Marius 2004 Symphony Reviews
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion 2008:
Symphony Single Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004: Medium to full-bodied; dense, succulent, ripe blackberry fruit and dark-chocolate; excellent oak balance and integration; good tannins. A special selection from the 1.8-ha. home block vineyard which provides both single vineyard wines. Screwcap 14.5% alc. Rating 94 Drink to 2019
Philip White Adelaide Advertiser 17/05/06:
Marius Symphony McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004: Average for today’s 63 bottles of shiraz? 76 points. That’s normal. It takes a hundred bottles a week to find these four good’ uns. So this is special, see. Exquisite. Clean, fragrant, natural, intense, sensual, balanced. Need more? Willunga Piedmont; 1.6ha; bugger-all sprays or water; four picks per vintage, just to get every berry perfect. Simple, fanatically straight winemaking. 94 Points
Campbell Mattinson of Winefront:
Marius McLaren Vale Symphony Shiraz 2004 ($35) screwcap: The names of the two wines are a bit too similar for comfort, but the quality is right there: this builds delightfully in the glass, the soft, filligreed tannins gathering form and momentum the greater air they’re given. The fruit is there to support them: fresh, blackberried, cedary and soft, a sense of dried oregano and olive leaves adding specific interest. Excellent. Drink: 2006-2013. 93 points.
Gary Walsh of Winorama:
Marius 2004 Symphony Shiraz ($35): Darker and brighter than the Simpatico. Aromas of boysenberry/red berry/blackberry. A lovely compote of bright fruit really. Earth, spice and bayleaf backed up with a firm but well measured dose of tobacco and cedar oak. On the palate it is full bodied with flavours of fresh berry fruit, tobacco, earth and coffee. Excellent texture with mouthcoating creamy tannins and acidity that gives the wine vibrancy. Long tobacco and cherry flavoured finish. Would you believe that I left this wine in the fridge for four days and it is every bit as good as it was when first opened? Certainly one for the cellar. Rated : 94 Points. Drink : 2007 – 2014+
Philip White:
Marius McLaren Vale Symphony Shiraz 2004 $35; 14% alcohol; screw cap; DRUNK 25JUN10; 95+++ points: By Bacchus and Pan this is a beautiful, transfixing thing. It has astonishing intensity, complexity, and austerity, with fruit so authoritative and dense that to be fair it deserves twelve hours in the decanter. All the black fruits and nightshade leaf and juniper are packed in so tight around a wall of rigid natural acidity that our table sat stunned in silence, staring disbelievingly into the kraters. It’s surly and solid, with the frame of a thoroughbred, the determination of its staunch Roman namesake, and as much dry and dusty stone as the 26 mile crater of the same name in the Moon’s second quadrant. It was probably a mercy that we took it the night before tonight’s eclipse of the full Moon – something woulda fused in the cosmos. I am not old enough to have tasted the 1961 La Chappelle at six years of age, but I have drunk it mature on various occasions, twice from magnum, and consider this wine may well be its equal, given the right cellar and the owner’s infinite patience. Like that wine, this seems somehow to have the structure of a mighty Bordeaux – it’s about its shape, and that sinister lick of nightshade – but while the Chappelle was likened as a younger wine to the 61 Latour, this beauty seems a little more along the lines of St Emilion. I did drink the 78 Chappelle at six years, and think this could be better: it’s more intense. Like both those wines, this is a serious thirty year job. I’m staggered.
Paul Ippolito:
Marius Symphony Shiraz 2004 28 March 2008: The Marius brand, the words single vineyard and the McLaren Vale region all taking pride of place on the front label are all pretty good indicators for a memorable drinking experience. Roger Pike from Marius makes very respectable reds. This is an excellent Shiraz from Marius’ four acre home block. Given the works through new tight French oak and barrel ageing of nearly 2 years, the resultant wine is a smooth integrated and balanced red of McLaren origins, and comes as no surprise in terms of its high quality. Dark berry fruits ooze from the aromas, tight then unwinding slowly and beautifully. Savoury dimensions ensue as does good coffee oak, essences of soy all marrying well with the fruit. A wine of substance, gravitas and along with a meatiness and fullness in mouthfeel yet also seamlessly long in finish. A long future ahead of it. Try with Wagyu beef.
Drink to 2024. About $35. 94/100 – Excellent.
Marius 2004 Simpatico Reviews
Campbell Mattinson of Winefront:
Marius McLaren Vale Simpatico Shiraz 2004 ($25) screwcap: Roger Pike at Marius has set a new course for the label – and it’s not just that he’s had it redesigned. He’s now producing two shiraz wines, one with a bit of new French oak married to it and the other using a combination of French and American – though none of it new. It’s not an economy drive – quite the opposite. It’s about giving the fruit he grows the best chance to shine in the bottle. And the one thing you can say about Roger Pike – he grows good fruit. Both his 2004s are very strong. The Simpatico (it hasn’t seen any new oak) is all leathered, fresh, black and red berries, the quality of it deceptive: it jumps from the glass all fruity and fun, but then drinks soundly and well all the way to the bottom of the bottle. It’s the perfect drink now, or drink later, little number. This is a very honest, pure McLaren Vale wine. Drink: 2006-2010. 91 points.
Huon Hooke – “Uncorked” – Sunday Life magazine:
Marius Simpatico McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004, $25: A new McLaren Vale player has produced this big, solid, slightly gumleafy wine with firm tannins. The nose is slightly sweaty/reductive and the firm, taut palate needs time to soften and mellow. Lots of flavour here. Drink 2008 to 2016
Gary Walsh of Winorama:
Marius 2004 Simpatico Shiraz ($25): The Simpatico is from the 4 acre Marius Vineyard in the McLaren Vale. It is aged in French and American oak hogsheads. Due for release in May 2006. Quite fragrant with aromas of redcurrant/berry and red cherry. A red smelling wine. It is also spicy and slightly earthy with licorice, new shoe leather and some vanilla oak. Medium to full bodied with red fruit, spice and tobacco/earth and vanilla flavours. Quite fresh and vibrant. Attractive grainy tannins and a savoury finish that goes on a fair while. This bottle also looked great after being open for four days. Highly drinkable and offering an excellent mix of freshness and savoury complexity you can’t go too far wrong at only $25 a pop. Rated : 93 Points. Drink : 2006 – 2011
Max Allen – Weekend Australian – 17th June 2006
In 2004, two shirazes were made from Roger Pike’s Marius vineyard in McLaren Vale: this one and a $35 bottling called Symphony. Call me a cheapskate, but I prefer the Simpatico: rich and opulent, juicy black fruit floods the mouth, leading to a warm finish, with lingering dry, powdery tannins.
The Penguin Good Australian WINE GUIDE 2007 – Ralph Kyte-Powell & Huon Hooke
Marius Simpatico Single Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004: The colour is nice and deep, the nose is very ripe and rich, with plenty of oak and a hint of sweatiness. The taste is excellent: full-bodied, powerful and tightly packed with rich fruit, some eucalyptus touches and a firm tannin/acid finish. It could be cellared, but right now it goes well with rare steak. Points: 90