Trinity Hill, Syrah, Hawke's Bay

Dark blackish red in color. Nose of restrained yet pleasant matured dark red fruits with a very pronounced rubbery overtones, and some herbaceous qualities. The palate is medium-bodied, very dry, vibrant acidity, with noticeable grippy tannins that has not yet fully resolved but pleasant nonetheless. The flavor components of dry red fruits in the order of raspberries, sour cherries, strong brambly and lots of aromatic vegetal qualities with some interesting green pepper notes present, rubber tires, some vanilla oak, with …

2014 vintage

Very Good++ Purchased a couple of these 5+ years ago and shortly after opened one in a casual group setting, noting " Date apprx. Good, nothing great, worth laying down for a few years to see" Glad I did. This was very nice, approaching excellence. I'd have guessed a St. Joseph from a good producer. Cool climate showing pepper, black olive, turned earth, dark fruits, and some tertiary elements, leather. Nice balance here, no gloppy fruit. Stored in good, but …

2013 vintage

{screwcap, 12.5%} Amongst the most baffling wines I’ve had in a while. Plenty of dark colour still, but a fairly subtle nose of tobacco and gentle earth, only faintly tinged with red fruit. Yet the palate seems almost devoid of flavour at all. There’s a gentle astringent presence, dry but not exaggerated, but very little by way of flavour - you know, developed fruit and all that - so that the finish is almost entirely neutral. Bizarre. Not green or …

2014 vintage

30% whole bunches; Deep garnet the aromas intrigue with pepper, iris, violet and iodine intermingled with wild lavender and red flowers. The fruit is varied with blackberries and raspberries and a blueberry fool/cheesecake note. Even a pinch of feral! Very much whole clusters in use. A medium body with a lovely cool entry, much cleaner on the palate with less feral and lots of blackberry compote. Sits upright with a firm, chalky tannin and peppery stem. A little unyielding as …

2013 vintage

Too old. Otherwise ok.

2013 vintage

ABV: 13.5%. This was a stunning surprise with a nose that pointed towards Northern Rhone (think meaty, minerally, and peppery) that covered a layer of ripe black fruits underneath. Excellent acidity that kept the wine intact, lifting the fruit mid-palate and prolonging the savory finish. It should be cellared for at least another 5 years, but I'll keep mine for another decade. Stock up on a few bottles if you can find it.

2014 vintage

Around 2h air. Offers plum, blackberry, red licorice, green olive and leather. Medium-full body, smooth and succulent black fruit and a dusty, leathery finish, with a frame of fine-grained tannins.

2013 vintage

Lots going on, but more oak and smoke than I remembered from previous tastings.

2013 vintage

Definitely an interesting, intense Syrah - nose overwhelms with black pepper notes. Palate is dry and silky. Finishes above average. Somewhere between St. Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage - it's a food friendly wine for sure.

2013 vintage

Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage. ≈75 min decant into a plastic, cylindrical pitcher which was then capped; Some very, VERY fine sediment noted; Private Preserve after Day 1 N: Tough to parse; Earth, minerals, pyrazines (though of a different, unusual nature?), POSS blk pepper? P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent PUCKER which fairly seamlessly evolves into a very LONG finish with a TANGY/swtness …

2014 vintage

Well what a pleasant surprise this one turned out to be. Prune, leather, iris, bacon, blueberry jam. Silky, enveloping tannins lending just enough structure. Really good dark fruit character with and earthy, thyme and juniper edge to the finish. Not massive or reaching for the stars but a really darn tasty wine now at its apex. Brilliant result from what was apparently a cold and wet vintage in Hawke's Bay.

2011 vintage

Mid to deep garnet Vivad blackberry, black cherry coulis, super-ripe black raspberry and spice aromas fill the nose. It seems more jammy with its ripeness than I anticipated), A firmer entry (again than expected given the very ripe fruits!) but then filled with a core of sweet fruits: blackberry paste, raspberry cordial and a twist of licorice. Rich in texture, there is a welcome lemon-edged acidity that gives some shape to the wine. The tannins gently rub against the palate, …

2013 vintage

Deep purple-red. Faint aromas of pepper, freshly picked herbs de Provence, stem too, with ripe blueberry mixed with a savoury overlay. There is a freshness to the aroma. The palate is juicy, ripe and bulbous with dry spicy tannins, medium weight and a succulent texture underneath. The fresh acidity and what appears to be a sappy stem note adds tightness to the mid-palate keeping it more linear than expected after the initial rush of bright ribena-like fruits. Fair concentration, good …

2013 vintage

Drinking really nice right now. Bright fruit, juicy, peppercorn, herbes de Provence. Medium-body. No need of decanting. Excellent with pork chop or lean steak.

2013 vintage

Beautifully colored with a nose full of pepper, ripe black fruit and mint. Beautiful expression of the varietal!

