraz profile with a hint of orange (my daughter said it reminded her of orange julius). Not bad, but not completely in harmony. Definitely not my favorite shiraz.
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5/20/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 86 Points
WIML86,PURPLE88
Tasted May 20, 2008
16% alcohol. Opened and served immediately. Dark purple color in the glass, slightly dusty looking throughout with visible sediment. Nose of smoke, black cherries, meat and a hint of camphor. Flavors of black currants, plums, berries and bitters on the finish. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to full body. Unfortunately the alcohol is completely out of whack in this wine so 3-4 points come off just for that. Drink or hold. Decant for sediment next time and give it just a tiny bit of air before serving.
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3/5/2008 - gesusser wrote: 91 Points
broke the cork, but strained & decanted...delicious...alcohol shows its presence, but along with spice & berries it made a fine bottle; it was gone within the hour
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2/24/2008 - JerryVikki wrote: 88 Points
Good, smooth shiraz. Good effort by Sparky Marquis
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2/4/2008 - sumshark wrote: 89 Points
Big wine, but out of balance, high acidity detracts from the finish.
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12/28/2007 - Vinacull wrote: 91 Points
Cellared with care along with the other 9's, this was the last '03 and I'm glad I opened it. Bottle fine and cork intact, typical MP color black and opaque and throwing sediment. Nose was like previous: "sweet" blackberry cobbler along with vanilla and other spices including pepper, plus tar, earth, and oak. Noted within first half hour that the blackberry/blueberry fruit is a bit less vibrant than in the past, and spouse noticed it too. This became apparent over the next 3 hours, where fruit was mildly fading, earth turned to dirt, and the tar, dark chocolate, and pepper were more pronounced through the midpalate and finish. Although I normally love these components, they made this wine more awkward and less characteristic of the fruit bomb we know it is. Overall still quite enjoyable and there are soft tannins that may carry this wine reasonably for another 1-2 years. As the calendar ticks I do not see it getting more interesting, only less fruity.
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12/21/2007 - dsimmons wrote: 90 Points
Very nice Shriaz. Not a lot of change from several years ago
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12/10/2007 - ken-yyz wrote: 91 Points
Exactly what you'd expect. Ripe, lush, creamy, velvety - almost like a liquid blueberry pie and a complete crowd pleaser for the casual wine drinkers at dinner last night.
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12/7/2007 - Winevestor wrote: 90 Points
Like drinking hard fruit punch. Lots of oak, lots of fruit. Easy drinking.
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11/26/2007 - glg wrote: 91 Points
Fit the bill for me tonight. Very dark, intense, sweet syrah with a very long finish. I'd gladly drink again.
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11/21/2007 - tcfishler wrote: 90 Points
The usual Marquis profile again here, but much, much better balanced than its stablemate Cabernet S2 in this vintage.
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11/17/2007 - Mark wrote: 90 Points
No tasting notes recorded. Big, chock full of rich concentrated dark fruit. Very rich, jammy and coating. Equally compelling the second day.
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11/9/2007 - thebonnydooner wrote: 86 Points
Decanted - heavy sediment. This is a very thick and super ripe wine. Nose is very reduced, notes of treacle, boysenberry jam. Thick and ripe blackberry and currant fruit, very soft tannins, decent currant acidity, but slightly tart salty streak on the finish. Glad i opened this to have a glass after dinner, rather than with it. Cannot think of many foods this would pair with. While full of flavour this is not really for drinking - taken by the teaspoon would be plenty. Not my style.
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10/1/2007 - caldwell wrote:
This took a couple of hours to open up, but was very nice once it did. Sort of mediciney until it came around.
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9/27/2007 - bwaverley wrote: 94 Points
Still a very nice bottle of wine. IT should age well for another three years. Heavy sediment.
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5/18/2007 - the godfather wrote: 75 Points
tastes like pepper syrup
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4/29/2007 - stevewine wrote:
great stuff
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4/27/2007 - thelostverse wrote: 94 Points
Opened and double decanted. Inky dark purple color opaque throughout. Initial nose of blackberry and other dark fruits. Palate slams you with blueberry, brown sugar and caramel. I did not detect any heat that others have mentioned. Long finish with decent balance. This will not fool anyone into thinking old-world style, but it delivers exactly what I expect from an MP Shiraz.
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3/10/2007 - TABauer wrote: 95 Points
Love this Shiraz. Just overflowing with flavor!!!
