Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2020
Overview
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Deep ruby color. Perfumed notes of rose petal, musk, and dried herbs with a whiff of charcuterie lingering in the background. Bright berry fruit flavors, cacao and black olive. Followed by slowly building fine-textured tannins providing excellent length. An elegant and classy Block 6 Shiraz. |
Wine Facts
VITICULTURE: The Block 6 vineyard faces east and rows run north south with significant undulation. Vines are spur and cane pruned, with the canes wrapped onto the top wire of the low-lying trellis. The present 1.5 hectares comprises a corner of red loam, some heavy clay in the middle of the block and gravely alluvial soils on the lower side. The underlying “South Maslin Sands” soil is extremely complex containing layers of glauconite, limestone, sandstone and siltstone.
VINIFICATION: Block 6 was hand-picked from the 128-year-old vines on the 16th of March 2020, producing a tiny crop of 4.17 tonnes. 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 20 months in 35% new French and American oak puncheons. Bottled in February 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% Single-Vineyard Shiraz
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acidity: 6.0 G/L
Residual Sugar: 1 G/L
pH: 3.63
Region: McLaren Vale
Country: Australia
Wine Composition: 100% Single-Vineyard Shiraz
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acidity: 6.0 G/L
Residual Sugar: 1 G/L
pH: 3.63
Press Highlights
2021: 97 Pts - James Suckling, Mar 20242021: 95 Pts - Wine Advocate, Sept 2024
2020: 92 Pts ‘Cellar Selection’ - Wine Enthusiast, Jun 2024
2019: 95+ Pts - Wine Advocate, Sept 2022
2019: 90 Pts - James Suckling, Aug 2022
2018: 97 Pts - Wine Advocate, Aug 2021
2018: 96 Pts - James Halliday –The Australian Wine Companion, Aug 2021
2018: 92 Pts - James Suckling, Nov 2022
2018: 91 Pts - Wine Enthusiast, Apr 2022
2017: 97 Pts - James Halliday –The Australian Wine Companion, Aug 2020
2017: 95 Pts - Decanter, 2020
2017: 94 Pts - James Suckling, 2020
2017: 94-96 Pts - Wine Advocate, 2018
2017: 93 Pts - Wine & Spirits, 2020
2017: 92 Pts - Wine Enthusiast, 2020
2017: 90 Pts - Wine Spectator, 2020
2016: 97 Pts - James Halliday –The Australian Wine Companion, 2019
2016: 96 Pts - Wine Advocate, 2018
2016: 92 Pts - Wine & Spirits, 2020
2015: 96 Pts - James Halliday –The Australian Wine Companion, 2019
2015: 96 Pts - Wine Advocate, 2018
2015: 92 Pts ‘Cellar Selection’ - Wine Enthusiast, Dec 2018
2015: 92 Pts - Wine & Spirits, 2017
2014: 93 Pts - Wine & Spirits, Feb 2017
2014: 91 Pts ‘Cellar Selection’ - Wine Enthusiast, Apr 2017
Downloads
2020 Fact Sheet PDF2019 Fact Sheet PDF
2018 Fact Sheet PDF
2017 Fact Sheet PDF
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Press Highlights
2020 92Pts Wine Enthustiast Shelf Talker
2019 95Pts Wine Advocate Shelf Talker
2021 Multi Point Sell Sheet
2019 Multi Point Sell Sheet
2018 Multi Point Sell Sheet
Kay Brothers Brand Overview Page