Trinity Hill Homage 2018, Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay
Day 1: Fabulous bouquet. Youthful yet entirely engaging. Pure yet complex. Primary aromas of forest berries and baked mushroom, raspberry and black currant, fruit spices and pepper then toasty wood, near new oak aromas are trumped by the core of fruit and concentration. As the wine opens up in glass it organically becomes more complex, but remains youthful and engaging. On the palate - complex and as equally primary as the nose suggests, dark fruits, raspberry and black currant, sweet meats and field mushroom, bracken and dark spices. An abundance of tannin and acidity - firm, chalky, ripe and resolved. Long finish, complex and young. No need to open till 2022 at the earliest, decant for service, will last in your cellar till 2030 - at least.
So pleased to finally see this wine under screw top closure
97 Points
Day 2: Still very youthful with all the hallmarks displayed from yesterday, but starting to show some greater integrity and promise of time in cellar. Still 97 points.
Day 3: Slightly more peppery today with the oak signature bold. The fruit emerges and takes center stage after around 2 minutes in glass. Complexity, elegance, energy, charm and length all in tact. Still 97 Points.
I was then sent a bottle to review from the Gimblett Gravels 2018 Annual Vintage Selection. You can imagine how excited I was to try it once more.
Aromas are of a wine that is still youthful, complex and totally alluring. Forest berries and toasty barrel spices, dark berries layered between aromas of violets and liquorice, stony soils, pepper and meat. As the wine begins to open up in glass the fruit becomes more pure and sweet scents as does the oak and myriad aromas. On the palate - complex, weighty, densely packed, tight-textured and young. Polished tannins and youthful acid line along with baking spices and forest berry fruit flavours, pepper and spice - this wine has a long life ahead only emphasised by the long and detailed finish. A wine for the cellar please - with best drinking from 2023 through 2030+. March 6 2021.
98 Points
Outstanding