Trinity Hill Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely Pinot Noir from Marlborough that makes its debut at the LCBO this weekend as part of the upcoming September 10 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Trinity Hill, a winery that was established in the 1990's on a stony site in the Hawke's Bay wine region, which is located on the North Island of New Zealand. It was founded by Robert and Robyn Wilson and winemaker John Hancock over a glass of wine as they were convinced they could produce world-class wines with grapes grown in the Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district within Hawke's Bay. As one of the region's early pioneers, Trinity Hill planted grapevines in 1993 on a barren plot on the former bed of the Ngaruroro River, a vineyard which is now 18 hectares and known as the Gimblett Estate Vineyard. In 2001, Trinity Hill joined the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association as a founding member. Today, Trinity Hill crafts all except one of its wines using fruit from Hawke's Bay.

This Pinot Noir is from Trinity Hill's regional range of wines and crafted using fruit grown in Marlborough on the South Island. The growing season in 2019/2020 was long and dry, but slightly cooler at the end which allowed the grapes to be picked in pristine condition and featured ripe, concentrated flavours. It was vinified by first de-stemming the fruit prior to fermentation and gently pumped daily over skins during fermentation to help extract a silky structure. The wine was matured in stainless steel tanks for capture and preserve the perfumed aromas and fruit freshness. Let's see how this Marlborough Pinot Noir is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TRINITY HILL MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR 2020 - Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand (#25802) (XD) - $28.95
Screw cap. Elegant, medium-high intensity nose of red cherry, strawberry, and raspberry aromas with sweet spices, beet root, earth, and hints of black tea adding intrigue. It's medium+ bodied and ripe on the palate with delicious strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and spicy replays on the flavour profile. Lively acids are fresh and juicy. Light, grainy tannins add a nice, textural mouthfeel. Earthy and minerally with tangy red cherry and strawberry notes linger on the long, crisp finish. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines by Trinity Hill are available through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia, or in very limited quantities at the LCBO.

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Trinity Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this delicious Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand that returned to the LCBO last weekend as part of the February 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The idea of Trinity Hill was formed by three individuals in the late 1980's - winemaker John Hancock and restaurant owners Robyn and Robert Wilson. In 1993, the idea became a reality on a stony site in Hawke's Bay with the goal to produce world-class wines from classic grape varieties, using the spiritual homes of these varieties as inspiration. Today, the winemaker is Warren Gibson, a man who has spent many vintages throughout the world soaking up inspiration and joined the team at Trinity Hill in 1997. Trinity Hill wines are produced with the utmost care and respect for the grapes and with minimum intervention.

The fruit for this Sauvignon Blanc is mainly from Mangaorapa Station in southern Hawke's Bay that has a cool climate and argillite soils which provide beautiful aromatic characters and salivating acidity. With optimal vineyard management and attention to detail, the grapes were harvested when flavour profiles were at their maximum potential. Upon arriving at the winery, the fruit was gently pressed and the majority was fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks. Each batch spent 3 months in contact with lees in tank before blending. A small component was fermented and aged in small 228 L barriques to enhance texture and complexity.

I last enjoyed the 2019 Trinity Hill Sauvignon Blanc in November 2020 and am curious to see how it has evolved over last 15 months. The 2019 vintage was considered exceptional for white wines from Hawke's Bay. Three years from vintage, let's see how this Sauvignon Blanc from Hawke's Bay is holding up tonight...

