The Auswine Forum

I prefer a more classic style, not the overblown blockbuster style that seems to grab RP so much. I like what I hear about Amon Ra and the Two Hands garden series. Would Block 6 be in a similar vein?
Nigel

I don't know anyone that doesn't rate Block 6 highly and from just about any vintage.

I've had numerous mature bottles and they age wonderfully. I look forward to dining with Roger Pike of Marius Wines fame as he almost always brings an early 90s Block 6, invariably they are WOTN. Bravo Roger.

Nigel Bruce wrote:I prefer a more classic style, not the overblown blockbuster style that seems to grab RP so much. I like what I hear about Amon Ra and the Two Hands garden series. Would Block 6 be in a similar vein?
Nigel

Nigel, Block 6 is a "classic" style that even RP sometimes enjoys, I've not tried the Two Hands Garden series in recent years, and only the Amon Ra 2004, but I think you will find the Block 6 less opulent and more structured than the Amon Ra, it needs more time to soften into a really good drink unless you are like me and don't mind big firm young reds.

I sometimes regret dropping off their list for a few years in the late 80's, my stocks only go back to 96 now and 2004 is one of the best vintages.

707 wrote:I don't know anyone that doesn't rate Block 6 highly and from just about any vintage.

I've had numerous mature bottles and they age wonderfully. I look forward to dining with Roger Pike of Marius Wines fame as he almost always brings an early 90s Block 6, invariably they are WOTN. Bravo Roger.

Bugger, he only brought some pi$$y french muck last time we met at the Victory.

Red Bigot wrote:

707 wrote: I look forward to dining with Roger Pike of Marius Wines fame as he almost always brings an early 90s Block 6, invariably they are WOTN. Bravo Roger.

Bugger, he only brought some pi$$y french muck last time we met at the Victory.

Note for the next Bigots SA tour - ring Roger before the Victory dinner and remind him of his obligation to bring WOTN therefore it will be Block 6!

707 wrote:

Red Bigot wrote:

707 wrote: I look forward to dining with Roger Pike of Marius Wines fame as he almost always brings an early 90s Block 6, invariably they are WOTN. Bravo Roger.

Bugger, he only brought some pi$$y french muck last time we met at the Victory.

Note for the next Bigots SA tour - ring Roger before the Victory dinner and remind him of his obligation to bring WOTN therefore it will be Block 6!

It will happen.

Cheers,
Roger

Just want to avoid buying a wine that I need to cage for 10 years.
How long before it mellows...?

You can drink it now I reckon (or in 10 years)...I like the 2004 Hillside even more.
GW

I'd go for woodstock "the Stocks" shiraz 2004 on a very recent and first trip to SA, this wine easily stood out as the wine of the Mc vale, nice layers, great mouth feel, a few years will see it develop beautifully, but easily drinking well now, only the Bremerton old adam 2004 (from langhorne crk) was better in the region, but because the bremo was a little cheaper, and possibly drinking better at the moment... both great wines
cheers simmo

I'd spring for some block 6. Whilst it's a parker wine, i'm also lead to believe that whilst it is preferenced by parker, it also had a strong following in australia before parker entered the conversation. a good buy.

aj_syrah wrote:I'd spring for some block 6. Whilst it's a parker wine, i'm also lead to believe that whilst it is preferenced by parker, it also had a strong following in australia before parker entered the conversation. a good buy.

Block 6 isn't a "Parker" wine in the pejorative sense, he just happened to like the wine. The style hasn't changed all that much since I first tried it in the early 80's, probably a bit cleaner and with better oak these days, but always a "classic" McLarenVale cellaring red.

FWIW, visit the Kays web siite and look at the Parker tasting notes of Block 6, including a 10 year vertical, I think he's spot on with this one.

http://www.kaybrothersamerywines.com/ (Click on "Wines" then follow the links).

As an introduction to Kay's shiraz, why not get a bit of the Amery shiraz (2004 drinks beautifully now), a bit of Hillside and a bit of Block 6? 2 bottles of each will give you a good introduction to what they are on about.

And the trouble with Hong Kong. Block 6 is about 250HK a bottle cellar door and comes in at a $1000HK a bottle retail.

Considering taxation similar, a hard set of numbers to crucnch. Except, of course, the Parker factor.

When is the mailing list for Kay Amery going out? What vintage with this years release of Block 6 be?

DavidL wrote:When is the mailing list for Kay Amery going out? What vintage with this years release of Block 6 be?

Normally comes out at the start of August or thereabouts. This year will be the release of the 2005 Block 6 & Hillside.

Cheers
Popov

Had a 2003 Hillside last night. Still a bit tight, but opened up well in the decanter. Good gear.

Any one know when this years Block 6 is released at CD?

Any one know when this years Block 6 is released at CD?

I was at the cellar door last week and was told that the mailing list will be out in about a fortnight when Colin gets back from the US. Apparently, the allocation of Block 6 will be two bottles only.

Tristram Shandy wrote:

Any one know when this years Block 6 is released at CD?

I was at the cellar door last week and was told that the mailing list will be out in about a fortnight when Colin gets back from the US. Apparently, the allocation of Block 6 will be two bottles only.

** That really sucks. Can't they close off the mailing list? Pretty soon they'll have to start using half-bottles for the Block 6, since there won't be enough for each mailing list customer to buy 750ml

beef wrote:** That really sucks. Can't they close off the mailing list? Pretty soon they'll have to start using half-bottles for the Block 6, since there won't be enough for each mailing list customer to buy 750ml

Why would you want more than 2 or 3 bottles really though? It is screwcap so won't be corked and there are so many other great wines to put in the cellar too. Width is more important than depth in a good cellar. I reckon they are doing you a favour and they are ensuring more people can get a look in. Good on em.

GW

Gary W wrote:

beef wrote:** That really sucks. Can't they close off the mailing list? Pretty soon they'll have to start using half-bottles for the Block 6, since there won't be enough for each mailing list customer to buy 750ml

Why would you want more than 2 or 3 bottles really though? It is screwcap so won't be corked and there are so many other great wines to put in the cellar too. Width is more important than depth in a good cellar. I reckon they are doing you a favour and they are ensuring more people can get a look in. Good on em.

GW

** I like to observe a wine at various stages of its development. This holds especially true for wines with great aging potential, such as the Block 6. I can't do this without owning a reasonable number of bottles. For my money, three bottles is only just acceptable. Two bottles isn't enough.

At what point would you become dissatisfied? One bottle per year? A half bottle per year? A half bottle only in bumper vintages?

I approve of the sales model used by Rockford and Wendouree: give preference for the most prized wines (and in reasonable quantities) to those customers who've demonstrated sufficient loyalty over the years.

Stuart

You could always buy a few more at auction. Block 6 lists for auction a lot, usually without too savage a price rise.

Personally, I'm quite happy with a couple of bottles of Block 6, some Hillside and some of the Amery shiraz.