Kay Brothers

5 Star Winery - Halliday Wine Companion

"Established in 1890, Kay Brothers is the oldest winery in McLaren Vale still in founding family hands. Kay's are specialist traditional red wine makers utilising grapes from our own 22-hectare Amery Vineyard. The grape varieties grown are Shiraz (including the 1892 Block 6 planting), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nero d' Avola, Grenache, Mataro and Muscat Blanc. The Kay's winemaking philosophy is to make rich full-bodied fruit-driven wines (using the original Open Fermenters and Basket Press) with a mix of small and medium oak cask maturation." - Kay Brothers

"A traditional winery with a rich history and just over 20ha of priceless old vines; while the white wines have been variable, the red and fortified wines can be very good. Of particular interest is Block 6 Shiraz, made from 120+-year-old vines; both vines and wines are going from strength to strength" - James Halliday

  • Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 2001

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 2001

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Robert Parker 93-95 points! The opaque purple-colored 2001 Shiraz Amery Vineyard Hillside (1,000 cases) possesses low acidity as well as extraordinary dense, chewy notes of blackberries, blueberries, melted licorice, creosote, smoke, and earth. Although...

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    $45.00
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  • [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2002

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2002

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Robert Parker 95 points! The 2002 Shiraz Block 6 (made from 112-year-old vines cropped at a mere 1-2 tons of fruit per acre) is the antithesis of the Hillside cuvee. Backward and nearly impenetrable, its inky/ruby/purple color is accompanied by high...

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    $105.00
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  • [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2001

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2001

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Robert Parker 96-98 points!The 2001 Shiraz Block 6 Amery Vineyard is built along the lines of the 1998. With 14.8% alcohol, and huge levels of tannin balanced by a wealth of blackberry and cherry fruit intertwined with sweet notes of compost, smoke,...

    [SOLD-OUT]

    $95.00
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  • Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 2000

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 2000

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Robert Parker 90-92 points! Lighter than its 1999 or 2001 counterparts, the dense purple-colored 2000 Shiraz Amery Vineyard Hillside is spicy and peppery, with a floral (acacia flowers) note intermixed with melted asphalt, black cherries, blackberries,...

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    $50.00
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  • Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 1999

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 1999

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    eRobertParker.com 96 Points!"Deep garnet-brick in color and revealing a nose redolent of sandalwood, incense, Chinese five spice and soy, with hints of anise, fruit cake, prunes and figs, the 1999 Hillside Shiraz is drinking very well now and showing...

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    $50.00
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  • Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2000

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 2000

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Wine Advocate 94 points! "Medium-deep garnet-brick in color, the 2000 Block 6 Shiraz is loaded with dried berries, spice cake and incense notes accented by dried roses, powdered cinnamon and chocolate dust. Expressive and offering loads of fruit on the...

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    $95.00
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  • Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 1998

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 1998

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Robert Parker 94 points!"Readers should be aware that the Kay Brothers produced a Shiraz Hillside that is aged in 100% new American oak and made from relatively young vines that are the same clone as the Shiraz planted in Block 6. The Hillside Shiraz is...

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    $65.00
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  • [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 1999

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 1999

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Robert Parker 95 points!"The 1999 Block 6 boasts layers of concentration, huge body, and massively extracted blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with leather, animal fur, and licorice. There is a lot going on in this blockbuster, broodingly backward,...

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    $99.00
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  • Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 1998

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 1998

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Robert Parker 98 points! I have to wonder if this wine would not be even more extraordinary and close to perfection if it were aged in French oak. American oak is still the big deal in Australia, despite the exceptional success the more subtle French oak...

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    $115.00
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  • Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 1997

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 1997

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Robert Parker 93 points! The 1997 has a saturated plum/purple color and a sweet nose of blackberry fruit intermixed with American oak, tar, and saddle leather. The wine possesses wonderful sweetness, a viscous texture, well-integrated acidity and tannin,...

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    $85.00
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  • Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 1996

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 1996

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Jeremy Oliver 95 points!Robert Parker 97 points!"This is the first vintage that the Kay family put in 100% new American oak. A blockbuster effort, this wine conceals 14.9% alcohol in its personality, which is more akin to a dry vintage port than red...

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    $155.00
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  • Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 1995

    [SOLD-OUT] Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz 1995

    Region: SA- McLaren Vale

    Robert Parker 96 points!"This sensational wine is on a faster evolutionary track than the 1996. However, it is nearly the same weight and richness, and certainly also powerful (14.9% alcohol). The wine is black/purple, has a nose of anise, roast beef,...

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    $90.00
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