2006 Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz
Deep ruby; tight rim. Blood and powerful. Perfectly balanced, polished, brooding. Thirteen years' ageing hints also liquorice and black olive along with ideal warm climate Shiraz. A lasting palate, giving surprise of a full body but creamy, sweet fruit like blackberry mulberry & plum fruit, even hints of sweet dark raspberry. Oak shows in the form of most gorgeous milk chocolate/coconut. The structure includes chocolate, soft pepper, oaky, etc. Very clean layers. Strong, rounded tannins. The only weakness maybe the warmer than average alcohol.
Hand-picked fruit for this wine comes from the original vines planted in 1892 with fermentation taking place in original open-top fermenters. To the Australians, Kay Brothers Block 6 is a traditionally Shiraz in the sense that it is full-bodied, fruit-driven red wines with unabashed confidence. Being the oldest family-run estate still to exist in McLaren Vale since acquiring their Amery vineyard in 1891, Kay Brothers, however, were one of the first to embrace screwcaps in Australia with all of the winery’s production bottled under this closure today. Coming from the same terroir what sets them apart is the more favourable position occupied by the Block 6 plantings. Widely regarded as the junior sibling of the two, the Hillside Amery Shiraz(we have good stock for 2004 and 2006) is more approachable when young and offers comforting drinking while waiting for the grand Block 6 Shiraz to mature.
The highest score attained by this 2005 vintage is EROBERTPARKER.COM 95 POINTS:
"The Block 6 Shiraz comes from centurion vines plated in 1896. The 2006 Block 6 Shiraz has a very deep garnet color going a little brick in the rim and an evolved, earthy / gamey nose with notes of mulberries, dried plums, kirsch and tobacco plus menthol, cinnamon stick, licorice and espresso. Rich and full yet elegantly constructed, it presents a medium level of very fine tannins, crisp acid and a long layered finish. A very fine glass now, it should continue to cellar to 2019+."
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate # 192 Dec 2010
