Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels, Gimblett Gravels Syrah
Vintage: 2019
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | TR110B19 | 6 x 75 | Screwcap | Available |
Producer
Founded in 1993, by winemaker John Hancock together with Robert and Robyn Wilson, owners of The Bleeding Heart Group and The Don in London, Trinity Hill is synonymous with quality and consistency. In 2021, Trinity Hill was bought by 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.
Winemaker Warren Gibson has worked at Trinity Hill since 1997. Alongside his winemaking expertise, Warren also manages Trinity Hill’s 80 hectares of vineyards across Hawkes Bay and the Gimblett Gravels. He is well versed in these areas and this knowledge is reflected in his wines. Warren and his team show the best of what Hawkes Bay and the Gimblett Gravels can produce. These are wines defined by elegance, balance, drinkability and flavour precision, making them a joy to drink.
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. The resulting wine also undergoes full malolactic fermentation, followed by ageing in French oak barrels and is defined by aromas of citrus and white flowers combined with a rich, creamy texture. The Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc is a blend of 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, if anything, even more impressive. The Hawkes Bay Syrah is sourced from across Hawkes Bay, including Gimblett Gravels and the Red Metal Triangle. A short period ageing in oak helps retain its vibrant fruit profile, defined by wild blackberry, spice and delicious peppery notes. The Hawkes Bay ‘The Trinity’ is a Merlot-dominant blend supplemented by Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec from various vineyards in Gimblett Gravels. This 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, adding to the wine’s character and enhancing notes of fresh raspberry, plum and brambly spice with soft, velvety tannins.
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
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gimblett Gravels | Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc | TR101 | W | ||
| Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay | TR107 | W | Factsheet | ||
| Gimblett Gravels Marsanne/Viognier | TR108 | W | Factsheet | ||
| `The Gimblett` Gimblett Gravels | TR111 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `Homage` Gimblett Gravels Syrah | TR112 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `125 Gimblett` Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay | TR151 | W | Factsheet | ||
| Hawkes Bay | Hawkes Bay Chardonnay | TR103 | W | Factsheet | |
| Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir | TR104 | R | |||
| Hawkes Bay Syrah | TR105 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `The Trinity` Hawkes Bay | TR106 | R |