TRINITY HILL GIMBLETT GRAVELS SYRAH 2024

We are seeing the emergence of more sophisticated styles of Hawkes Bay Syrah and the recent successes internationally of these wines reinforces just how good they are. The wine-making has moved to be more akin to Pinot Noir than Cabernet-like. Gentle extraction and around 20-30% whole bunch fermentation is just one example resulting in more finesse and greater complexity and concentration. This is a darkly coloured package of dense, sweet black fruits, spice/cloves, plump yet good back palate mouthfeel.

Winery notes (2024 Vintage)
"The Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing region is a small area in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand defined by its unique stony soil type. The warm and dry 2024 growing season has produced an aromatic, vibrant and spicy expression of Gimblett Gravels Syrah.

Grapes were harvested from 3 individual vineyards located on the Gimblett Gravels, de-stemmed and fermented separately. All parcels were pumped over once daily to aid optimum colour and tannin extraction, with a range of maceration periods utilised to increase textural complexity.

Following fermentation, parcels earmarked for the Gimblett Gravels Syrah blend were matured in 5,400- litre French oak ovals for 18-20 months. This barrel ageing regime allows the individual characteristics of our Syrah vineyards to shine through, while allowing the wines to mature slowly and preserve each parcel’s inherent beauty, purity, and freshness. The final wine was blended in November 2025 and bottled in February 2026 with minimal fining and filtration.

Perfumed aromas of ripe black fruits, savoury spice, liquorice, and Provençal herbs come together on a concentrated, silky, and succulent palate with a lingering, spicy finish. An outstanding Gimblett Gravels Syrah that will develop with age. Pair with red meat dishes or game."

92/100 David Walker Bell, WineFolio.co.nz, April 2026 (2024 Vintage)
"A deep purple, ruby red in the glass. Blending savoury and sweet aromas, the perfume is inviting and complex. Giving a sense of walking down a country lane, the hedges drying from a shower, and smelling earth, with peat, fallen leaves and herbs mingled with plum, bramble and raspberry fruits. Well-structured but made to drink now as much as it is to be cellared. Dry, supple tannin meets crisp and juicy acidity in the palate, with good flow and direction. A touch of barrel spice – peppery and smoky, and a velvet texture round things out. There’s a reasonable length to the well-balanced finish too."

Reviews for previous vintages below…

5 Stars & 96/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, March 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"Expressing purity and grace, the wine shows Black Doris plum, blueberry, violet, dark olive and toasted almond characters on the nose, leading to a concentrated palate offering outstanding depth and multi-layered mouthfeel. Tannins are polished and fine, and in abundance, providing excellent frame and structure. It’s wonderfully harmonious and supremely well balanced with a sustained refined finish. At its best: 2025 to 2036."

Rated Outstanding & 95/100 Cameron Douglas MS, July 2024 (2021 Vintage)
"A striking bouquet of dark berries and spices, toasty baked goods and wood smoke, power and personality. The core of this wine is its fruit centre of raspberry and dark berries then flavours of earth and wood spiced of anise, some wood smoke and vanilla. Tannins are highly polished adding seamlessly to the fruit intensity, then acidity provides backbone and intensity across the palate. A delicious wine, youthful and vibrant with a lengthy complex and flinty finish. Best drinking from late 2025 through 2035."

95/100 Judges' Comments, Decanter World Wine Awards 2024 (2021 Vintage)
"Awash with plush damsons, mixed berries and violet florals which unite victoriously with layers of sweet baking spice oak, fleshy tannins and beautifully lifted acidity."

95/100 & Top 100 New Zealand Wines of 2025, JamesSuckling.com (2021 Vintage)
"A textural, attractive and dense syrah with an enticing nose of blackberries, dark plums, baking spices, ashes and some wet stones. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Solid and serious, with a concentrated core of dark berries and spices on the mid-palate. Plenty of weight, with a long, pulpy and compact finish."

5 Stars & 19+/20 (96) Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Review, May 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"Full, deep purple with a ruby hue, lighter on the rim. The nose is voluminous and enticing with aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, violet, herbs, and liquorice roots. Medium-full bodied, aromas of blackberry and boysenberry entwined with liquorice, violet, unfolding herbs and nutmeg. The mouthfeel is powdery with dark-mineral, fine-grained tannins, unveiling a hint of smoke, meaty and savoury nuance. Sweet fruit supported by a fine acid line provides balance, freshness, and a lengthy, rich finish. This Syrah shows concentrated fruit with lively acidity and an enticing dark-mineral, silky palate. Match with venison and roasted lamb over the next 10 years. Grapes were harvested from individual blocks and clones in four distinct vineyards, destemmed, fermented separately, with a range of maceration periods, aged in 5,400-litre French oak ovals for 12-25 months. 13.5% alc."