People Forgot About Australia. These Wines Prove That’s a Mistake
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Kay Brothers 2020 Duo Link to Purchase Wine: https://www.winex.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=%23KayDuo Link to Glasses: https://www.winex.com/fontaine-premier-universal-wine-glass.html Join our Daily Email Offer List: https://cdn.forms-content.sg-form.com/f3da488a-d10b-11ee-94a3-62718bdc6118 This is one of those offers that makes you stop mid-sentence. Kay Brothers is one of the foundational estates of McLaren Vale, farming vines planted as far back as 1892. Their wines are benchmarks for South Australian Shiraz, known for depth, balance, and a sense of history you can taste in the glass. These are not trendy wines. They are reference-point wines. And somehow, here we are. In front of us are two Kay Brothers Shiraz bottlings, both from exceptional sites, both made with traditional, thoughtful winemaking, and both offered at prices that feel completely disconnected from reality. The Hillside Shiraz comes from mature vines over 30 years old, planted with the same clonal material as the legendary Block Six. It delivers classic McLaren Vale character with plum, black cherry, licorice, and spice, but with more freshness and precision than many expect from Australian Shiraz. Alcohol is a measured 14 percent, and the wine has real energy and lift. Then there is Block Six. This is the crown jewel. Vines planted in 1892, original French clonal material, extremely low yields, and a wine that is about finesse as much as power. The aromatics are deeper and more complex, the palate more layered and composed. At just 13 percent alcohol, it completely dismantles the idea that Shiraz has to be heavy or overdone. These wines are made under the guidance of Duncan Kennedy, using classic techniques, thoughtful oak, and zero gimmicks. They are time capsules of McLaren Vale, showing both where the region came from and where it is now. Normally, these wines live in the $70 to $120 range. Today, the Hillside is $29.98 and Block Six is $49.98. This is not normal. This is not common. And it will not last. If you care about old vines, serious Shiraz, and wines that deliver far beyond their price tags, this is a no-brainer.