Marquis Philips, Sarahs Blend, McLaren Vale

Though elderly, still has a fair amount of fruit. A simple wine but enjoyable

2008 vintage

Almost all Marquis Philips wines offered remarkably good QPR, and I was very disappointed when the brand was taken off the market. I kept a few bottles around, and this may be my last one. Almost 10 years after the last tasting note here, the 2008 Sarah's Blend is still excellent for fans of big, high-alcohol reds. (This one is 16% ABV.) Not subtle and not very complex, but the fruit is still there along with some nice tertiary notes …

2008 vintage

Surprise of the night, this was still really good. Did not guess Australia blind. Has a real savory character now, like hot and sour soup. Notes of soy sauce and fish sauce… very interesting. This has a second gear towards the finish that puts a smile on your face. Not an elegant or refined wine but has a nice rustic punch that is appealing. Drank best basically upon open and then slowly started to fade so I’d say drink up.

2003 vintage

Still good

2003 vintage

I don't disagree that this wine has had its day, but in its day, it was great! My wife likes the strong raisiny taste it is exhibiting now.

2008 vintage

This wine had its day. Not so much now. Tasted like grape juice w/alcohol.

2008 vintage

showed very well at the group tasting of 2003 wines. One of the best ones of the night.

2003 vintage

dark red, maroon, in color. blueberry, citrus, earth, on the nose. oak, blackberry, pepper, vanilla, raspberry, apple, on the palate. low acid, medium tannins, on the finish.

2003 vintage

Really hard to beat this for the price. The wine is rich, fruity and has complexity. Amazing value.

2008 vintage

This gets better all the time. This has come around. Have my own stash and a supply for $10.00 a bottle. I might buy the lot as this is so well made and rich. I have been sipping this for quite a while. What a bargain. WOW, I am on my way to my stash to get the rest now. Smart Move, See Ya !

2008 vintage

Very jammy red, with hints of sweetness and a slight fizz. Enjoyed prior versions more.

2008 vintage

at our house for progressive cocktail party

2008 vintage

Very, very fruit forward. Not for all palates.

2008 vintage

Pretty weak not much there in the nose

2008 vintage

stunned at how well this wine has held up. Still dark, black fruit although certainly ready to drink. Delightful surprise.

2003 vintage

still youthful with purple edge, bright fruit and pepper make this a still very enjoyable wine... I was somewhat surprised that it had held up this well. I bought it at release and storage has been at 55F for the life of the wine. Have three more bottles left and will post reports over the next year or two...Certainly agree that it will likely not improve with age.

2003 vintage

Very jammy, dark fruit, but kind of disjointed. Nothing subtle at all about this wine.

2008 vintage

Jam, jam, jam.

2008 vintage

Very sweet and fruity but not in a good way. Thick as jam and it was a struggle to get through without food as company. Perhaps a fit for a greasy BBQ

2008 vintage

The best of the different blends

2008 vintage

Purple hued and medium bodied. The nose has notes of cherry and strawberry. In the mouth, cloying and disjointed with over-extracted tastes of cooked strawberries and cherries. Add a bit of citrus to account for the acidity. This doesn't work. While I'm a fan of the highly extracted Mollydooker style, this has taken a different path, and surely not an Enchanted one. The finish picks up with the cloying, overbearing theme and continues the assault on the palate. This is …

2008 vintage

still too jammy for me; strawberry sweetness and heat on finish; guess its complex but not for me

2008 vintage

Nothing wrong with it except the taste; not my style, kinda like fruitcake is not my style.

2008 vintage

My last bottle. Too thick, too jammy, too much, but it paired well with BBQ pork and a very spicy BBQ sauce. My tastes have changed since I bought this a while ago, and I prefer something not so over the top.

2008 vintage

still nicely balanced with dark fruit.

2003 vintage

Popped and poured, and it definitely needs to decanter time. Big, jammy, hot. Only drank 1/3 of the bottle, and I'm sure it will settle down, but my tastes have changed, and this is too much. Would be fine with BBQ sauce.

