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At latitude 45 degrees south, Central Otago is the southernmost wine region in the world. Snow topped mountains, rocky ranges and dry tussock hills, a place of climatic extremes, bitterly cold winters, parched soils and discouragingly poor fertility. Designed by the angels in heaven for sublime and stupendous vintages of Pinot Noir. At the very epicentre of the most desirable confluence in Central Otago microclimes is Nanny Goat Vineyard. Conspicuous for her serious weight of fruit, splendid structure and chewy, textural palate, Nanny Goat make a magnificently endowed style, offering the understated power and presence to accompany gourmet game sausages, meaty Mediterranean braises or char grilled rib... That's perfect for porterhouse»
After hearing tall tales of the Victorian klondike, he jumped ship and made his way to the Castlemaine goldfields. Black Jack mined no fortune but he found his fame as the only American mariner to still be savoured alongside have claimed the eminent M.Chapoutier Trophy for Best Shiraz at the prestigious Le Concours des Vinson on no fewer than three occasions... Found berth in the australian colonies during the goldrush of the 1850s»
One of the closely guarded secrets which remained cardinal to the preeminence of Grange Hermitage, was the sacred tally of exceptional vineyards which were called on to provide fruit for the new world's most stately Shiraz. The elite Grange Growers Club is one of the nation's more exclusive fellowships, an illustrious canon of distinguished wine growing families which are the stuff of Australian viticultural history. One of McLaren Vale's most eminent dynasties, Oliver's of Taranga were an essential inclusion into many of the mighty Grange's most memorable vintages. Oliver Taranga's estate flagship HJ Reserve Shiraz represents peerless value for a wine of its provenance, power, persistence and depth, $50.99 and drinking sensationally... A principal part of the great grange»

Kay Brothers Cuthbert Cabernet Sauvignon CONFIRM VINTAGE

Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale South Australia
Cuthbert Thornborough Kay saw service in World War II, he was an ardent enthusiast of full bodied reds and established the finest Cabernet blocks in all McLaren Vale. The Kay Brothers cellar door, which is part of the original Amery Vineyards wineworks, boasts some stunning panoramic views of the surrounding picturesque valleys and hillsides. It was selected, as much for its scenic views of McLaren Vale, as it was for the fortuitous soils and magnificent winegrowing climes. A beautifully composed, decidedly regional articulation of McLaren Cabernet Sauvignon.
Available in cartons of six
Case of 6
$305.50
The warm temperate climes, cool moist winters, warm dry summers and proximity to the sea ensures that frost, which is a debilitating agent in many viticultural areas, is virtually unknown. The Kay Brothers vineyard receives a rainfall of approximately 550mm year and excellent vines are grown on a wide range of soils, the predominant being ironstone gravel. Cabernet Sauvignon is traditionally open fermented for ten days on skins, passed through the 1928 vintage basket press into French oak barriques and matured twenty two months.
Deep ruby hues. Lovely aromas of mint, blackberries and cassis, juicy winegum characters and a fragrant whiff of amaretti. Soft and supple palate, gentle flavours of liquorice, mulberry, sweet and savoury soy, allsorts and dark chocolate box assortment, all supported by fine grained chalky tannins that linger on the finish.
Kay Brothers
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Kay Brothers
Bordering St. Vincents Gulf, 40 kms south of Adelaide, Amery Vineyards grace the rolling foothills of the Southern Mt. Lofty Ranges

In the early 1850's Richard Baker Aldersey bought several sections of land 6 kms north of McLaren Vale in a hilly area near Hope Farm (Seaview). He built a fine ironstone house and named the property Amery, after his birthplace Amery Farm near Alton, in Hampshire, England. The land was partly cleared until Amery was acquired by William Hammond junior, whose father owned the adjacent Hambledon Farm where he settled after quitting his sugar plantation in Jamaica. In 1886 young William Hammond planted out the original seven acres of vineyard at Amery, but for the main part he ran the 339 acre property as a farm, raising cattle and sheep, cereal crops, soft fruits and vegetables. In 1890 the Amery property was bought by the Kay Brothers, Herbert and Frederick, and they finally came into possession on February 2nd 1891.