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2/24/2007 - cvvhrn wrote: 84 Points
I have always had mixed feeling about Marquis Philips. On one hand many of thier wines are bursting with that fruit forward new world taste, but they seem hell bent on taking thier alcohol content as high as they can. This on sports a whopping 16% and sometimes I think that it can get in the way of enjoying the wine. That being said, It had hints of earth and mushroom. On the palate it was a bit muted at first but did get a bit better as the night wore on with hints of berries and a faint anise taste. The alcohol was apparent on the intial taste and dominated the finish overriding just about everything else. Retasted on 3/29/07 with consistent notes. Had several people over and all agreed that the alcohol content got in the way of enjoying the wine
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2/24/2007 - winewood wrote: 94 Points
Had this wine two years ago. Summer of 2005. Three of us were coming back from a fishing trip in Buras, Louisiana. Designated driver was behind the wheel. Stopped at Dollar store and got 2 long stem wine glasses. My friend and I tried the wine on the way back home to Alabama I was unimpressed. Later after the wine had been opened for 2 days I poured a glass and went downstairs to watch a dvd. The wine stayed in the glass for about 2 hours. Wow, the wine knocked my socks off. Smooth and mellow. Fruit forward and despite the alcohol, no excessive heat. I still have 6 bottles of the stuff left. The 2002 was even better. Only one bottle of it left. Anyone know where I can get some of the 2002 at $65 or less.
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2/1/2007 - E wrote: 93 Points
This was one of those unexpected bottles that didn't show up on cellartracker...looking for something big to go with the cold (for the Southeast evening) today....this was a great big pleasant surprise....no heat from the 16% etoh, with prominent eucalyptus notes you get with a thackrey orion....a beauty of a wine at this point...if you have in your cellar, pull one and give it a try....the aussiesl do shiraz awfully well....
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1/24/2007 - dannyk8232 wrote: 90 Points
Wow. Big and tasty. Sweet nose with hints of spice and meat. Palate is a bit daunting, with huge bursts of flavor of dark fruits. Finish a bit too sweet, almost like molasses. A great shiraz, though. For the money there are a couple of better candidates IMO, but content nonetheless.
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1/22/2007 - maduro wrote: 89 Points
40(Base)+5(Color)+4(Body)+16(Nose)+17(Palette)+7(Finish)=89
Big dark fruit, high alcohol but not overpowering
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1/16/2007 - ehelle wrote: 91 Points
Monstrously big, with tons of vanilla and dark fruit. High alc is well integrated. Long (no hot) finish. Didn't go well as a last-minute replacement for a corked pinot noir. Recommended
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1/14/2007 - sumshark wrote: 87 Points
Disjointed at this tasting.
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1/4/2007 - merschel wrote:
Woo-hoo. This stuff is as serious as ever. I think it was a little warm and so it just had a little too much alcohol and heat for me as we worked our way through dinner and the bottle. Still impressively potent stuff though and fun to drink.
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11/21/2006 - Eric wrote:
Kavana Wine Tasting: Varietals around the world (Seattle, WA): This has integrated its copious alcohol well over the past couple of years. Mint and eucalypt dance amidst tar, vanilla cookie along with oodles of smoky black fruit. The palate is enormous, a bit sweet, yet buffered by wave after wave of tarry, powerful black fruit, vanillin, and licorice. Hard not to be impressed with the sheer girth of this stuff. Not what I like to drink but I would pour it to make guests swoon at any BBQ.
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11/17/2006 - Topper wrote: 91 Points
This is starting to turn the corner, becoming rich and harmonious. I'll start to accelerate my rate of drinking these and will want to finish them up in another couple of years.
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11/16/2006 - Bob Fyke wrote: 85 Points
Big super ripe dark fruit, grilled meat and dark chocolate. A little overpowering.
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11/15/2006 - Cheryl wrote:
I liked this, less big than most shirazes. Out of place at the Fairway dinner. Will try again on its own or with other shiraz.
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10/17/2006 - Rex66 wrote: 92 Points
Big jammy blackberry and vanilla on the palate. Smooth tannins, spicy anise note on the finish.
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9/16/2006 - ksmith wrote: 90 Points
Dark garnet, almost opaque, pronounced legs on the glass. Smoky meat, oil and fruit (think butcher shop!) Cherries, dark fruit, meat and tar on the palate. Some bitterness ont he finish. An enormous wine, almost a caricature of a wine. Too big for my taste. Opened thois as dinner, not for dinner. Can't think of it as an accompaniment.
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8/25/2006 - RSheldon wrote: 94 Points
The heat is nearly gone. All the wonderful dark powerful balck and blue fruit, but with a more refined (relitively) mouthfeel.
