Your allocation of the 2006 "R" Winery's (Marquis Philips) "9" "95"
Point (Parker) along with the "92" point Shiraz and the "91" point
"Sarah's Blend" for $370.00. On the Ol' Parkerization scale (that I
just made up), that comes out to an average of $3.87/point making this
one of the highest rated/least expensive boxes of the NEW YEAR (should
you be counting).
Why is it that number "9" (nine) seems to play such a prominent role
in the periphery of societal consciousness? Starting with the average
human gestation period to John Lennon's "#9 Dream" to LaVey's "Number
of Satan"...throw in the Motzkin, Dante's "9 Circles of Hell", the
number of planets in our solar system (until Pluto got uppity), add
the judges of the Supreme Court and Wally Cleaver's locker number or
the numerical baseball position (right field, where I always ended up)
and you'll see that the ennead (9 of anything) is always hanging
around like melody in your head that you can never really purge.
And then there's the Marquis Philips "9"...a wine which would be
immediately banished to Dante's vision should it be true that "the
meek shall inherit the earth". This is not a red for the feint of
heart or the weak of will. Alongside this mother, wines of similar
nature would leap out the nearest window knowing they'd be too weak to
defend themselves.
Case in point...
Last year a friend of mine asked me to assemble a case of "really good
reds" (his cost request was very generous) for a dinner he was hosting
with the power elite of San Francisco (this guy runs with the big
dogs). I had no problem filling the box with a few high-dollar Napa
Cabs, Sonoma Coast Pinots and central state Syrahs. On a hunch, I
included our last two bottles of the 2005 "9" (the least expensive jar
in the selection). A week or two after the event he called to say
that all the wines were extremely well received...but, "that
"9"..."Wow! What an impression that made! Do you have any more?"
That's the kind of response this stuff attracts whenever its poured.
*Here is Bob Parker's review; "95 Points"..."(The 2006) "R" Marquis
Philips "9" has been barrel fermented in new French and American oak
barriques and hogsheads where it has been aging for 14 months. It
delivers an alluring bouquet of pain grille, smoke, mocha, espresso
and blue fruits. This is followed by a full-bodied,
personality-filled Shiraz with blueberry, blackberry liqueur, licorice
and a hint of chocolate emerging on the palate. Opulent, sweet and
lengthy, it will evolve for several years but can be enjoyed now and
over the next 12-15 years. "R Wines" is a new company founded by
importer Dan Philips along with co-owner, renowned winemaker Chris
Ringland. The Marquis Philips wines have established a six year track
record for delivering a big bang for the buck and what is in the
bottle consistently over delivers from low-end to high-end. Starting
with the 2006 vintage all the fruit is sourced from McLaren Vale."
The "9" is (and always has been) very highly allocated. It is with
zero dilution in the quality of this offer that we have teamed up the
wine with three bottles each of the 2006 "R" M-P Shiraz and "Sarah's
Blend".
First, the (Beige Cap) Shiraz...
*"92" Points..."The 2006 "R" MP Shiraz was barrel-fermented in aged
and predominantly American oak for 12 months. It offers up fragrant
aromas of cedar, smoke, tar, blueberry and blackberry liqueur. Full
bodied, opulent and structured, this intense, well balanced wine will
evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2016. IT IS AN EXCELLENT
VALUE". Beware! At one minute before midnight on December 31st, 2015
should you have any of this yummy wine left in your cellar it will
immediately turn into the Giant Rat of Sumatra. Don't tell me you
haven't been warned.
*Finally the (Pale Green Cap) "Sarah's Blend"...
"91" Points..."The 2006 Sarah's is composed of 60% Syrah, 28% Cabernet
and the balance being Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It was also barrel
fermented and aged in seasoned French oak for 12 months. Deep
crimson-colored, it yields a complex aromatic array of cedar, spice
box, clove, pepper, cassis and blueberry. Full bodied, fruit-driven
and intensely flavored, this layered blend has a 45 second
finish...and delivers Big Bang for the Buck. Drink it over the next 8
years". (On December 31st of 2015 this wine becomes Donald Trump, a
monster of equal dimension.)
Attempted explanation of the whole Marquis Philips "R" Debacle
I have never met Dan Philips or Chris Ringland. Rebecca (along with a
group of American wine professionals) toured Australia last year with
Dan (and Chris to a lesser degree) as her host and guide. She has
nothing but positive things to say about the two men. Sparky and
Sarah Marquis who (along with Dan) founded "Marquis-Philips" wines
have become friends of ours via phone and E-mail conversations over
the years and are now receiving international praise for their
MollyDooker wines...they are delightful people and incredibly talented
winemakers as is Chris Ringland. Apparently, Philips and the Marquis'
had a falling out in 05-06 which explains why Ringland now makes the
M-P wines. We've been told that the continued existence of that label
was one of the primary issues surrounding the split. This situation
leaves us feeling like the third party in a divorce as we have no
reason to harbor ill feelings for Dan, Chris, Sparky or Sarah. If
that didn't confuse you nothing will.
*I think it's fair to say that not only are these wines incredibly
well made, offer far more dimension, texture, pleasure and power than
most other similarly priced reds, it is also true that the "9"
consistently receives scores equal to many of Australia's legendary
Shiraz-based wines (such as Penfold's Grange etc...)
Box of "R" M-P Reds including 6 whole bottles of the Mystical, Magical
"9".... $370.00
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