Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 2020
Overview
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Deep ruby color with purple hue. Alluring aromas of rose petals, dark fruits, musk, dried herbs followed by earthy notes. The palate is layered with rich dark fruits, black olive tapenade and mocha. Supported by gritty textured tannins lingering on the finish. |
Wine Facts
VITICULTURE: Unlike Block 6, the Hillside Shiraz allows Kay Brothers to pick various parcels of grapes to assemble the best blend possible. Block 11, located at the top of the hill, has shallow sandy loam soil over limestone and sandstone. These vines are exposed to the wind and sun. As a consequence, the vines mature earlier in most years and tend to be low yielding, with intense fruit concentration and powerful tannins. The rest of the Hillside Shiraz is located farther down the hill, in New Block 6, where dark chocolate loam and clay soil mix with quartz and ironstone over silty limestone. The New Block 6 component provides the finesse and elegance to the overall blend with savory flavors and tight structure. The blend of these two vineyards balance each other extremely well.
VINIFICATION: Harvested on the 12th and 20th of March, the grapes were crushed, de-stemmed and plunged twice daily while spending 11 days on skins in our traditional open fermenters. The wine was then basket pressed and matured for 18 months in American and French oak. Bottling took place in May 2022.
FAMILY: Along the coast in South Australia, lies McLaren Vale, one of Australia's most famous wine regions. It is also home to the renowned Kay Brothers. Established in 1890 by brothers Herbert & Frederick Kay, it is the oldest McLaren Vale winery still in the hands of the founding family, with Herbert’s grandson, Colin Kay, continuing the family’s wine heritage.
The Kay Brothers Amery vineyard was first planted in 1891. It is now 54 acres with five different soil types, producing powerful wines with concentrated flavors and textured tannins. The hero variety of McLaren Vale, Shiraz, accounts for 70% of production (including Block 6 which was planted in 1892). Additionally, the vineyard is now certified under the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program for its elimination of insecticides and herbicide for organic matter, and the use of sheep to graze and increase the fertility of the soil.
Producer: Kay Brothers
Region: McLaren Vale
Country: Australia
Wine Composition: 100% Shiraz
Alcohol: 14%
Total Acidity: 6.8 G/L
Residual Sugar: 1 G/L
pH: 3.53
Region: McLaren Vale
Country: Australia
Wine Composition: 100% Shiraz
Alcohol: 14%
Total Acidity: 6.8 G/L
Residual Sugar: 1 G/L
pH: 3.53
Press Highlights
2019: 93+ Pts - Wine Advocate, Sept 20222019: 90 Pts - James Suckling, Aug 2022
2018: 94 Pts - Wine Advocate, Aug 2021
2018: 94 Pts - James Halliday, the Australian Wine Companion, Aug 2021
2018: 91 Pts - Wine Enthusiast, Apr 2022
2018: 90 Pts - James Suckling, Nov 2022
2017: 95 Pts - James Halliday, the Australian Wine Companion, Aug 2020
2015: 95 Pts - James Halliday, the Australian Wine Companion 2019
2015: 90 Pts - 'Cellar Selection' - Wine Enthusiast, Dec 2018
2013: 95 Pts - James Halliday, The Australian Wine Companion, Aug 2016
2013: 94 Pts - Wine Advocate #226, Aug 2016
2012: 95 Pts - James Halliday, The Australian Wine Companion, July 2015
2012: 94 Pts - Wine Advocate #220, Aug 2015
2012: 92 Pts - Vinous, Mar 2016
2011: 93+ Pts - Wine Advocate #211, Feb 2014
2011: 92 Pts - James Halliday Wine Companion 2015, July 2014
2010: 93 Pts - Wine Enthusiast, Mar 2015
2010: 94 Pts - James Halliday Wine Companion 2014
2010: 94 Points – James Halliday Wine Companion 2014
2010: 93+ Pts - Wine Advocate # 205, Feb. 20123
2010: 90 Pts ‘Year Best Shiraz” – Wine & Spirits, Oct 2013
2008 - 91 Pts - Wine Advocate #192, Dec 2010
2008 - 92/100 Pts - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, Dec 2010
2006 - 93 Pts - Wine Advocate #192, Dec 2010
2006 - The Best Wines of 2009 (2006 vintage) Tyson Stelzer, Taste Food & Wine, 2009