2014 vintage

Wonderful Syrah with beef blood, pepper and persistence. Will improve except screw cap closure will likely retard aging process.

2013 vintage

A very fine, peppery Syrah for the price. Fun to try Syrah from NZ! I think this might evolve into something more interesting, so if you have multiple bottles, hold on to a few.

2013 vintage

Upon opening; slightly green. This faded in the decanter and what emerged was a medium bodied, eminently drinkable cool climate Syrah with pleasant berry flavours and a peppery edge that came out with the food-friendly 'grip'. But nothing else. Perhaps drunk too young but at this price point I had hoped for a bit of terroir, character and this wasn't there - it's technically accomplished wine but lacks soul.

2014 vintage

Winebar [1 Rosé, 3 Whts, & 8 Reds] from 01/19/18 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA) : Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage. N: Closed; Some smoke, earth? Intensity lurking? P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt met by an astringent pucker which slowly transitions into a very LONG, minerally, bitterswt finish with a tanginess & HINTS of future swtness. Still tight, I suspect, this needs/DESERVES into early '20, then likely …

2014 vintage

Syrahs/Shirazes (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA) : Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim. N: Closed, but seems ripe, deep P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE frt quickly met by a very, VERY finely tannic pucker which slowly, fairly seamlessly transitions into a very LONG, ult almost swtish finish with traces of very, VERY fine tannins. DESERVES into early [N. Hemisphere] Summer '19, then drinking for 3+ more yrs. IMPRESSIVELY …

2014 vintage

MNB: Stem Inclusion : (blind) Medium plus ruby color. Highly aromatic nose of screaming saline white pepper rotundone, a sort of pine-y/rosemary-like green basil-like herbaceous note (stem inclusion), blueberry, slight salami (reductive meat), and just a hint of blackberry. Earth-driven nose. On the palate, dry, medium body, 13.5% alcohol (actually 13), high acid, medium tannins (papery). No new oak aromas, but some rounding/slight oxidation and integration consistent with time in neutral oak. Based on the strong herbaceous notes (on par …

2013 vintage

Gave this plenty of time to open up and was well-rewarded. Olives - both green and black mixed with white and black pepper, bloody/gamy notes, and mild pyrazines surround a core of blackberry and tart cherry fruit. Tannins are like silk over velvet; well defined but will take time to develop. Give it 2-5 years and this will be strongly reminiscent of a top crozes-hermitage. Juicy in feel with moderate alcohol.

2013 vintage

Very pretty Syrah. There's touch too much acid and not quite enough concentration to balance it but the palate succeeds in delivering a tense array of black wine gums, parma violets and blackberry with a gentle savoury twist. As I understand it this was a tricky, wet and cool vintage in Hawkes Bay so bravo to Trinity Hill for pulling off a fine, northern Rhone-alike wine.

2011 vintage

medium burgundy red, medium clarity, silver hue Nose: raspberry, silver, thyme, cola, green pepper, chocolate, tobacco, oak Pal: raspberry, spice, cinnamon, silver, cola, wet earth, green pepper, chocolate, vanilla, tobacco, clove, oak Feel: medium, savory, acidic Finish: medium T7

2013 vintage

Very nice cool-climate syrah. Not quite the depth and complexity I was hoping for, but lovely nonetheless.

2013 vintage

Deep youthful colour. Blueberries, basil and black peppercorns on the nose. Med-bodied with fresh acidity and gripping tannins. Smoky/toasty, blue fruited finish. 4/5

2014 vintage

Ruby Red, Aromas of cassis, bramble fruit, eucalyptus, liquorice, floral notes and as it sat in the glass black pepper. Well balanced palate, more ripe fruit and some spice. Good acidity and firm tannins but not overblown. An elegant syrah, probably not in its drinking window yet, and will definitely score higher with age, if drank now, needs 4-6 hours in a decanter first

2013 vintage

Terroir-istes International - New Zealand Assorted (Groot Constantia) : CT: 97% Syrah, 3% Viognier. 14 months in a mixture of new and old oak including 5,000-litre oval puncheons. Deep purple-red colour, the aromas show creme fraiche, iodine, black raspberry, dried spice, and black pepper (A touch of reduction to begin with). The palate entry is soft, very bright with Rhone-like Syrah that echo savoury elements, sour black cherries, rooibos tea, blackberries and blue fruit. There are some stalks with a …

2014 vintage

Weekly tasting group RWP #248: New Zealand (@ RW) : The bouquet is not very expressive, but shows dark berries and minerals. On the palate dark berries, oak, a sweet start with ripe fruits and vanilla, fresh and quite firm acidity and a lot of firm, but not sticky tannin. Herbs. A good length, but not extremely impressive wine.

2011 vintage

Delicious. Lovely aromas of berries and spices. Full bodied, plums and spice with fine tannins and long finish.

