Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz 2010
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 Hillside Shiraz is still a little closed, though with coaxing lots of blackberry and spice aromas emerge with vanilla, toast and marmite notes, plus a touch of bacon. Full-bodied and concentrated, it is definitely big, yet taut and youthful in the mouth with firm, grainy tannins, a crisp acid backbone and a long finish. Drink it now to 2022+.Rating: 93+
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Wine Enthusiast
A McLaren Vale standard bearer, the 2010 Hillside is a complex, beguiling example of Shiraz. Toast and vanilla notes frame hints of raspberries, herbs and espresso on the nose, while the flavors add olive-tinged elements. Despite showing ample weight, this isn’t the biggest wine, just one that shows impressive harmony and length. Drink now through at least 2025.
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Wine & Spirits
A clean, fragrant shiraz, this wine’s light tannins bring black olive notes to the red fruit and tobacco scents. Those tannins have a sandy feel, meshing with the soft texture of the fruit. Ready for roast beef.
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Established in 1890 by Australian born brothers Herbert and Frederick Kay, it is the oldest McLaren Vale
winery still in the hands of the founding family, with Herbert’s grandson Colin Kay continuing the family
winemaking tradition. Bordering St. Vincent’s Gulf, 24 miles south of Adelaide, the Kay Brothers
McLaren Vale vineyards grace the rolling foothills of the Southern Mt. Lofty Ranges. The winery is
located at the top of a hill three miles from the McLaren Vale Township and the cellar door, which is part
of the original winery complex, boasts some stunning panoramic views of the surrounding picturesque
valleys and hillsides.
The Kays are specialists of traditional grape growing and winemaking, utilizing grapes from their own 54
acre vineyards to produce their wines. The main grape variety grown is Shiraz (including the 1892
planted Block 6) followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Mataro (Mourvedre) and Muscat
Blanc. Colin’s winemaking philosophy is to make rich full-bodied fruit-driven wines (using the original
open fermenters and basket press) with a minimum of 18 months aging in small American oak casks.
The Block 6 Shiraz & Hillside Shiraz spend up to two and a half years maturing in a combination of
American, Eastern European and French oak barrels.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.