2004 Marquis Philips Merlot. South Eastern Australia, Australia. 14.5% alcohol. $13.
Color out to the rim with moderately thick and colored legs. Chocolate, coffee, candied cherry and plums, some game, and oak aromas with a fair amount of heat as well. Nicely viscous and mouth coating with good depth of flavor and fine acidity. Quite a bit of a burn on the finish. A supple and appealing wine for drinking over the short term. Given past vintage performances with this varietal, I was pleasantly surprised at how drinkable the 2004 Merlot has turned out to be. Closed with a screwcap. Drink now to 2009. 87 points.