Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2018 $150 THE TECHNICAL: This is the new vintage release of one of New Zealand’s most sought-after syrah’s. Produced only in years when the fruit is exceptional, the 2018 Homage was crafted from 99.6% syrah and 0.4% viognier hand-harvested from three different Gimblett Gravels sites including 70% Gimblett Estate, 19% Tin … Read More
gimblett gravels
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2018
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2018 $24.95 Paul Dawick and Tim Preston are the crack team of talent behind Mills Reef, and merlot is their monster truck when it comes to wines that plough across your tastebuds and leave a deep, palate imprint. Dark, inky, glossy and erupting with exotic 5spice notes, plum, cherry, … Read More
Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $45 100% cabernet sauvignon here from old vines dating back to the mists of time. 1984 to be exact, so maybe not so misty then. anyhoo, first planted by Gimbett Gravels pioneer, Dr. Alan Limmer, these organically-grown vines thrive in the desert-scape of the ancient Ngaruroro riverbed, creating intensely … Read More
Sacred Hill Hawke’s Bay Brokenstone 2014
Sacred Hill Hawke’s Bay Brokenstone 2014 $45 (re-tasted June 2020) Merlot leads a cast of superstar varieties in this celebrity Gimblett Gravels gathering. Malbec, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc combine to create a deeply aromatic red with warmth, woollyness and furry feelings in all the right places. This vintage at 6 years on is … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2016
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2016 $24 Re-tasted on June 3rd 2020, this vintage (if you still have it in your cellar or spot one in a shop) is drinking rather superbly. Lashings of plum, chocolate, cherry and berry characters lead to soft, suede-like textures, warm, velvety notes and a long, smooth finish. … Read More
Squawking Magpie Stoned Crow Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2014
Squawking Magpie Stoned Crow Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2014 $49.95 Well dip me in pepper and call me spicy! This Gimblett Gravels pioneer just blasts past the competition when it comes to solid syrah. How? For starters the peppercorn, violets, blueberries, cherry and tobacco notes, earthy shadows and layers of leather mean it delivers on the … Read More
Elephant Hill Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017
Elephant Hill Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017 $54 If anyone knows how to make exceptional syrah, it’s Steve Skinner. He’s been shepherding Elephant Hill’s fruit from their Bridge Pa, Gimblett Gravels and home vineyard at Te Awanga into the bottle for many many years and his skill is on show here. Blueberry, black pepper, dried … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Malbec 2018
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Malbec 2018 $24.95 Shiny and new from the Mills Reef crew (love me a wine rhyme) is this cracking blend of 61% merlot and 39% malbec from Hawke’s Bay’s superstar Gimblett Gravels sub-region. Cold-soaked for 5 days after being gently crushed has maximised extraction of colour and texture from … Read More
Pask Declaration Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2014
Pask Declaration Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2014 $50 (release date tbc) 2014 had Ronald McDonald-sized shoes to fill seeing as 2013 was hailed as ‘the vintage of the century’ by Hawke’s Bay winemakers, yet this new vintage is sneaking up in spectacular fashion. More elegant in its approach, the core is of blueberry, leather, a click … Read More
Vidal Soler Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Vidal Soler Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $34.99 Do you know what? I’ve been pacing, literally pacing around waiting for the new Soler cabernet to cross my desk. The wait was worth it. Bursting with black guava, blueberry, dark cherry, bay leaf, dark cocoa and liquorice layers, it’s supremely elegant, freshly structured and seriously frisky. … Read More