Phil and Terry Horn have absolutely immersed themselves in a Hawke’s Bay life in wine ever since taking ownership of the 6ha, Gimblett Gravels icon Unison Vineyard in 2008. With the help of expert winemaker Jenny Dobson, they have elevated the quality of their reds to stratospheric levels. This ‘Rocky’ merlot cabernet blend follows the … Read More
gimblett gravels
Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Te Kahu Merlot Blend 2014 $27 (4.5 stars)
If red meat is on the menu this Christmas, then tell your guests to grab a goblet of this and giddy up! The rich, velvety blackfruited texture of this merlot-dominant wine wraps itself around the palate in a spicy, cocoa-driven cloak (or ‘te kahu’ in Maori) and leaves glorious, festively furry tannins on the finish. … Read More
Element Gimblett Gravels Viognier 2015 $25 (4 stars)
I LOVE the nose of this wine – it seduced me right from the first sip with its exotic orange zest, jasmine, citrus oil and classic caramelised complexity. It’s my favourite style, all rich, cuddly and luxuriously spicy and ready to morph into a meal in itself. But if you insist on pairing it with … Read More
Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2016 375ml ($35) (4 stars)
I’ve loved Stonecroft gewürztraminer since aeons ago, yet this is the first time I’ve tried it made in a dessert style and I’ve got to say, it’s a real treat. I love the tangy, musky, ginger and lychee flavours, all wrapped up in a layer of manuka honey and spice. The acidity is super-refreshing and … Read More
Squawking Magpie The Gravels Syrah
Squawking Magpie The Gravels Syrah 2014 The impenetrable, inky-dark colour saturation is the first thing that gets you with this wine, it’s incredibly dense, dark, a stormcloud in a glass. Perfumed with blackcurrant, cherry and pepper-dusted damson plums, the nose is exciting , spice-driven and has smoke around the edges. Elegantly structured, the core … Read More
Beach House Gimblett Gravels Montepulciano 2013
Beach House Gimblett Gravels Montepulciano 2013 $45 ★★★★★ I swear the wines made by the small but perfectly formed team at Beach House wines on Hawke’s Bay’s Te Awanga Coast, just get better with every passing year. Crafted from fruit sourced in the sun-trap that is the Gimblett Gravels (it’s always at least 2 degrees … Read More
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Montepulciano 2014
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Montepulciano 2014 $30 ★★★★ There’s less than 1ha planted of this super-savoury Italian red in Trinity Hill’s Gimblett Gravels vineyard – and there’s precious little planted elsewhere in the country. It’s a hearty, ribsticking red with really interesting meaty, leathery notes, lovely hints of coughdrop and cocoa alongside pepper and smoky, … Read More
Elephant Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013
Elephant Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 $69 ★★★★★ According to winemaker Steve Skinner, they did 33 different picks across their syrah vineyards, which, for a smallish, 200-odd tonne winery is a huge effort “but it was so worth it because we were able to single out some absolutely stunning parcels to make wines like this … Read More
Saint Clair Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013
Saint Clair Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 $23 ★★★½ Being a pioneering Marlborough producer hasn’t stopped the Saint Clair crew from forging further into northern climes to nab themselves some prime red wine territory in Hawke’s Bay. This syrah has all those classic plum, violet and pepper-driven spice characters that you’ll be asking for, alongside good … Read More
Craggy Range Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Rosé 2015
Craggy Range Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Rosé 2015 $29 ★★★★ Parcels of merlot and syrah were chosen and blended from Craggy Range’s vineyard in the sun-baked Gimblett Gravels district in Hawke’s Bay, gently pressed and slow-fermented to create a coral-pink wine packed with watermelon, guava and raspberry freshness. On the palate there’s that zing of … Read More