Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2017

Professional Ratings

• 96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  Tasted from a Cadus puncheon, the 2017 Shiraz Block 6 looks like another great vintage of this wine. Blueberry liqueur, fresh florals and vanilla appear on the nose, while the full-bodied wine is creamy and rich yet structured, with a crisp, tight finish.
  Barrel Sample: 94-96
• 96 Tasting Panel

  The aromatic nose paves the way for profound flavors of toasted oak, spice, and intensely rich blackberry. An outstanding Shiraz from 126-year-old vines, it’s well worth the price. 

• 95 Decanter
  The wettest season since 1992, with a mild summer, warm days and cold nights in the lead up to harvest on 21 and 30 March has produced exceptional fluidity, freshness and definition of blackberry and bramble fruit. Lifted spice, violets and fine tannins rise on a persistent, beautifully balanced finish. Much to come. Matured 20 months in new French and American oak puncheons.
• 94 James Suckling
  This has a wealth of intense, dark-berry and plum aromas with hints of violets, licorice and earth, as well as fresh blueberries. The palate has such impressively deep flavors, delivered in a fresh, smooth mode. Long, blackberry and plum flavors carry deep. Impressive depth and balance here.
• 93 Wine & Spirits
  The vines at Block 6 in the Kay family’s vineyard were 125 years old in 2017. The soils in this 3.5-acre parcel start as red loam at the top of the hill, move into clay in the middle and gravelly alluvial topsoil lower down, all of it over sand derived from a complex mix of rock, including limestone and sandstone. The grapes were destemmed, fermented in open-top vats and basket pressed; then the wine aged for two years in puncheons. It’s an old-fashioned style of shiraz, black and smoky, cool and cedary, its fruit earthy against bloody, iron-rich tannins. Making no concessions to the contemporary market, it demands—and will reward—long and patient cellaring.
• 92 Wine Enthusiast
  The distinctive, rustic style of this historic winery is on display in this premium Shiraz made from the oldest block on the property. A nose of forest berries, cumin, mocha and baking spices leads to a powerful, textured palate. With more freshness than in previous vintages, this allows some fruit character to shine, although the tannins are still massive and the oak a tad prominent. This needs time and plenty of it, but should be a lovely one for the cellar.
  Cellar Selection
• 90 Wine Spectator
  Powerful and polished, with plush, ripe huckleberry and blueberry flavors that show off a smoky thread, delivering terrific details of tobacco, baking spice and sandalwood. Shows great harmony on the finish.