2008 vintage

Still a nicely balanced wine with earthy notes on finish. Shouldn't last much longer so drink up

2003 vintage

Wow fruit

2008 vintage

From the previous Marquis Philips wines I've had, The Scooter and Maitre d', I wasn't expecting I'd care for this. But, I was pleasantly surprised. Tasted after a passing through Vinturi. Deep purple/red color. Nose of strawberry jam, smoke. Flavors of extracted berry, coffe/chocolate. Body has nice acidity(citrus) and a good finish. This is a big wine and though it might be flirting with being over the top, its still balanced and nice.

2008 vintage

Very fruity lots of blueberries and not much else

2003 vintage

Blind tasted. The wine has fallen apart. Sour, tannic, sweet, all at the same time. I'll try a bottle again in a few days - have 4 left.

2003 vintage

As usual a really great, powerful bottle. Perhaps a bit over ripe for where my tastes are these days.

2008 vintage

Good. Inky dark purple; nose strong with vegetation, especially green bell pepper and some spice; and the palate is sweet on front and slightly bitter on the back without much in the middle. <Wow/Very Good/Good/Fair/Plonk>

2008 vintage

Decanted for 1 hour. No nose, slight soft tannins remain with strong overbearing alcohol. On the palate appeared nondescript. Drink with food (emphasis on food) or consider cooking wine.

2003 vintage

The appearance of the wine was deep black/purple in color. Black fruits, baking spices, a full bodied, rich wine, fruit forward and a long smooth finish with a touch of spiciness. Unfortunately, the winery went bankrupt.

2008 vintage

This went very well with BBQ. Very jammy and heavy with notes of strawberry and grape.

2008 vintage

This is no longer improving in my opinion. I was surprised how well this aged, but I think it is on the decline. Still pretty good, but seemed to be showing the alcohol in this last bottle.

2003 vintage

Still very drinkable. Decanted for 30 minutes. Opened up quickly. Smooth drinking. Not sure how it will hold up for a 2nd day once opened. No need to wait any longer -- drink now.

2003 vintage

OK, I'm taking this 03 Sarah's up a notch or two from the last time I tried it two years ago. I don't think anyone expected MP wines to have ageing structure, but the proof is in the taste, and this is the best tasting Sarah's I've had. This wine maintains its youthful hedonistic characteristics of ripe fruit, over the top sweet and spicy fruits, cracked pepper, smoked meats and buttered popcorn. It has improved in its smoothness and integration. …

2003 vintage

Actually still quite good, no funk, no wear from age. it even got better the next day, softening around the edges but still providing plenty of punch.

2003 vintage

for braising of the short ribs

2003 vintage

Had side-by-side the '02. This was better--not quite so candied and syrup-like, and drinkable for me. Actually fared similar to the last bottle almost three years ago in terms of flavors, although lost a bit of the sweet edge.

2003 vintage

Strong fruit flavor. Great value for money. Enjoyed bottle.

2003 vintage

a nice blend from Australia, especially for the price. Sweet fruit and oak.

2003 vintage

These seem to be getting better over time. The nose on this after 30 minutes or so was very candied with glycerin and pencil box. The palate was dominated by dark fruits with noticeable oak still present.

2003 vintage

Night and day difference between the '02 and '03 Sarah's. This has a profusion of buttered popcorn, kinda like the bottom of a bag of microwave popcorn when there is only kernels left with a tinge of burnt oil. Fruit abounds with oak and I don't know what else, but this wine belongs in every one of those movie nite at home baskets.

2003 vintage

Syrah-Cabernet blends Aussie vs. Cali blindtasted (Palo Alto, California) : Group's #4 (my #5) – 44 pts; 1, 0, 2, 1 – nice berry and pepper—lots of pepper—on nose; big, rich, a little hot with pepper upfront and underlying berry palate; medium finish 88+ pts.

2003 vintage

a bit hot on the nose, getting whiffs of cola and maple. burnt sugar. first taste, I think i have either a bad bottle, or I just dont like this wine. I am flagging it as a bad bottle.

2003 vintage

Color: Purple Nose: Earth and currant Taste: Intense black pepper, spice box, plum Finish: Intense, complex with pepper and currant intermixing. Evaluation: A solid wine which has improved from a few years back. 90 points

2003 vintage

Very jammy and fruit forward. A nice qpr

2003 vintage

Are you sure?

Marquis Philips, Sarahs Blend, McLaren Vale

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews