It's Time for the 9 - 2004 Marquis Philips Shiraz 9

If I were to buy a wine strictly for the label, I feel this one would be the winner. However, I am not a label shopper, so I must tear the handsome packaging and see what's inside. First off, Marquis Philips is a collaboration between American Dan Philips and Australian winemakers (notably Chris Ringland) to make the most delicious, power-packed wines on the planet. The winemakers aim to create wines that are pleasure-giving, dark, ripe, sweet, loud, yet subtle, with a long elegant finish, but powerful. There you go.

Let's dig in. Literally.

Look at that chunky, dark sediment-filled cork. I can probably take that and spread it on my toast. This is the first clue that this wine is going to be another one of those big Australian Shiraz blockbusters I adore, but must chase with about 40 ounces of water to avoid the monster "Down-Under" coma. I inoculate my house by firing up the grill. BBQ ribs should do the trick with garlic fries and ketchup. No? Maybe kangaroo steaks rolled in dirt would be more appropriate. That's okay, we can hang with the big boys.

In the glass it is deep dark purple. So purple that it almost looks black. Perhaps it has been relegated to tar. Does my driveway need paving? Not yet. Moving on. As I pour it into the glass, I am met with intoxicating smells of yummy sweet blackberry liqueur, chocolate and pepper. I am not getting a huge oak smell, but it's still faintly there and that's good. This is mostly a powerful pure fruit purple people eater.

As I pick myself off the floor, I decided to take a sip of this deep dark Australian concoction. It still has some noticeable tannin structure, and the whopping alcohol is largely in check. It is rich, jammy, luscious and beautiful. I smile but it oozes out the sides of my mouth like that dark goo found in those zombie movies. My teeth are black like theirs. It is almost Halloween, right? Yummy. Or mummy. I don't know. Moving on!

The flavors are very ripe, rich, luscious, with oodles of jammy black fruit and plenty of oak with fine, chalky tannins. It's a fun, typically Australian good time of a wine that I highly recommend if you want to party like an Aussie in the more uptight regions of the world. The finish is lengthy, leathery and wonderful. May I also advise if you want to wake up in a gutter the next morning wearing nothing but an Australian digger hat, this is the wine for you. Awesome stuff!