Kay Brothers Amery Vineyards

With Paul Ippolito

Kay Brothers Amery are specialist traditional red wine makers situated in McLaren Vale, South Australia. They were established in 1890 by Herbert and Frederick Kay crushing their first grapes in 1895 making them the oldest McLaren Vale winery still operating in family hands, with third generation Colin Kay continuing the family winemaking tradition with his winemaking philosophy of crafting rich full-bodied fruit-driven wines.

Here's a sample of some of their 2003 red wine releases;

Block 6 Shiraz 2003

This label is one of the best Shiraz’s in Australia. Winemaker Colin Kay crafts this from handpicked grapes from 111 year old vines of which the first wine from these wines were made in 1897. The wine is carefully made using traditional methods including the use of basket pressing resulting in a rich, full, big McLaren Vale style of wine.

Deep dark purple crimson in colour with intensely pure blackberry aromas. It has  good alcohol with impressive polished persistent obvious smooth dark fruit ensuing. Fresh and lively acidity supports the fruit and gives the wine its structure. It lingers in fruit flavours with good firm oak influence. Chocolate, liquorice and soy secondary characters follow. Deep and distinctive in style and one serious red. Quite elegant and yet also a quite powerful wine. 

An excellent wine at around $70. Cellaring 7-10 years plus. Try with oven roasted lamb shanks.  

Merlot 2003

A very youthful wine that exudes a delightful purple crimson colour. Classic varietal Merlot aromas emanate of rich ripe plum with dark blackberry and red cherry fruit.  Good supporting acidity for such a fruit driven wine.  Chocolate, plum and a hint of mint linger on the palate. The oak is apparent but well integrated and the tannins that emanate are fine and grainy. Lovely to drink now with its soft velvety smooth mouth feel and finish. 

Well balanced and a very good food friendly wine to have with bbq lamb cutlets. Should drink well over 3-5 years. Around $27.

Hillside Shiraz 2003

The Hillside Shiraz comes from noble stock with it's vineyard beginnings emanating in 1992 when cuttings from the 100 year plus old vines of Kay Brothers Amery Block 6 Shiraz were planted. And you can't half tell its origins, much! Especially in terms of the intensity and purity of the fruit. The wine is a glorious ripe plum deep dark crimson colour. It exudes pure dark berry fruit, plum and cherry aromas. Ample bodied, upfront and brooding in nature - the fruit does all the work here. The oak takes second place, there but integrated with the fruit. Well rounded smooth and lusciously blackberry and plum on the palate, there are hints of chocolate and liquorice as well. Soft and easy drinking yet with a structure and tannins that prove the wine will age gracefully over the next 5 or so years. 

Try with bbq gourmet sausages. At around $40, this is an excellent wine at a decent price.

McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003

The grapes for this Stelvin capped wine come from McLaren Vale vineyards planted exclusively with cuttings from the 1892 Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz vineyards.  This is a more medium bodied easy drinking style of Shiraz. Cherry garnet red with crimson tints, the wine shows off classic blackberry and plum aromas on the nose. This is accompanied by earthy overtones that confirm the varietal McLaren Shiraz origins. Quite floral and uplifted, the acidity and structure of the wine is such that it lends itself to be described as more savoury and elegant than fruit driven and ripe. Savoury cherry and plums dominate the palate, with good length. The oak and the fruit are melding well but the wine is still young. 

It should develop over the next 3-5 years. Drink with a beef casserole. Around $27.

Kay Brother Vineyards: www.KayBrothersAmeryWines.com

Paul can be contacted by email at Paul_Ippolito@hotmail.com where you can also request to be placed on his mailing list for his wine newsletter.

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