Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels, `125 Gimblett` Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay
Vintage: 2021
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | TR151B21 | 6 x 75 | Stelvin Lux | Available |
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 125 Gimblett Chardonnay takes its name from the 125 Gimblett Road vineyard, also humbly known as the Tin Shed vineyard. This unique Chardonnay vineyard has silty soils over gravel, and is largely dry farmed, helping create a sophisticated, rich, and refined Chardonnay.
Vintage
2021 was an ideal vintage. Weather conditions leading up to the harvest were typical of a Hawkes Bay summer – warm, sunny days with moderately cool nights. As autumn arrived the season became cooler yet remained dry, providing ideal ripening conditions.
Vinification
The grapes were hand harvested before arrival at the winery where they underwent a gentle press. The juice was then fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of new 228 and 500 litre French oak barriques and puncheons. Malolactic fermentation was encouraged to soften the acidity and impart further richness. The wine spent 14 months on yeast lees building further texture and complexity before being racked out of barrel and bottled in June 2022 with no fining and minimal filtration.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
This Chardonnay opens with aromas of white peach, grapefruit and citrus blossom, all of which combine beautifully with nuances of toasted oak. The palate is rich and concentrated with an underlying backbone of acidity keeping the wine precise and focused. Flavours of stone fruit and toasted nuts are complemented by a long and mouthwatering finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
14%
Acidity
6.5 g/l
Residual Sugar
2.61 g/l
pH
3.26
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gimblett Gravels | Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay | TR107 | W | Factsheet | |
| Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo | TR109 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Gimblett Gravels Syrah | TR110 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `Homage` Gimblett Gravels Syrah | TR112 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Hawkes Bay | Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc | TR101 | W | Factsheet | |
| Hawkes Bay Chardonnay | TR103 | W | Factsheet | ||
| Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir | TR104 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Hawkes Bay Syrah | TR105 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `The Trinity` Hawkes Bay | TR106 | R | Factsheet |