Hawkes Bay Merlot 2024

Trinity Hill Hawke's Bay Merlot 2024

Winemaking 

As Autumn arrived the season became cooler yet remained dry, providing ideal ripening conditions for Merlot grown on the Gimblett Gravels. Several individual parcels were harvested separately and destemmed prior to fermentation, leaving a high proportion of whole berries. Gentle daily pumping over of the skins during fermentation helped extract a soft, complex structure. Following 7 months aging in a combination of stainless steel tanks and small French oak barrels, the individual parcels were blended to create the ideal marriage of components.

The Wine

Chocolate, plum, and blackberry aromas have combined with the aromatic spice of oak aging to produce a fruit-dominant yet complex wine. Soft, ripe tannins make this wine serious yet eminently drinkable. It can be enjoyed with a wide range of different foods, particularly lamb and beef. We recommend moderately short-term cellaring (2-5 years).