Trinity Hill Gimblett Homage Syrah

‘Homage’, first produced in 2002 and made only in the best years, pays tribute to one of the Rhône Valley’s most iconic figures, the late Gerard Jaboulet. ‘Homage’ Syrah, is a pure expression of Gimblett Gravels Syrah inspired by the Cote Rotie. 

Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay

Veggie/Vegan 

13% 

75cl 

MORE INFORMATION

Producer

Since its inception in 1993, partners John Hancock, who has been making wine in New Zealand for over 35 years, and Robert and Robyn Wilson, owners of The Bleeding Heart and The Don in London, have made Trinity Hill a byword for quality and consistency. Winemaker Warren Gibson has been with Trinity Hill since 1997. He is also in charge of the 80 hectares of vineyard owned by Trinity Hill, of which 47 are in the Gimblett Gravels. The Gimblett Gravels, planted on the former bed of the Ngaruroro River, is now a highly sought after sub-region renowned for the quality of its wines. The Trinity Hill wines have an elegance, balance, drinkability and precision of flavour. This estate was one of the first to plant grapes on the Gimblett Gravels in 1993.

Viticulture 

Sourced from company owned vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels sub-region of Hawke’s Bay. The soils consist of deep river shingle deposited over time by the Ngaruroro River as it changed course. The exposed greywacke gravel stones absorb and re-radiate heat and are extremely free draining. These are perfect conditions for growing Syrah. The vines largely 19-year-old mass selection clones. 

Winemaking

Hand-picked grapes were sorted with 60% de-stemmed and lightly crushed to leave a large portion of complete berries. The remaining 40% was fermented as whole bunches. The cap was hand-plunged and/or pumped over twice daily for optimum colour and tannin extraction. The average time on skins was 30 days, with one component up to 54 days. This maceration helped with tannin complexity, softening and stabilising the wine. The wine was subsequently aged in predominantly new French oak barriques for 14 months, with malolactic fermentation beginning in tank and finishing in barrel. 

Taste 

The ‘Homage’ is beautifully floral with interwoven berry purity and oak sophistication. This is a darker fruit vintage with brambly, blackberry notes dominating the aromatics. It is very powerful and fragrant with great concentration of flavour. Stunningly spicy with Italianate tannins.