Tasting Note:

TRINITY HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#247221) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. The elegantly intense aromatics offer lovely notes of tangy citrus, grapefruit, gooseberry, and stone fruits, all surrounded by earthy minerality in a slightly reductive and smoky profile. It has good weight on the dry, tangy palate with citrus, gooseberry, grapefruit, and apple flavours supported by juicy, well-balanced acidity. Lightly chalky textured mouthfeel on the mid-palate, with leesy mineral and tangy notes lingering on the long, juicy finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines from Trinity Hill are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Trinity Hill The Trinity Red Blend 2018 (Hawke's Bay) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious Bordeaux varietal from Hawke's Bay in New Zealand that arrived at the LCBO this weekend, as part of the November 27th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Trinity Hill was jointly established in the early 1990's on a stony site in Hawke's Bay, on the North Island of New Zealand, by founding winemaker John Hancock and Robert and Robyn Wilson over a glass of wine. Together, they were convinced that they could produce world-class wines in this region by recognizing the outstanding potential of Hawke's Bay's Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district. In 1993, Trinity Hill became one of the region's early pioneers by planting grapevines on a barren plot on the former bed of the Ngaruroro River, a vineyard that is now 18 hectares and known as the Gimblett Estate Vineyard. In 1998, they produced their first Gimblett Road wines to critical acclaim and a number of awards. In 2000, a 20 hectare parcel of prime Gimblett Gravels land was purchased and planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot - a vineyard now known as the Gimblett Stones Vineyard. A year later, Trinity Hill joined the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association as a founding member.

Having tasted and enjoyed the 2015 and 2014 Trinity Hill The Trinity Red Blend wines in prior years, this wine is always a multi-varietal blend led by Merlot, with supporting varietals changing with each vintage. The 2018 vintage is a blend of 32% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec using grapes grown in the Gimblett Stones and Tin Shed Vineyards within the Gimblett Gravels appellation in Hawke's Bay. Each individual vineyard parcel was harvested separately and gently de-stemmed prior to fermentation. It was fermented to extract a soft, complex structure, followed by extended skin maceration for up to 4 weeks to further integrate and soften the tannins. After 15 months of aging in a combination of small French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks, the individual blocks were blended to create the ideal wine.

The growing season in 2018 was very warm with humid conditions arriving in late summer and autumn - ideal conditions to produce rich, supple, ripe, and robust red varietals. Trinity Hill winemaker Warren Gibson was very enthusiastic about the results of the 2018 vintage, describing it has a "cracker" of a vintage. Let's see how this 2018 red wine from Hawke's Bay is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TRINITY HILL THE TRINITY RED BLEND 2018 - Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#551630) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. This delicious blend of 32% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec has a medium to medium-high intensity nose offering rich dark fruited, plum, and leathery accents with currant, cassis, cedar wood spice, and savoury earthy undertones adding complexity. On the medium+ bodied, ripe and dark fruited palate it is spicy with black and blue fruits, currant, cassis, plum, and savoury cocoa flavours, all framed by fresh acidity and smooth, dusty, and well-integrated tannins. Savoury cocoa with blackcurrant notes linger on the long, supple finish, with very good length. A recommended buy best enjoyed over the next 3-4 years. Score: 89 pts

While a very small quantity of other wines from Trinity Hill are available at the LCBO, they can also be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Trinity Hill The Gimblett 2016 and Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (New Zealand) - Wine Reviews

Tonight's wine reviews are a pair of lovely wines from New Zealand's iconic Trinity Hill that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on November 14. I've been enamoured with this winery and the Hawke's Bay region ever since enjoying the 2014 Trinity Hill The Trinity Red Blend a couple of years ago that I made it a point to visit the Hawke's Bay and Trinity Hill when I visited New Zealand earlier this year - more on this to come.

The idea of Trinity Hill was formed in 1987 when winemaker John Hancock met with Bleeding Heart restaurant owners Robyn and Robert Wilson at their restaurant in London. On a stony site in Hawke's Bay, Trinity Hill became a reality in 1993 because they recognized that this site would give them the ability to produce world-class wines. They also recognized the potential of the Hawkes Bay's Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district and quickly became one of the region's early pioneers by planting grape vines on a barren plot on the former bed of the Ngaruroro River that is now an 18 hectare vineyard.

By 2001, Trinity Hill helped found the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association. It was created based on the terroir of the area of the old Ngaruroro Riverbed, with 34 member wineries and winegrowers making up the association.

Today, Robyn and Robert Wilson are still co-owners of Trinity Hill, while John Hancock moved on in 2018 to focus on his own negociant wine business. Warren Gibson is the Chief Winemaker. He worked with John prior to the creation of Trinity Hill and joined the team to work alongside John in 1997, earning several accolades along the way. Trinity produces wines using traditional Hawke's Bay varietals such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, as well as (my favourite) Syrah, and, of course, Sauvignon Blanc. All Trinity Hill wines are produced with the utmost care and respect for the grapes and with minimum intervention. Making world-class wines for more than 20 years, Trinity Hill truly is one of New Zealand's iconic wineries.

Tasting Notes:

TRINITY HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 - Sustainable, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#247221) (XD) - $19.95
Screw cap. The fruit for this Sauvignon Blanc was sourced from Mangaorapa Station’s cool climate and argillite soils, in southern Hawke's Bay. Most of the wine was cool fermentated and spent 3 months in contact with lees, while a smaller portion was fermented and aged in small 228 L barriques. Elegant, restrained aromas of lime, citrus and stone fruits with touches of guava, passion fruit, and leesy characters. The medium bodied palate has a nice texture with more citrusy lime and stone fruit flavours joined by subtle leesy and oak notes that balance the crisp, fresh, and lively acidity. Interesting notes of oyster shell minerality linger on the long, juicy finish. Would be a fine pairing with oysters. Score: 89 pts

TRINITY HILL THE GIMBLETT 2016 - Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#280263) (XD) - $39.95
Screw cap. This blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Cabernet Franc, 14% Merlot, and 2% Malbec has lovely, perfumed aromas of ripe red and black fruits, currant, cassis and spices with subtle notes of sweet tobacco, floral, herb and leather. Some olive aromas develop with time in the glass. It's medium-full+ bodied on the palate with firm, structured, and grippy tannins along with juicy acidity that supports the blackberry, cassis, currant, earthy, and cedary oak flavours. Savoury, earthy and woody on the finish, with excellent length. Enjoy to the late 2020s. Score: 91 pts

Other fine wines from Trinity Hill can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Trinity Hill The Trinity Red Blend 2014 (New Zealand) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a new release that will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on May 12th.

This red wine blend is produced by Trinity Hill, a winery that was established on a stony site in Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand, in the early 90's after a conversation over a glass of wine between Winemaker John Hancock and the owners of the London restaurant Bleeding Heart, Robert and Robyn Wilson. They were convinced that the Hawkes Bay’s Gimblett Gravels winegrowing region could produce world-class wines and became one of the region's early pioneers.

Hawkes Bay is the second largest wine growing region in New Zealand, but is responsible for 85% of the production of Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet within the country. What makes Trintiy Hill special is that most of their grape harvest comes from unique gravel soils and micro-climate of the Gimblett Gravels region.

All wines at Trinity Hill are produced with the utmost care and respect for the grapes and with minimum intervention. The winery is known for consistently delivering quality wines across the range.

Tasting Note:

TRINITY HILL THE TRINITY RED BLEND 2014 - Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand (#551630) (XD) - $22.95
Predominantly Merlot (55%), with 17% Tempranillo, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 7% Syrah completing the blend. Individual blocks were aged for 14 months in small French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks prior to blending. Screw cap. The generous nose is complex, offering cassis, black & blueberry, black plum, leather, sweet oak spice and cocoa aromas. It's medium-bodied with a lush mouthfeel and ripe black plum, blackberry, earthy, leather, and cocoa flavours. Nice black pepper notes arrive with time in the glass. Ripe, dusty tannins are refined and offer nice texture, while offering some grip towards the mid- and back-palate. Earthy, forest floor notes linger on the very long finish. Enjoy this fine wine over the next 3-4 years. Score: 90 pts

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