TRINITY HILL Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2013 Wine Review

TRINITY HILL Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2013

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Community Score:92/100

Community Reviews: 1

Add My Review

Drink: 2015-2020

Alcohol: 13%

Sweetness: Dry

Wine Type: White Wine

Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

BCLDB
11111
Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Steve Kubota rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

TRINITY HILL
Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2013
HAWKE’S BAY (Central East Coast, North Island), NEW ZEALAND

From the Winery:
Trinity Hill was established in the Gimblett Gravels sub-region of Hawkes Bay in 1993 to produce world class wines that just happen to come from New Zealand. The emphasis is on the classic Bordeaux varieties and Syrah for red wine from the Gimblett Gravels and Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc for whites from the cooler inland and southerly regions. We own 100 Ha of vineyard in the appropriate sub-regions of Hawkes Bay. Our wine is exported to more than 20 countries.

Our story began in 1987 when John Hancock met Robert and Robyn Wilson in their London restaurant Bleeding Heart. Over a bottle of John's award-winning Chardonnay, the concept of a Hawkes Bay winery was born. They were convinced they could produce world-class red wines as well as white in this region of New Zealand.

John recognized the outstanding potential of Hawkes Bay's Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district and in 1993 Trinity Hill became one of the region's early pioneers, planting grape vines on a barren plot on the former bed of the Ngaruroro River.

The traditional Hawkes Bay grape varieties of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were planted. Convinced the terroir was equally suited to Southern European grape varieties, Syrah and Viognier were also planted and were followed by experimental plantings of Tempranillo, Arneis and Montepulciano.

By 1996 they produced the first small vintage on off-site premises. And in 1997 Stage 1 of The Winery was built on its current site on State Highway 50 and completed in time for the 1998 vintage. The Cellar Door was also established and Pinot Gris vines were planted in front of the winery. Winemaking facilities combining the traditional with the modern are incorporated in the completion of the Barrel Hall in 1998.

The first Gimblett Road wines, barrel-aged, were released in 1998 (vintage 1997); Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot and Syrah, to critical acclaim and a number of gold medals and trophies.

By 2001 The Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association was set up with 34 wineries and winegrowers from a "terroir"-defined area of the old Ngaruroro Riverbed, including Gimblett Road. Trinity Hill was and remains a founding member.

My Tasting Notes:

I tasted the Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay at a New Zealand Bubbly and Chardonnay promotion. The wines for this event were chosen by an astute panel of industry experts in New Zealand to help showcase the best of the best wines for each category. There are two main islands that comprise New Zealand. The Trinity Hill Chardonnay was tasted with five other north island producers and five producers from the south island. There are quite contrasting styles from each region making this a potpourri and flavourfest for lovers of Chardonnay. The acidity levels for most of the wines from New Zealand run quite high.

This was actually the first Chardonnay I tasted at the event and it turns out was also one of my favourite. It starts with a nice citrus and floral bouquet of grapefruit and white blossoms, there is a generous core of zesty white and pink grapefruit, roasted nuts and finishes with well-rounded flinty minerality. I enjoyed the medium body and weighty mouth-feel. This Chardonnay is balanced and elegant enough to drink on its own but you could pair this with roasted chicken, pork, raw oysters and Asian seafood. Drink now to 2020.

Varietal composition: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Hawke’s Bay
Harvested: February 27th – March 23rd
Alcohol: 13.2%
Sugar: 1.6 g/l
Titratable Acidity: 6.0 g/l

Tasted on May 14th, 2015

You can follow me on Twitter: @stevekubota

If you liked the TRINITY HILL Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2013, you might also like these wines:

Update details for this wine
Add bottle and/or label shots for this wine
Wineries and agents: Add notes for this wine
Find this wine in other stores

Recipes for TRINITY HILL Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2013

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

SAVE MY SEAT!

Wine of the Week

As featured on

Pongráz Sparkling Wine
Cap Classique Rosé,
Western Cape W.O. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 327,161 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources. learn more

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 327,161 strong:

TRINITY HILL Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2013 Wine Review

Pricing & Stock Information