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7/14/2006 - MarkC wrote: 94 Points
Definitely a Marquis Philips wine, but with more restraint and balance. Intensely dark in the glass, nearly opaque, with a huge nose of black fruit and meat. On the palate this is oily, meaty, and laced with cherries, kirsch, and hints of tar. I think this will improve over time, but it's quite tasty now.
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7/4/2006 - cmr wrote: 90 Points
Rich dark blackberry fruit and hints of chocolate on the palate. Big fruit forward aussie shiraz for lovers of the style.
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7/1/2006 - DesMarteau wrote: 93 Points
Really shows itself after a day or so. layers of vanilla, fruit, spice. Concetrated, not extracted. Good balance. Nice tarlike thick tannic backbone that supports the fruit well. Good wine....suprised by the balance given so many aussies I've had lately don't have it.
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5/30/2006 - nvandyk wrote: flawed
Corked.
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4/22/2006 - dougsmith wrote: 93 Points
Deep ruby. Nose of ripe black fruits (plum), spice, coconut. On the palate it is thick and silky, with notes of sweet fruit and a long finish; huge extraction. Already there are a lot of lees. This is sort of like a Guinness Stout of a wine, it feels like a meal in itself.
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4/14/2006 - TomH wrote: 75 Points
Down the drain - love Integrity, my bottles of 9 though are pure chocolate and fire, with not enough fruit to back it up.
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3/26/2006 - burningstarIV wrote: 89 Points
Dark garnet color, from the core to the edge of rim. Mellow, sweet nose of coconut, red raspberries, blackberries and toasty oak. Slightly sweet fruit coats the palate; tannins are mellow through the mid-palate but gain authority on the back and dominate the finish. If this evens out and the fruit survives the toasty oak, the medium acidity may allow it to emerge as a nice, aged wine. 50+5+11+17+6=89
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3/3/2006 - psmith wrote: 82 Points
Spiced vanilla and meaty dark fruits. Jammy and burnt-tasting which turns bitter and flabby on the finish, which doesn't come close to supporting the fruit here. A strange pickled ginger character. Not undrinkable, but heavy and tiring.
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2/25/2006 - E wrote: 92 Points
Chocolate, intense, whoa 16% etoh, give it a little time to breathe....my one and only bottle
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2/18/2006 - merschel wrote: 89 Points
Big nose with nice fruit. Slight vanilla oak. Spices and herbs. Still a little tannic for my liking. I had this after an '04 Godolphin and an '04 GAM and it had a nice nose, but the mouth was a little disappointing. Maybe without those two overpowering wines before this, it might have shown a little better. I'm convinced order is important with these monstrous Aussies.
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2/18/2006 - WStucker wrote: 92 Points
Deep, dark, open and rippin' right now. Wife hated it, which means I loved it! Probably has 8+ years left on it, got better and better in the decantur. Decanted one hour before drinking and drank over 5 hours.
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1/21/2006 - hcampana wrote: 91 Points
Had this with Pizza at home. Dark purple with a gorgeuous nose of anise, blueberry muffin and caramel. In the mouth, it is full bodied, with very concentrated fruit flavors,and a slightly hot finish which doesn't surprise me as the wine has a reported 16% alcohol. I can easily understand why some people may think it is "too mcuh". I like it.
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11/13/2005 - Cirrhotic wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured. Black raspberry and usual aussie fruit forward style. Tannins at first unpleasant and gravely. Disjointed overall. Next day, smoothed out considerably. Fruit still very prominent with a cough syrup like quality (not as bad as that may sound, but not my thing), tannins mellowed and smooth. I'd decant this for a bit.
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10/22/2005 - jmcmchi wrote: 90 Points
Typical style - fruit bomb with an intriguing hint of aniseed. Give it three years
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10/2/2005 - pkwoods wrote: 88 Points
Dark color. Very complex nose...Roasted meats, vanilla, spices were all very obvious...so strong in fact that I felt they masked the fruit. This wine didn't suit my palate very well. Just like the nose, the taste was very complex...but I just didn't find it very enjoyable (not objectionable--I just didn't look forward to the next sip). Decent finish. A well made wine that didn't align with my taste.
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5/12/2005 - jwwinec wrote: 91 Points
This is an intense, in-your-face wine. Loads of fruit are well matched by richly-textured coffee notes. It explodes on the pallette with a long finish. I also get a lot of oak; this seems like it could integrate with some cellar time. Right now it all seems a bit dissonant, further indicating the need for some more time.
