Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2007
(110th Vintage 1897 – 2007)
In their 115th year a very small quantity of superb Shiraz grapes were handpicked on the 7th February 2007 from the 4 acre Block 6 vineyard. Traditionally processed with open fermentation and basket pressing and matured in new American, French and Eastern European oak for over 2 and a half years. Bottled with Stelvin screw caps during September 2009. The early harvesting has resulted in a lower than normal alcohol content of 13.5% alc/vol.
Colour: Bright ruby red.
Nose: Intense, black pepper, spices, cedar wood, underlying dried mulberry with the fruit somewhat muted at this stage.
Palate: Vinous, structured and balanced with a long lingering finish and abundant fine tannins. Full bodied and flavoursome that will respond well with a number of years in the cellar.
Colin Kay’s comments – “This wine reminds me of the 1995 vintage at the same stage but it’s not quite the ugly duckling that wine was initially. The 1995 now shows great development with good fruit still and appears to have a few years in it yet; it is an elegant and graceful wine.”
Reviewed in the Matthew Jukes/Tyson Stelzer 2008 edition of Taste Food & Wine
“There is one cellar door in Australia that gets more mentions than any other when we are out and about. Every time we hear about the enthusiasm, integrity and willingness to spend time and pour wine with complete strangers, the name that crops up is Kay Brothers. The two Colins, one front of house, one back of house, do an exceptional job of explaining their wines and their phenomenal setting to us all. Block 6 is one of the legendary vineyards of Australia and the fact that this wine can be brought for a two figure sum is, frankly, baffling. Every year it kicks forty or fifty other so-called “cult” wines into touch with its brooding, bitumen, liquorice and black olive flavours. It is always an honour to taste this wine and it will remain an immense pleasure for us all to revisit this estate every time we are in the Vale.”