2014 vintage

Very reserved. I was expecting more flavor and ripeness. Low alcohol, muted flavors and a bit of an unripe edge make it less my style than hoped, but it's well made if you prefer a less ripe, less forceful style.

2013 vintage

Promising, but am in agreement with critics that it needs time, at least two years.

2013 vintage

New Zealand London Annual Trade Tasting (Lindley Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls) : Denser fruit, sour cherry again, red and black cherry, sweet spices. The palate follows the same pattern, very fresh, ripe and bright red and black fruits, med body, med to high acidity, med and slightly bitter finish.

2014 vintage

New Zealand London Annual Trade Tasting (Lindley Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls) : Clear purple color, full fruity, some pepper notes while in the palate cherry and sour cherry, feels somehow very fresh and underripe, a bit green, med body, green tannins, short

2014 vintage

Ok young nose with violets and red fruit. Ok palate but not memorable. Medium finish ending with bitter aftertaste.

2013 vintage

Strong earthy notes. Def had to let it breathe. Not my favorite Syrah.

2013 vintage

Very dark red color, opens with lots of spices, black and white pepper, Herbs de Provence, gamy and with green veggies (bell pepper). medium body. On the palate - very smooth and integrated, the tannins are silky, green vegetables again. Finish is medium minus. Overall not very complex wine, similar to number of Crozes-Hermitage wines. Good price/performance (paid around $20). Probably has to be consumed now or during the next couple of years.

2013 vintage

Light cold climate shiraz from NZ with spicy notes and not much fruit. Nose reminds me on many Ontario reds which I am not a big fan off. About what you might expect for CDN$17.

2013 vintage

Clear, deep-garnet color. Pretty secondary aromatics accenting blackcurrant fruit- cracked pepper, smoked meats, sagebrush, violets. Elegant on the palate, with bright & intense black fruits, along with beautifully layered secondary notes consistent with the nose. Medium-bodied, moderate acid, fine fleshy (integrated) tannins. Finishes with notes of cassis and peppery spice. Very nice, drinking well.

2013 vintage

Pleasantly fresh Syrah from New Zealand, to be drunk young, but still holding well after 5 years. Black pepper character is well defined and accompanied by black fruit (blueberry, plum) and a light hint of toast. More on the fresh side thanks to the good acidity and medium tannin and body. Not a wine to cellar, but just chill it a bit and you have a red that you can enjoy in summer.

2011 vintage

Ganska syrah-karaktäristisk doft av skogsbär, inälvor och vitpeppar. Mycket slank och lätt, lite anemisk, med mycket mjuka tanniner och med en hel del elegans och bra längd så saknar vinet ändå lite frukt och wow-känsla. Tror inte att det vinner på ytterligare lagring.

2011 vintage

Black pepper, smooth and rich yet still quite young.

2011 vintage

Very dark ruby color; aromatic, beguiling, savory, pepper, charcoal, roasted black fruit nose; delicious, savory, pepper, roasted black fruit, charcoal, mineral palate with medium acidity; needs 3 years; medium-plus finish

2013 vintage

Black pepper nose and flavor. Nice fruit. Elegant

2014 vintage

Mörka bär, björnbär, plommon, lakrits, ett uns vitpeppar, lite rök... Ganska stram, sandiga tanniner, mörka bär i mitten, syrligt slut. Slank, sval, elegant men lite anonym kanske.

2013 vintage

Decanted for 30 mins. Drank over two hours. Nose: Started very fresh with a slight rubbery note but that whiffed away to reveal a fresh dark core with graphite and tea notes. The ripeness became more apparent as it was exposed to more air. Taste: Started off a bit lean but with lots of freshness. It definitely rounded out more and more as it breathed more. Packed with cherries and plums and incredibly fresh; a testament to the Gimblett Gravels …

2011 vintage

Första sniffen, granbarr eller grankåda. Frugans första association var istället tobaksrök. Så småningom enades vi också om BBQ-sås, cocktailbär, mandel och mynta. I munnen en slank känsla med hög syra och ganska stram. Gav lite vibbar av enklare Bourgogne, mycket pga syran. Om jag ska sätta poäng så får det bli 87 men inte mer. Ett bra vin men ingen wow-faktor.

2011 vintage

Good stuff. Cold weather shiraz with light body and translucent ruby color that could have you mistaking it for a new world over oaked pinot noir (its hard to describe something I have little experience with. Sorry!). The shiraz spiciness is there also the fruit but everything is delicate and elegant. Nice experience.

2009 vintage

Smell & taste of dark fruits and a slightly medicinal quality which is off putting.

2011 vintage

A lovely peppery note; fresh feel, medium bodied; a wine of interest for drinking soon,

2011 vintage

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Trinity Hill, Syrah, Hawke's Bay

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