Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay, Hawkes Bay Chardonnay
Vintage: 2022
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | TR103B22 | 6 x 75 | Screwcap | Contact Us |
Producer
Trinity Hill is synonymous with quality and consistency, making wines emblematic of Hawkes Bay. Winemaker Warren Gibson has worked at Trinity Hill since 1997. In addition to his winemaking expertise, Warren also manages Trinity Hill’s 80 hectares of vineyards across Hawkes Bay and the Gimblett Gravels. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the region and its vineyards is reflected in the quality of the wines. Warren and his team show the best of what Hawkes Bay and the Gimblett Gravels can produce. These wines are defined by elegance, balance, drinkability, and flavour precision, making them a joy to drink.
Originally founded in 1993 by winemaker John Hancock and restaurateurs Robert and Robyn Wilson, Trinity Hill was sold in 2021 to a group of New Zealand private investors passionate about the wine industry, including Director Mitch Plaw and his business partners, Craig Turner, Mark Sandelin and Michael Nock. Together, they continue Trinity Hills' legacy for quality and award-winning, site-specific winemaking.
Hawkes Bay
Trinity Hill’s Hawkes Bay Chardonnay is beautifully balanced. The fruit is gently pressed without crushing or de-stemming before fermenting with indigenous yeasts. It then undergoes full malolactic fermentation, followed by ageing in French oak barrels, creating notes of citrus and white flowers combined with a rich, creamy texture. The Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc blends fruit from four subregions. It differs significantly from the ‘classic’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc expression, with gentle aromas and flavours of stone fruit and lime.
Trinity Hill’s red wines are impressive. The Hawkes Bay Syrah is sourced from vineyards across Hawkes Bay, including the Gimblett Gravels and the Red Metal Triangle. A short period of oak ageing helps retain its vibrant fruit profile, defined by wild blackberry, spice and delicious peppery notes. ‘The Trinity’ is predominantly Merlot, blended with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec from vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels. It is an impressive wine with soft, ripe tannins and notes of plum, cassis, and spice. For the Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir, a small portion of the fruit undergoes whole-bunch fermentation, enhancing notes of fresh raspberry, plum and brambly spice with soft, velvety tannins.
Vineyards
The grapes are sourced from four vineyard sites in three distinct sub-regions throughout Hawkes Bay. 50% from the free draining soils of the Gimblett Gravels, 37% from the silty, sandy soils of Haumoana and 13% from the inland sub-region of Ohiti. Yields are controlled to ensure Trinity Hill's philosophy of "quality over quantity". All vineyards are planted using the traditional VSP trellis system, this maximises fruit development and ripening.
Vintage
Weather conditions leading up to the 2022 harvest were typical of a classic Hawke's Bay summer: warm and sunny days with moderate-cool nights. As autumn arrived, the season became slightly cooler and wet; however, these conditions were ideal for preserving natural acidity, freshness and flavour development for cooler ripening Chardonnay clones.
Vinification
Each vineyard was harvested separately, with the parcels gently pressed without crushing or destemming. Fermentations were carried out using cultured and indigenous yeast, in a combination of stainless steel tanks (70%) and 500-litre French oak puncheons (30%), the former preserving fruit flavour, the latter imparting complexity and texture. Malolactic fermentation was discouraged post-fermentation in order to enhance the freshness of the wine. Ageing on yeast lees for six months further enhanced complexity and mouthfeel.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
On the nose, this wine shows typical fresh aromatics of citrus, grapefruit and ripe stone fruits. These aromas are complemented on the palate by roasted hazelnuts and almonds, hints of gunflint and a creamy richness on the finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
13%
Acidity
6.1 g/l
Residual Sugar
0.74 g/l
pH
3.36
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gimblett Gravels | Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay | TR107 | W | Factsheet | |
| Gimblett Gravels Marsanne/Viognier | TR108 | W | Factsheet | ||
| Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo | TR109 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Gimblett Gravels Syrah | TR110 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `125 Gimblett` Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay | TR151 | W | Factsheet | ||
| Hawkes Bay | Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc | TR101 | W | ||
| Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir | TR104 | R | |||
| Hawkes Bay Syrah | TR105 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `The Trinity` Hawkes Bay | TR106 | R |