2022 Trinity Hill Syrah, Hawkes Bay

Ripe, varietal with core of dark black currant and raspberry, some baked versions of the same, then some gentle wood smoke and baked earth qualities. Youthful and enticing. A dry wine touches the palate first then immediately flavours of dark plums and raspberry, then black currant and some baking spice layers from wood. There’s a whisper of reduction adding a stony flinty quality. Well made and ready to from day of purchase through 2028.

90 points Cam Douglas MS camdouglasms.com

Trinity Hill Syrah from Hawke’s Bay is a beautifully poised and aromatic expression of New Zealand Syrah, blending the variety’s natural spice and perfume with the region’s hallmark freshness and balance. Crafted by winemaker Warren Gibson, it reflects Trinity Hill’s deep understanding of the unique Gimblett Gravels subregion — a stony, free-draining landscape that produces some of the country’s most distinctive and elegant reds.

The fruit is hand harvested from vineyards across the Gimblett Gravels, where warm daytime temperatures and cool nights create perfect conditions for Syrah to ripen slowly while retaining vibrancy. Fermentation takes place in small open-top vats with gentle plunging to extract colour and fine tannins, followed by maturation in French oak barriques, only a small portion new. This restrained approach allows the fruit and terroir to shine, delivering purity, complexity and finesse.

In the glass it shows a deep crimson hue with purple highlights. The aroma is pure and lifted, revealing blackberry, blueberry and dark cherry entwined with violet, black pepper and subtle smoky spice. The palate is medium bodied and silky, offering layers of dark fruit, spice and savoury mineral notes balanced by lively acidity and fine tannins. The finish is long and graceful, echoing the elegance of Northern Rhône Syrah but with a distinct New Zealand brightness.

It pairs beautifully with roast lamb, venison, duck, or grilled vegetables, and is equally at home with mushroom risotto or charcuterie. Delicious in its youth for its perfume and energy, it will evolve gracefully for a decade or more, developing deeper savoury and truffle-like complexity.