Kay Brothers

Five months later Bert and Fred carted in vine cuttings from Tintara; 25,800 Shiraz, 5,000 Riesling, 10,000 Carbenet, and began planting the fallow paddocks. There is a meticulously kept diary for every year that the Kay Family has been at Amery. They give not only detailed vintage records and weather information, but also a host of day-to-day insights into the tremendous physical effort people put into working and living in those early days.

On Friday 15th July 1892 they recorded: "W.H. Craven offered to supply Carbenet and Malbec cuttings at 10/- per thousand." Tuesday 19th July "T. Hardy called - agreed to buy 900 white Hermitage vines from him." Wednesday 20th July - "Ordered from W.H. Craven at 7/- per thousand 14,500 Carbenet and 13,000 Malbec cuttings. J.G. Kelly called, agreed to take 3,000 Riesling cuttings." Monday 25th July - "Planted 457 White Hermitage on hilltop". Thursday 28th July - "T. Hardy sent up 90 White Hermitage vines (2 years old)." The first grape crush came in 1895. Today, the Heritage Listed Kay Brorthers Amery is the oldest McLaren Vale winery still in founding family hands.

The Rieslings were the first true varietal wines grown to the area and some of the older traditional winemakers in the district were prophetic of failure. Time has happily proved to the contrary and today outstanding Riesling wines are still being made in McLaren Vale. The Riesling recorded in the 1891 diary were in fact, mainly the variety we now know as Chenin Blanc.

Kay Brothers

The warm temperate climes, cool moist winters, warm dry summers and proximity to the sea ensures that frost, which is a debilitating agent in many viticultural areas, is virtually unknown. The vineyard receives a rainfall of approximately 550mm year and excellent vines are grown on a wide range of soils, the predominant being ironstone gravel. The estate Cellar Door, which is part of the original Winery complex, boasts some stunning panoramic views of the surrounding picturesque valleys and hillsides.

The Kay Brothers were partners in business for fifty-seven years, which is a remarkable achievement in the Australian winemaking scene. Herbert Kay was made Chairman of the Australian Wine Board in 1933 where he sat for twelve years. Herbert's son Cuthbert (Cud) Kay took over the management and winemaking at Amery. He increased the vineyards, concentrating on more Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Riesling with some smaller areas of Sauvignon Blanc and White Frontignac. In the 1960s changes in the estate's primary UK market and uneconomic prices led to the development of Australian markets. Initially this was in bulk to other winemakers but progressively more and more wine was packaged until eventually all of the output became branded under the Kays Amery Vineyards label.

The Kay Brothers Winery today are specialist traditional red wine makers utilising grapes from their own 22-hectare Amery Vineyard and from the neighbouring Oliver's Taranga. The relatively small, strictly regional estate can boast an enviable record in wine shows around Australia and Internationally. The welcome at Cellar Door is as friendly as the view is seductive, so allow plenty of time during your visit to taste the renowned selection of wines and explore the Kay Family diaries dating from 1891.

As Ernest Whitington wrote in 1903 "If any people engaged in the industry deserve success they are the Kay Brothers, who have been at Amery for twelve years. The property is situated on the Vale side of Tintara, and the view from the house is one of the finest in South Australia. Looking towards Tintara the valley and hillsides are literally covered in vines, and at the time of my visit the autumnal tints of the leaves enhanced the beauty of the scene. Encircling behind are wooded hills, and then away in the dreamy distance is a blue haze covered range. Turn around and you are gazing over vines and ploughed land away to the sea. You see Aldinga Bay quite plainly. When I go to Amery and the exquisite landscape, the labour which seems to be one of love, and the contentment that prevails ever recalls one verse from Gray's Elegy!"

Kay Brothers