Trinity Hill Tipped as One of the World’s Great Wine Estates

February 11th 2011

…and scoops five 5-Star reviews in “wine bible”.

Influential wine commentator Ralph Kyte-Powell highlighted Trinity Hill as a contender for membership in the “world’s great wine estates” in last week’s Sydney Morning Herald. “Under the expert guidance of Aussie ex-pat John Hancock and Kiwi Warren Gibson, the wine quality is superb, especially when it comes to Syrah (Shiraz)”. Understandably Hancock is quite chuffed with Kyte-Powell’s compliment. “To be included as deserving of a place in the short list of the world's best wine estates is one hell of a pat on the back and a real tribute to the huge input that everyone involved has put in over the relatively short 14 year period we have been operating” he says.

Just one week later, and on the other side of the world, Trinity Hill’s 2008 Gimblett Gravels Syrah earned the admiration of Andy Neather, wine writer for the UK’s Evening Standard who wrote “Trinity Hill's John Hancock is a Kiwi pioneer for Syrah: I was blown away by some of the ones he brought to London last autumn. This is one of his more affordable cuvees: big, with sweet fruit (8 per cent viognier, in fact) but still in a cool, structured, Rhone-ish style.”

This international praise coincides with the release of an impressive five, 5-star reviews published in Michael Cooper’s Buyers Guide to New Zealand Wine 2011. Cooper’s annual bestseller is considered “the bible of New Zealand Wine” by fellow industry members and consumers alike. He awarded these elite scores to Trinity Hill’s Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2008, the Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Noble Viognier 2008, Trinity Hill’s Black Label Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2009, the world famous Homage Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2007 and The Gimblett 2008, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Seven other Trinity Hill wines were awarded between 4 and 4½ stars in the same publication.

And “almost winning” has never felt so victorious for Hancock and his team with the announcement of the Winestate Annual Wine of the Year Awards. “Winestate chose five wines as finalists in each of a total of twelve categories and Trinity Hill wines featured in three of those categories” says John. “We didn’t actually win, but we scored 2nd in the Syrah Class with our 2008 Gimblett Gravels Syrah (the only New Zealand example, the rest were Aussies), 3rd in the sticky (Dessert Wine) class with our 2009 Noble Viognier and 3rd in the Sauvignon Blanc Class with our 2010 Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc. No other brand had more finalists than us!” Congratulatory messages are already pouring in from across the Tasman including Preston Peak Wines who said “We are proud to be listed with you in Winestate's Top 5 Shiraz of Australia & New Zealand” and that “we would love to have your wine alongside ours for our guests to enjoy” at a Shiraz dinner they’re hosting at their cellar door later in the year.

“Vintage 2011 is also looking to be exceptionally good” says John. “While it’s a long time until the fat lady sings, all signs are that it will be a great quality and a fair quantity year for Trinity. We’re looking good for an early March start, maybe slightly earlier than average”.

ENDS