2002 Marquis Philips Cabernet Sauvignon South Eastern Australia

The outstanding 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, like the Merlot, it is produced primarily from McLaren Vale and Padthaway fruit. Yields on all these wines are restricted to about four tons of fruit per acre, low for wines at this price. The dense purple-colored Cabernet reveals classic aromas of cedar, tobacco leaf, and red as well as black currants. Creamy textured with noticeable wood (it was aged in 80% American and 20% French oak, all one year old), it finishes with considerable glycerin, ripeness, and sweet tannin. One of the world’s greatest values in Cabernet Sauvignon, it is tempting to say this delicious offering will only last 2-3 years. However, some of the wines made by Sarah and Sparky Marquis in the mid-nineties remain young and vibrant. Nevertheless, I would opt to drink this 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon over the next 3-4 years. Two of South Australia’s leading viticulturists/winemakers are undoubtedly husband and wife Sarah and Sparky Marquis. Their goals are common sense ones of “creating fruit weight, velvety sensations, and harvesting on ripeness, not sugar readings.” Perhaps their finest accomplishment has been to prove that high quality wines can be produced at a price point that thrills most wine consumers. P.S. Perhaps another way to think of these wines is that they are XXX-rated stuff. They’re not exactly wines for those wanting finesse, lightness, restraint, or intellectual challenge. These are totally decadent homages to joy and yumminess. Or, as a friend of mine said, they are “fragrantly delicious.” Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (888) 472-5283