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5/12/2005 - texaswino wrote: 91 Points
Decided to open one of these. Last tasted last year. It has improved since then but it still doesn't match the 01 or 02 for flavor or intensity. Big intensity and fruitiness with a little heat from the alcohol. I think some more time will help this wine. Next bottle about 9-12 months from now I think.
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5/9/2005 - Lou Briccant wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. Nose of blueberries, vanilla, anise and mint. Very dark garnet color. On the palate; blueberries, blackberries and some pepper. Moderate, well intergrated tannins. Short to medium finish with a salty, not peppery taste. The 16% alcohol wasn't that noticeable. I'm sure this will get better with more bottle age, but I still prefer the Laughing Magpie. 91pts.
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5/6/2005 - texaswinelover wrote:
Huge ripe dark fruit with delicious complexity. A little gamy. Too much alcohol for my taste. Decent balance but definitely feels alcoholic. 16% alcohol. Will save the rest of my bottles to see if alcohol integrates better in a few years.
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4/21/2005 - Vino Me wrote: 90 Points
My notes are about the same as before. I would not buy this wine for myself. It is not my style. Nothing wrong with the way it is made though. A structurally sound wine. I would rate it slightly higher this time. 89-90 points. Others will rate it even higher.
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4/14/2005 - lewisrise wrote: 90 Points
Good bouquet, raspberry and pepper with short finish. Not as good as I was expecting. Not as fruity as I would like
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4/4/2005 - socidelvino wrote:
Tasted at Las Canarias at La Mansion in San Antonio
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3/22/2005 - nvandyk wrote: 92 Points
May have been slightly exuberant with the previous bottle I had...this is a terrific wine, no doubt, but it's not a 95-point wine. There's a nice balance between the fruit and a distinct crushed black pepper finish. A great wine, but I do prefer the '01 and '02.
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3/18/2005 - DaveF wrote: flawed
Corked. Really bad.
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3/11/2005 - decaturwinedude wrote: 92 Points
This present with a bit more restraint than previous 9s. Nose dominated by blueberry, brown sugar and mint. The palate is lush and full. Somewhat abbreviated finish. This 9 is not as searing as past vintages, and that is a good thing. Actually, reminds me of why I liked the regualr MP shiraz when the '01 first hit.
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3/3/2005 - nvandyk wrote: 95 Points
My goodness, what a terrific wine. This is the 3rd bottle of the '03 that I've had and it is clearly getting better with age. The bouquet is the most overwhelmingly thick blackberry jam...incredible concentration of fruit. It's a bit less hedonistic than the '02 or '01...there's more earth and spice in here along with the fruit. I'd give it a good half hour after opening...everything seems to even out. This is a superlative effort for the price.
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2/14/2005 - dougsmith wrote: 93 Points
A hedonistic wine like this deserves to be drunk on Valentine's Day.
Last time I tasted this wine I only had a few sips. This time I got to share a bottle and spend some time with it.
I got a lot of floral notes on the nose -- violets, ripe fruit, tar, even a bit of dill. The fragrance is intense. The tannins are quite mild, and although there isn't a lot of acid, I didn't find the wine unacceptably flabby. The alcohol is prodigious (16%), but that doesn't come across on the nose or the palate. Still, it's clearly a wine to take care with.
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1/21/2005 - dougsmith wrote: 93 Points
What a knockout! This is an in-your-face Aussie, with a nose of violets and black fruits, and mint, tar and more fruit on the palate. Yeah it's young, yeah it's not very nuanced, but it's definitely a wine I'd like to have again.
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1/5/2005 - AndrewH wrote: 91 Points
Intense, dark red color. Aromas of jam and vanilla. Jammy sweet with nuances of blackberry, blueberry and I think eucalyptus. Thick in the mouth and no signs of alcoholic heat despite the 16% level. Good shiraz, but for me, not worth the tariff. Had with roasted chicken.
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12/18/2004 - dsimmons wrote: 90 Points
Tasted my first of this wine sipping with friends. The wine had a very dark red color and a pleasant fruity nose. The wine was very fruit forward, jammy, almost sweet with some mild tannin in the finnish. I can understand why this can be a love it or hate it type of wine. For me, I think I will wait a while before I try another to see how the wine develops.
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11/27/2004 - RAD wrote: 95 Points
Flamboyant in a good way--moreso that previous tastings of this vintage, and more aligned with 2002 and 2001 in the ostentatiousness department. Deep, inky garnet color. Fragrant, complex nose exhibits syrah typicity with its game notes, along with copious blackberry, vanilla, anise, tar, and oak. Great concentration and extract, with mouthcoating, jammy fruit and a white pepper finish. Good structure. Tasted after the Glaymond Landrace, and superior in complexity, fruitiness, and flamboyance on the nose and palate. Alcohol 16.0%. $39.99 at The Wine And Cheese Shop in Highlands.
