Thursday, May 9, 2013

Enchanted Path 2007 Flight - Marquis Phillips 9 - Affinity

Enchanted Path 2007 Flight - Marquis Phillips 9 - Affinity

For a gala family & friends dinner celebrating son Alec's visit home we did a 2007 vintage horizontal comparison of Aussie Shiraz' and a Napa Cab - two McLaren Vale Shiraz' by the same winemaker from two different era - Mollydooker Enchanted Path Cabernet Shiraz blend 2007, Marquis Phillips '9' McLaren Vale Shiraz 2007, and Robert Craig Napa Valley Affinity 2007.

Drank at  Angeli's Restaurant. - our favorite local Italian Trattoria.







Mollydooker Enchanted Path Cabernet Shiraz blend 2007

From Sparky and Sarah Marquis' Mollydooker venture with their whimsical cartoon label, this is a blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. This unique blend really works with the Cabernet adding breadth and depth to the big black inky purple colored full bodied Shiraz. The result is a powerful full bodied complex wine with concentrated forward chewy tongue coating black berry and black cherry fruits accented by ripe plum and spice, a layer of leather and hints of anise with fine silky tannins on the long finish.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=554810


Marquis Phillips '9' McLaren Vale Shiraz 2007

From the earlier Sparky and Sarah Marquis from their earlier Marquis Phillips venture, 9 was their McLaren Vale Shiraz from the same vintage. Its not clear if there is any overlap here since their breakup of the venture may cloud the details of the sourcing of their labels. This could be some of the same fruit in two different labels. In any event, the 2007 vintage '9' is also dark, big, full bodied and concentrated. It is not as complex or polished as the Enchanted Path blend. In addition to the black berry fruits accented by mocha, tobacco and leather, there is a layer of graphite in this that has an edge that tends to detract from the fruit.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=651009

Robert Craig Napa Valley Affinity 2007

A bit tight and slightly closed but after an hour opened up to show wonderful black and blue berry fruits, red currant and slight hint of mocha - complex, polished, velvety well integrated smooth silky tannins on a nice lingering soft finish.

RM 90 points. 

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=802059