'Trinity Hill is run by the irrepressible John Hancock (whose son William is currently studying wine at Plumpton in Sussex) and was set up by Robert and Robyn Wilson, an Anglo-Kiwi couple who own Bleeding Heart and The Don restaurants in London and are in the process of transferring two-thirds of Trinity Hill to American wine entrepreneur Charles Banks. With the first vines planted in 1993, it was one of the pioneers of the so-called Gimblett Gravels subregion of Hawke's Bay, on the old river bed of the Ngaruroro. Today they grow a wide range of varieties, with Syrah one of their top performers, but from the exceptional 2013 vintage it is The Gimblett, their top Bordeaux blend, that has particularly impressed me' Jancis Robinson, 11th Dec 2015
Country: New Zealand Region: Hawkes Bay Vintage: 2016
Varietal: Pinot Noir Category: Red Wine Color: Red
Producer: Trinity Hill
Vineyards
Fruit for the Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir is sourced from the Esprit Vineyard and Mangaorapa Station. These two vineyard sites are situated significantly south and inland of the Heretaunga Plains. Soil types include argylite, sandstone, limestone and sandy loam. The clones used are Abel, 115, 667, 777 and MV6.
Vintage Information
The 2016 growing season began with a cool spring, meaning a later than average season, but the period between early January and mid-March saw a rare string of consistently warm days. Early ripening varieties such as Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc show excellent fruit concentration and richness.
Vinification
Gentle handling of the fruit from harvesting through to fermentation helped retain the fresh primary fruit aromas typical of the variety. Each individual vineyard parcel was harvested separately with the majority of batches then de-stemmed prior to fermentation. Approximately 20% of the fruit was fermented as whole bunches including traditional foot stomping in open top fermenters. This component aids in the retention of freshness and complexity. Maturation in the cellar was for eight months in a combination of small 228 litre barriques and stainless steel tanks.
Tasting Notes
Primary aromas of fresh raspberry, plum and brambly spice are evident on the nose. On the palate, the wine shows soft, velvety tannins and will develop complex forest-floor and earthy characters with bottle age.
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