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Marquis Phillips, Australia

Since the initial release of these wines in the summer of 2002 they have become some of the most sought after wines in the under $20 from Australia. The Roogle wines have sold out in record time the last two years, and our favorite wine in the line-up again this year is the Sarah’s Blend. Australia has experienced four outstanding vintages in a row with the 2001, 2002, 2003 and the newly released 2004 vintage wines that are now arriving into the market. This summer I made my first journey to the land of Oz and visited almost every major wine region of South Eastern Australia starting in Adelaide and working my way to Melbourne visiting the following wine producing regions: Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills, Limestone Coast zone, Padthaway, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, & Riverland.

I have never tasted so many great wines, and met so many interest people as in the two weeks that I spent in Australia, not to mention all the Coopers beer that we consumed. The Roogle wines are made from purchased fruit with the bulk of the juice coming from select vineyard sites in Padthaway, McLarenVale and Middleton SA South Australia. These wines go through extensive oak treatment, some of the wines will see as many as 15 different types of oak! And although the relationship between Sarah and Sparky Marquis and Dan Phillips is over the style of these wines will not change as it is Dan Phillips has always been the driving force behind these full throttle fruit bombs. We will have more dirt on this story as it develops but what we have heard is that Dan has purchased the rights to the name and that the fruit source for these wines has not changed and you can bet that Dan’s good friend Chris Ringland will be consulting on the winemaking for these wines in the future.

Robert Parker JR on Marquis Phillips “Marquis Philips is the most exciting wine project to emerge from Australia, and perhaps the New World, in the last year. Run, don't walk to a client of The Grateful Palate and secure as much as you can of these wines. This must be the most exciting development that has occurred in the Southern Hemisphere over the last several years. Marquis Philips is a partnership between highly talented winemakers Sarah and Sparky Marquis and their American importer, Dan Philips (of The Grateful Palate). ... probably for the price, the greatest red wine values in existence ... anywhere!” The Wine Advocate #143 October ‘02

A bit about the Marquis and the Phillips
Marquis Philips is a collaboration between Australian winemakers Sarah and Sparky Marquis and USA importer Dan Philips to produce exceptional wines. Sparky and Sarah Marquis were the winemakers at Fox Creek when they met U.S. importer Dan Philips. The Marquises left to become consulting winemakers as soon as Fox Creek expanded. Philips worked with them on a number of projects, including Henry Drive, Parsons Flat, and most recently Shirvington, another standout new wine from McLaren Vale.

The wines are crafted to show strong varietal definition on the nose and to have a palate structure with a distinctive hallmark of fruit length, ripe fine grain tannins and integrated balance of fruit weight, alcohol, acid and tannins. The wines are styled so that they can be consumed for both the present and also to be able to mature into the future, they will always, both young and aged, show these balanced rich fruit characteristics throughout the palate. The mythological creature appearing on the front label is the Roogle (a kanagroo/eagle) representing the lasting friendship and the shared destiny that link Australia and the US. The philosophy behind Marquis Phillips wines is to develop rich fruit depth, structure and distinctive varietal characteristics at an everyday drinking prices.

2004 Marquis Phillips, Sarah’s Blend, South Australia
List $18 Sale $15.84 Case $184
Wine Watch Review:
This has been my favorite wine from this line-up the last few years. The Shiraz has been the most sought after because of its sheer hedonistic appeal, but I have found that the Sarah’s blend is every bit as satisfying and displays a more balanced attack on the palate. This wine is just oozing with dark berry fruit, toasty oak nuances, dark chocolate and fresh ground coffee. Finishes with good balance and length and drinks better the second day! Finish35+ EXCELLENT

2004 Marquis Phillips, Shiraz, South Australia
List $18 Sale $15.84 Case $184
Wine Watch Review:
This is the biggest in terms of size and sheer weight on the palate, it exhibits notes of blackberry liquor mixed with hints of black licorice toasty oak spice and dark chocolate on the nose. Full flavored on the tongue with excellent intensity of fruit, a well balanced effort despite its size and drinking surprisingly well even at this young stage in its life, we recommend decantering this wine for an hour if you are going to finish the bottle on the night you open it. VERY GOOD + 2004 Marquis Phillips, Cabernet Sauvignon , South Australia
List $18 Sale $15.84 Case $184
Wine Watch Review:
Classic cabernet nose of creme de cassis, licorice, and spice. Not quite as big as the other two wines in size, but still has excellent concentration of fruit and toasty oak spice lingering through the finish. A fairly complex Cabernet Sauvignon at this price very high on the immediate gratification scale, ripe and round tannins on the finish. Finish 35+ VERY GOOD