Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels, Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels, Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo

Vintage: 2020

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2020TR109B206 x 75Stelvin LuxSold Out
Producer

Trinity Hill is synonymous with quality and consistency, making wines emblematic of Hawkes Bay. Chief Winemaker Warren Gibson has led the Trinity Hill winemaking and vineyard teams since 1997, managing the 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 and flavour precision, making them a joy to drink.

Originally founded in 1993 by winemaker John Hancock and restaurateurs Robert and Robyn Wilson, the trio recognised the outstanding potential of the Gimblett Gravels district and became one of the region’s early pioneers. Trinity Hill was sold in 2021 to new owners who continue Trinity Hills' legacy for quality and award-winning, site-specific winemaking.

Gimblett Gravels

Trinity Hill was among the first to plant grapes on the Gimblett Gravels in 1993. Defined by gravelly soils laid down by the old Ngaruroro River, the Gimblett Gravels is a highly sought-after and strictly designated Hawkes Bay sub-region, prized for the quality of its Chardonnay and Syrah. All three of Trinity Hills estate vineyards are located here.

The Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay is predominantly made from the ‘125 Gimblett’ vineyard (or ‘Tin Shed’ vineyard), where silt over gravel soils produce a wine that is rich yet elegant, with a beautiful linear acidity. The sophisticated and precise single vineyard ‘125 Gimblett` Chardonnay is one of the finest examples from the region.

The Gimblett Gravels Syrah is a blend of numerous vineyards, with soils consisting of deep greywacke gravels. Co-fermented with Viognier skins, in the classic Côte-Rôtie tradition, it is an elegant wine, defined by notes of cracked pepper and wild berry fruits balanced by good acidity.

Trinity Hills' most celebrated red wine is the ‘Homage’ Syrah, produced only in the very best years and in very limited quantities. It pays tribute to the late Gérard Jaboulet, a long-time friend of Robert, Robyn and John, who they worked alongside in Tain L’Hermitage for the 1996 vintage. Inspired by the wines from the Northern Rhône, ‘Homage’ is a wine of incredible elegance and power, described by Jancis Robinson MW as “a dead ringer for Côte-Rôtie” with “great balance and poise.”

Vineyards

The Tempranillo grapes for this wine come from the estate-owned Gimblett Stones and Gimblett Estate vineyards which benefit from deep, free draining gravel soils in the microclimate of the Gimblett Gravels region. The soils were deposited by the Ngaruroro River as it changed course over many thousands of years. Their low fertility and excellent drainage give small crops of grapes with highly concentrated flavours and aromas.

Vintage

2020 was a superb vintage in Hawkes Bay. Spring was warm with frequent rainfall, which prompted an early budburst. Summer was favourably warm and dry. The 2020 harvest produced delicious, fruit-forward wines with excellent balance.

Vinification

The hand-harvested grapes were de-stemmed, but not crushed, before being transferred to open top stainless steel fermenters to undergo daily plunging. After fermentation, the wine was given an extended period on skins to assist with the texture and complexity of the tannins. The wine was then transferred to a combination of new (58%) and one-year-old French, and two-year old American, 225-litre barriques for 14 months maturation before being blended and bottled in June and July 2021 respectively.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

This Tempranillo shows attractive ripe bramble and blackberry fruit along with spicy complexity. The palate is rich and textural with beautifully soft tannins. Liquorice, chocolate and vanilla flavours linger on the finish.

Alcohol (ABV)

14%

Acidity

5.9 g/l

Residual Sugar

0.39 g/l

pH

3.89