Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 2012
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Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet/purple, the 2012 Shiraz Amery Vineyard Hillside presents crushed blackcurrants, black berry and plum notes with chocolate, licorice and cloves. Big, rich and full-bodied, the palate is very expressive and spicy with firm, rounded tannins and a long finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Like it's slightly more elevated cousin, Kay's Block 6 Shiraz, this is full bodied and almost painfully concentrated. Lovely oak-derived notes of cinnamon, vanilla and mocha cosset roasted meat and blueberries, then glide to a long, dusty finish. Drink 2020–2030. Cellar Selection.
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James Suckling
The Hillside is a vineyard planted to an original location with cuttings taken for the oldest shiraz on the Amery Vineyard, so these are now pushing 20 year old vines. The nose has an array of spice-wrapped dark and purple fruit aromas; really smells concentrated. The palate delivers plenty of chocolate and dark plum fruit flavor, tannins are deep-set and ripe. This is a thicker boned style that is best after 2018.
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2020-
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Suckling
James
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Spirits
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Suckling
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Enthusiast
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Robert
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Robert
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Enthusiast
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Wine &
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Robert
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Robert
Established in 1890 by Australian born brothers Herbert and 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
winemaking tradition. Bordering St. Vincent’s Gulf, 24 miles south of Adelaide, the Kay Brothers
McLaren Vale vineyards grace the rolling foothills of the Southern Mt. Lofty Ranges. The winery is
located at the top of a hill three miles from the McLaren Vale Township and the cellar door, which is part
of the original winery complex, boasts some stunning panoramic views of the surrounding picturesque
valleys and hillsides.
The Kays are specialists of traditional grape growing and winemaking, utilizing grapes from their own 54
acre vineyards to produce their wines. The main grape variety grown is Shiraz (including the 1892
planted Block 6) followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Mataro (Mourvedre) and Muscat
Blanc. Colin’s winemaking philosophy is to make rich full-bodied fruit-driven wines (using the original
open fermenters and basket press) with a minimum of 18 months aging in small American oak casks.
The Block 6 Shiraz & Hillside Shiraz spend up to two and a half years maturing in a combination of
American, Eastern European and French oak barrels.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.