Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels, Gimblett Gravels Syrah

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels, Gimblett Gravels Syrah

Vintage: 2019

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2019TR110B196 x 75ScrewcapSold Out
Producer

Based in the Gimblett Gravels, Trinity Hill is synonymous with quality and consistency, making wines that are 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 (owners of The Bleeding Heart Group in London), 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 have continued to ensure Trinity Hills' legacy for quality and award-winning, site-specific winemaking.

Gimblett Gravels

In 1993, Trinity Hill was among the first to plant grapes on the Gimblett Gravels in Hawkes Bay and today their three estate vineyards are all located within the Gimblett Gravels. Located on gravelly spoils laid down by the old Ngaruroro River, the Gimblett Gravels is a highly sought-after and strictly designated sub-region, prized for the quality of its Syrah.

Trinity Hill’s Gimblett Gravels Syrah is sourced from various vineyards in the sub-region, where the soils consist of deep greywacke gravels. The Syrah is co-fermented with Viognier skins, nodding to a classic Côte-Rôtie blend and creating an elegant wine, defined by notes of cracked pepper and wild berry fruits balanced by good acidity. ‘The Gimblett’ blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a little Tempranillo, sourced from two low-yielding vineyards. The resulting wine is powerful and richly structured with lovely blackberry aromatics. Their Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo, made in minute quantities, displays attractive bramble fruit aromas and has soft, velvety tannins. Yet perhaps their most outstanding red wine is the lauded ‘Homage’ Syrah, which is 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 worked alongside Gérard in Tain L’Hermitage for the 1996 vintage. Inspired by wines from the Northern Rhône, it is a wine of incredible elegance and power with great concentration. Jancis Robinson MW gave the 2018 Homage an impressive 18.5 points, praising its “great balance and perfect poise” and calling it “a dead ringer for Côte-Rôtie.”

Trinity Hill’s Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay, which offers superb value, is fermented with indigenous yeast in 500-litre puncheons before being aged for 11 months in oak, followed by four months on its lees in tank. The resulting wine is defined by notes of citrus, white flowers and ripe grapefruit, as well as toasted cashew and roasted hazelnut. They also produce a single-vineyard Chardonnay using fruit sourced from the ‘125 Gimblett Vineyard’, named after the road, that runs past it, in the heart of the Gimblett Gravels. Made as a limited release, this is a powerful, multi-layered wine which was the only New Zealand wine to be awarded a trophy at the 2022 International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Vineyards

This wine is made from estate-grown grapes from the Tin Shed and Gimblett Stones vineyards. The Gimblett Gravels sub-region is known for its deep, free draining gravel soils in a unique microclimate. 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

2019 proved to be another exceptional vintage in Hawkes Bay. After the extensive rains before Christmas, the region encountered consistently warm daytime temperatures and moderate-cool nights – conditions that were perfect for ripening while preserving fresh acidity. The steady conditions enabled the team at Trinity Hill to pick at the perfect harvest time. Winemaker Warren Gibson says, "You could easily say there were seasons that were at least as good, but [2019] would be in the top 20%. In terms of the wine we have, I think it's certainly one of the best seasons we've ever had."

Vinification

The Syrah grapes for this wine were hand harvested from estate-owned vineyards of individual sites and clones, and then fermented separately before blending post-fermentation. A range of maceration periods allowed for increased complexity. 30% of whole bunches were included in the fermentations to contribute freshness, aromatics and structure to the wine. A small percentage of Viognier skins were included in some batches to further aid in providing complexity and texture. The wine was then matured for eight months, entirely in 5,000 litre oak ovals, before bottling in February 2021.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

This wine is a deep, vibrant crimson in colour. Wild raspberry, blackberry and black pepper aromas predominate, with hints of vanilla bean. Savoury, spicy notes follow with some meaty overtones. Powerful but balanced, ripe tannins give the wine great structure. Oak ageing plays a supporting role, the wine leading with a pure fruit expression. Combined with good acidity, these characteristics ensure excellent potential for ageing.

Alcohol (ABV)

13%

Acidity

5.7 g/l

Residual Sugar

2.6 g/l

pH

3.85

Awards
Silver

International Wine Challenge 2021