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11/12/2004 - juggernt wrote: 90 Points
A deep, dark red color. Lots of fruit and vanilla on the nose. Huge blackberry jam on the palette, though a bit tight even after being open an hour. Very good, still needs time in the bottle. I'll open the next one in 2006 or so.
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11/4/2004 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($40) Blind Red Hot and Blue Wines: Blind 2 - Subdued nose. Slightly floral…then vanilla. Aussie? Touch of sour caramel. We made comparisons to the S9, but didn't think this had the concentration to be it. Surprisingly disappointing.
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10/21/2004 - Vino Me wrote: 88 Points
have had each of the prior 2 vintages of this wine and the 2003 is on par with each of them. It is a hube behemoth of a wine. We drank it over a 44 hour period (we took it to dinner one night and recorked it when we did not finish it). Carmel, cocoa, blackberry and pepper notes. I can't say that this wine is really my style and I think Pinot Envy felt the same. The 16% alcohol was not a problem; but, it lacked the subtlety and nuance that I prefer. Others will undoubtedly rate this higher. 88 points.
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10/18/2004 - RAD wrote: 94 Points
Deep, dark blood red. Complex nose shows blackberry, blueberry, tar, and licorice notes. This wine is very light on its feet for such a strong and powerful wine. Incredible. On the palate, a narrow, laser-like focus of blackberry and tar suggests that this wine will open with time. Finishes with white pepper notes and very fine tannins. Builds upon the '02 and '01--much more seamless and sophisticated than prior vintages; subtle lack of expected ostentatiousness knocks a point or two off of my previous experiences with other vintages of this wine. $39.99 at the wine shop in Highlands.
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10/16/2004 - jt wrote: 93 Points
Blackberry, tar, vanilla, toasted meat. This is an excellent bottle of ewine. I love drinking this while I cook my jambalaya for a party/charity contest tonight. I may be getting some flavor profile from my cooking, buit clearly this is a delicious wine. Yummy. I look forward to those other two bottles. I am definitely tempted to get a few more, since I saw it in the store today as I was buying ingreedients for the jambalaya.
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10/6/2004 - Eric wrote: 92 Points
An expressive nose of mint, blueberry pie, roasted blackberry, road tar, and vanilla wafts from the glass. On the palate this is silky and lush with some tannin hiding beneath a huge wall of ripe, black fruit. Unlike this 2002's, this is already pretty well defined and shows both savory and sweet flavors with a peppery mid-palate and a saline quality. The MP 9 has consistently been my favorite MP, and this 2003 is a nice reminder of that. Lighter in weight and more restrained than the searing-hot 2002's, this is already enjoyable with a steak and a long evening. Well done!
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9/21/2004 - RSheldon wrote: 94 Points
The 2003 MP Shiraz 9 exhibits a ridiculous and nearly obscene level of black & blue fruit. This is an impenetrable deep purple concoction exhibiting a rich, thick, visceral liquid. Full throttle, no heat. Three [five even?] more years should yield a kinder, gentler experience [94+]. Probably the best bargain so far for the 2003 vintage. If the 9 is this wonderful, where will the Integrity register?
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7/1/2004 - caldwell wrote:
This doesn't pull any punches - vivid purple Marquis shiraz. This needed three hours to open, but was really singing for the style - quite nice if this is what you wanted in wine. The fact that it needed three hours to open suggests that it will get bet
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6/8/2004 - Terry wrote:
I purchased three of these recently at just under $30, with the discount. Given favorable reviews as to the "balance" achieved in '03 - as opposed to prior vintages - I decided to kill a baby in the name of curiosity and perhaps with designs to purchase a few more. This wine is just about as rich a wine as I've had. It seems to have more than its share of everything, yet is so young and primary I really have little ability to evaluate it's potential. But, despite a label that boasts 16% alcohol, the wine does not seem "hot" (as did the '02 Sarah's Blend and particularly the '02 Shiraz I drank young last year about this time), and instead is pure intense, rich, and concentrated fruit at this stage, with what I consider that unique MP flavor. How can these wines be properly evaluated so young? I dunno. But despite this concern, I expect I will be buying more of this at the price, as I'm willing to gamble that with some age this wine will develop some secondary characteristics and be truly quite interesting.
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