By Kay Brothers
2019 Hillside Shiraz

Wine Details
Wine Composition: 100% Shiraz
Producer: Kay Brothers
Region: McClaren Vale
Country: Australia
Alcohol: 14.50%
Total Acidity: 6.70 g/L
pH: 3.5

Vineyard Details
Various parcels of grapes were used to assemble the best blend. Block 11 has shallow sandy loam soil over limestone and sandstone. These vines are exposed to the wind and sun. Consequently, the vines mature earlier in most years and tend to be lower-yielding, with intense fruit concentration and powerful tannins. In new Block 6, dark chocolate loam and clay soil mix with quartz and ironstone over silty limestone. These components provide the finesse and elegance to the overall blend with savory flavors and tight structure.

Vintage Details
The growing season for the 2019 vintage was consistently dry across autumn, winter, spring, and summer. Despite the warm start to summer, we experienced mild temperatures and cold nights in February, which allowed the vines to come back into balance after the previous months of water and wind stress. The first week of March was warm, but the weather pattern returned to dry, mild days and cold nights perfect for flavor development and natural acid retention in the grape berries.

Winemaking Details
Harvested on the 5th and 7th of March, the grapes were crushed, de-stemmed, and plunged twice daily while spending ten days on skins in our traditional open fermenters. The wine was then basket pressed and matured for 22 months in American and French oak. Bottling took place in May 2021.

Tasting Notes
The 2019 vintage of Hillside Shiraz leads with a deep ruby color. The bouquet exhibits alluring aromas of dark purple fruits, black currant, and dried herbs followed by earthy notes. The palate is dense and concentrated, with rich dark fruits, umami, black olive tapenade, and chocolate. Supported by gritty, textured tannins, the wine lingers on the finish.

Service
Serving Temperature: Ideally served at room temperature, with decanting recommended prior to serving.
Food Pairings: Goes well with game dishes, hearty lamb, and beef.
[Information provided by Quintessential Wines]

2019 Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz
Rating: 93+
Producer: Kay Brothers
Wine Region: Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale
Variety: Syrah
Color / Type / Sweetness: Red / Table / Dry
Reviewed by: Erin Larkin
Drink Date: 2024 - 2039
2019 was a warm year in South Australia, and the reds produced in this season are across the board concentrated, compacted and dense. This applies to this 2019 Hillside Shiraz: the oak encases the fruit at this stage, and the wine has a distinct charry/resinous/midnight countenance. Everything about it feels built for the long haul, and usually I would encourage people to drink wine whenever they saw fit, but I really believe this will be better in even two years from now.
Published: Sep 15, 2022

Kay Brothers, McLaren Vale (Australia) Shiraz “Hillside” 2019
Importer: Quintessential Wines
Kay Brothers "Hillside" is a very enjoyable Shiraz, one where the regional menthol character is nicely folded into plush black fruit and accented with notes of pepper and tar. Supple texture and bright acidity keep the flavor elements pulsing through a long integrated finish that will have you coming back for more. This would serve well with lamb of course, but it is more versatile than that. Try it with seared Ahi or barbecue if you dare.
Points: 93
Reviewed By: Rich Cook
Review Date: Sep 20, 2022

2019 Shiraz Hillside
Producer: Kay Brothers Amery
Place of Origin: Australia, Mc Laren Vale, South Australia
Color: Red
Grape/Blend: Syrah/Shiraz
Rating: 93
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2035
From: South Australia, Victoria and a Bit Beyond (Sep 2022)
Dark purple. Smoky, oak-tinged dark berries, kirsch and vanilla on the deeply perfumed nose; a hint of cracked pepper adds complexity and spiciness. Broad, juicy cherry, black currant and fruitcake flavors are supported by an undercurrent of smoky minerality that adds back-end lift. A suave floral nuance emerges on the impressively long, dark-berry- and vanilla-driven finish, which is framed by smooth, harmonious tannins. 40% new oak, a combination of French and American.
By: Josh Raynolds on September 2022

Kay Brothers 2019 Amery Vineyard Hillside Shiraz (McLaren Vale)
From: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
Rating: 92 - Cellar Selection
Winery: Kay Brothers
Wine Type: Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Region: South Australia
Alcohol: 14.5%
Issue Date: 3/1/2023
This is a dense and chocolatey Shiraz from the historic Amery vineyard. Succulent raspberry and satsuma plum is underpinned by savory, dusty spice notes, peppercorn and warm pavement. Tannins are huge, austere and distinctly textured. They dominate for the moment, but there's a depth of flavor and overall structure here that suggests that patience will be rewarded. Drink 2026-2036.
Reviewed By: Christina Pickard

Kay Brothers Hillside McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019
Winery: Kay Brothers
Winery Region: McLaren Vale
Wine Region: McLaren Vale
Variety: Shiraz
Colour: Red
Style: Still
Vintage: 2019
Halliday Rating: 92
Date when tasted: 25 Feb 2022
Alcohol: 14.5%
Drink By: 2032
Closure: Screw cap
Reviewed by: Ned Goodwin MW
Published: 03 August 2022
I breathe a sigh of attrition when faced with Shiraz from the Vale and most warmer places. Yet this, old-school and fusty perhaps, is something I respect. As Grenache and better-suited varieties lay claim, there remains a place for ample American oak and the sort of full-weighted, avuncular and hearth-side wines of a childhood. Campfire, violet and boysenberry, with bourbon-mocha-coffee-bean oak. This doesn't try to be something it is not and at is righteous in that.

KAY BROTHERS SHIRAZ MCLAREN VALE HILLSIDE 2019
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Vintage: 2019
Score: 90
Plenty of dark plums, cherries, blackberries, baking spices and smoke. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins and lots of saline blackberries. Concentrated and velvety with a long, spicy finish. Just be aware of the salinity here. Drink now. Screw cap.

Kay Brothers Shiraz McLaren Vale Hillside Amery Vineyard
Score: 88
Wine Type and Color: Red Still
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Primary Grape: Shiraz
Magazine Issue: Online Only Review - Published on October 20, 2022
Region: Australia / McLaren Vale
Fruit-forward, with blackberry jam, dried cherry and blueberry flavors accented with herb, tobacco and cedar notes. Warm baking spices linger on the finish. Drink now.