2025 Trinity Hill Pinot Noir, Hawkes Bay

Trinity Hill Pinot Noir from Hawke’s Bay is a finely judged, cool climate expression that shows a more restrained, savoury side of the region. While Hawke’s Bay is best known for Bordeaux varieties and Syrah, Trinity Hill has long championed Pinot Noir from cooler inland sites where altitude, airflow and stony soils bring freshness and aromatic lift. The winery was founded in the mid nineteen eighties and is now led by chief winemaker Warren Gibson, one of New Zealand’s most respected and thoughtful wine figures, known for his precision, patience and deep understanding of site.

Fruit for this Pinot Noir is sourced from cooler Hawke’s Bay vineyards with free draining gravel and clay soils that naturally limit vigour and promote fine tannin structure. The growing season is long and even, allowing Pinot to ripen slowly without losing acidity. In the winery, Gibson’s approach is measured and transparent. Hand harvested fruit is fermented with care, often including a portion of whole bunches to add spice and complexity, then matured in French oak with restraint so that fruit and site remain the focus rather than oak sweetness.

The aromas are lifted and elegant. Red cherry, wild strawberry and cranberry sit at the core, layered with rose petal, subtle spice and a hint of dried herbs. There is a gentle savoury undertone of forest floor and soft earth that adds depth and keeps the wine grounded. As it opens, notes of orange peel and light oak emerge, adding nuance rather than weight.

The palate is silky, poised and beautifully balanced. Bright red fruits flow through fine, supple tannins that give shape without firmness, supported by fresh acidity that carries the wine long and clean. Flavours of cherry skin, redcurrant and gentle spice unfold gradually, finishing with a savoury, mineral edge. It is approachable now but has the structure to develop further over five to eight years, gaining more earthy and autumnal complexity with time.

An excellent match for roast duck, grilled salmon, mushroom dishes, herb roasted chicken or soft, earthy cheeses. Trinity Hill Pinot Noir is a quietly confident wine that rewards attention, offering elegance, balance and a different lens on Hawke’s Bay.