Kay Brothers Amery Vineyard Block 6 Shiraz

Block 6 is about a hectare and a half across complex soil/geology. There’s a section of red loam, heavy clay in the middle and alluvial soils on the lowest part, with all sitting over layers of glauconite, limestone, sandstone and siltstone. The '22 vintage was the 130th anniversary for the vines. This has crept up half a degree of alcohol from last year, and the year prior, too. That’s presumably a vintage thing, as winemaker Duncan Kennedy’s mission to deliver detailed and refined wines clearly continues. Those snaking, knotted old vines deliver suitable gravitas across deep red and dark fruits, black olive, soused black cherries, Earl Grey tea, panforte and ground aniseed. The tannins are agreeably fine, mineral feeling, the fruit powerful but buoyantly aloft, never heavy. There’s a traditional feel to this, but the filter is modern and the lens macro-focused. Excellent. Marcus Ellis Published 19 June 2025