Tag Archives: Trinity Hill

What’s in the glass tonight September 27th – Merlot Cabernets


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From the cellar: Trinity Hill The Gimblett 2010 – $$

We are all up at the ski club for the Spring school holiday ski week. A bit of rain and snow and hail about, but it isn’t dampening the fun too much. We are waiting for a spell of better weather in the later half of the week. In the meantime, we ferry baggage loads up the hill when the chairlift isn’t running…

trinity-hill-the-gimblett-2010

2010 was a sensational vintage in Hawkes Bay – a perfect summer followed by an Indian summer for autumn ripening. This wine was picked as a keeper…

A blend of five varieties – 60% merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit verdot, 3% Malbec. A melange…

14% alc. Inky carmine colour. Soft oaky vanilla on the nose, with secondary aromas of rich black fruit, plums and raisins.

A great balance of fruit, tannins and acid in the mouth. A very complete wine, and lovely drinking over both nights the bottle was open. Great structure, and long. Stood up well to the altitude as well. Yum.

92 points

 

 

What’s in the glass tonight Dec 11th


Trinity Hill GG Syrah 2008

From the Cellar: Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2008 – $$$

James Brown sang, “Ain’t it funky!” Yes it is, yes it is, this wine…

Lots of funk on the nose. I can see in my mind’s eye the chickens lowing and the cattle cheeping in the barnyard on the floor of the forest. I wonder if it is reduction I smell?

No matter. I really like the bouquet, it sticks to my glass, and adds interest to the tasting. This wine is not as powerful as the Elephant Hill Syrah from a couple of weeks back, but it is elegant. Same deep carmine colour and 13.5%. Dense red fruits, drying off, with typical white pepper. Fine tannins. Short finish.

This wine was Regional Wines top syrah at a tasting back in 2010. It is the stablemate of one of NZs two most notable ultra-premium syrahs, Trinity Hill Homage.

This bottle might have been better consumed younger, when the fruit was fresher. But it’s still bloody interesting, and was worth the wait (and education – I have learned that little bit more about NZ syrah longevity). Danced well with my steak dinner too. 3.5

What’s in the glass tonight July 5th


Trinity Hill The Gimblett 2010

Trinity Hill The Gimblett Hawkes Bay Merlot/Cabernets 2010 – $$$

My GF is away for the weekend, and in her absence I want a winter warmer to accompany watching the TdF.

Geoff Kelly, a Wellington wine writer I really rate, and meet regularly at tastings, says good things about this Bordeaux-style red wine – Cabernet Sauvignon 33%, Merlot 27% Cabernet Franc 25%, Malbec 9%, Petit Verdot 6%.

I have a couple of bottles under the house for later, but thought I really had better try an example now…

The wine is deep, dense carmine. It’s concentrated and intense and much beyond a novice like me to properly describe. Save to say it is really good. The smell is all over the place with spicy blackcurrants and warm vanilla, and the swallow shows complexity and good tannic structure, strong character and balance. Oh, and black plums.

Geoff is right to say it is still two years too young to drink, but hell, I could be hit by a bus tomorrow. Cin cin. 5 !

Straight to the Pool Room – May 2013


Poolroom May13

Following a recent couple of tastings, and recommendations, the following bottles of goodness will be ushered into the dark recesses of the cellar. Easy may they sleep…

Palliser Estate Martinborough Riesling 2012 – $$ – drink 2017

Escarpment Pahi Pinot Noir Martinborough 2010 – $$$$ – drink 2015

Kumeu River Coddington Chardonnay 2010 – $$$ – drink 2015

Trinity Hill The Gimblett Merlot Cab Hawkes Bay 2010 – $$$ – drink 2017-2020

Craggy Range Te Kahu Hawkes Bay 2010 – $$ – drink 2017-2018