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From the Amery Wine Club Newsletter - August 2005
2003 VINTAGE REPORT – Moderate rainfall over winter was followed by a warm dry spring with excellent flowering and fruit set. Coupled with warm growing and ripening conditions, Kay’s Amery vineyard delivered average to above average yields throughout the property, bucking the regional trend of low yields. Rain prior to harvest caused some concern, however the fruit quality across the vineyard was excellent. Vintage began on the 24th February with Semillon and Frontignac and the resulting whites are fresh and varietal. Red grapes began filling the winery on the 12th March, the vineyard producing bunches with small berries, thick skins, good phenolic ripeness and excellent natural acidity. The red wines are deep and rich, in colour and character with medium term ageing potential.
2003 KAYS AMERY BLOCK 6 SHIRAZ (107th VINTAGE 1897-2003) – As this wine was not in bottle when this wine-letter was put together these notes are from a June 2005 cask tasting - once bottled in July 2005 we will have another taste and publish these notes on our web site during August. In their 111th year the Block 6 vines produced 14.18 tonnes of superb quality Shiraz grapes. They were hand picked on the 17th March 2003 and traditionally processed (open fermentation and basket pressing) prior to transferring to new American and Eastern European oak casks for 28 months of wood maturation.
Colour: Dense inky black/purple.
Bouquet: Toasty oak, blackberry, black pepper, briar and spice.
Palate: Multi-layered concentration of rich juicy full-bodied black fruits combined with chocolate, tar, pepper, liquorice, smoky oak and chewy robust tannins. An intensely complex mouthful of Shiraz fruit and a finish that lingers and lingers. The rich fruit carries the 15.5% alc/vol and we would see this Block 6 developing into a great example of old vine Shiraz with 6 years plus in a good cellar.
2003 KAYS AMERY HILLSIDE SHIRAZ – The Hillside vineyard had its beginnings in 1992 when cuttings from the 100 year old gnarled vines of Block 6 were planted on the eastern hillside of the Amery property - further plantings of the Block 6 clone took place in 1993, 1997, 1998 and 1999.
The 2003 Hillside Shiraz grapes were harvested in March, traditionally processed and aged in new American oak casks for 28 months prior to bottling in July 2005. The following notes are from a pre-bottling June 2005 cask tasting.
Colour: Deep cherry black.
Bouquet: Sweet fruit perfume of black cherries, blackberries, white pepper and spices over subtle toasty oak.
Palate: A rich, voluptuous, fruit driven Shiraz with a hint of confectionery sweetness in the background. A very approachable full bodied combination of blueberries, plum, Ribena, mocha chocolate, spice box, vanilla and pepper fill the palate with pleasurable flavours and the balanced soft tannin finish has both length and persistence. Excellent cellaring potential. 15% alc/vol.
Kind regards,
Adair
Wine is bottled poetry.
