2023 Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay, Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels

• Style: Medium-bodied, mineral-driven New Zealand Chardonnay
• Taste: Toasted almond, white nectarine, flint, refined oak integration
• Food: Grilled seafood, butter-sauced fish, roasted chicken, pasta & risotto
• Occasion: Weeknight dinner, Sunday lunch, special table moment
• Serve: Chilled; 13% ABV, bone-dry, crisp core

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

This Chardonnay unfolds with toasted almond and white nectarine, underpinned by a whisper of flint that echoes the gravelly soils beneath the vines. A full year in French oak—57% new—followed by six months on yeast lees has built layered richness without heaviness. The acidity remains taut and mineral-driven; the oak melts rather than dominates. At 13% alcohol with just 0.73g/L residual sugar, this bone-dry wine carries surprising delicacy, its structure linear and poised—a wine for the table, not for admiring alone.

The Winery — Trinity Hill

Since 1993, Trinity Hill has defined quality in Hawkes Bay, recognising early the outstanding potential locked within Gimblett Gravels soils. The region's pioneer plantings on what was once barren ground now yield exceptional fruit. Winemaker Warren Gibson, stewarding the estate since 1997 and overseeing 80 hectares of vineyard, knows this terroir with rare intimacy. For the 2023 vintage—a warm, humid season that sharpened rather than blurred character—he selected three Chardonnay clones (95, 548, and 15) to build both depth and finesse. The harvest in early March captured peak ripeness without sacrificing freshness, delivering a wine that embodies the elegance, balance and precision for which Trinity Hill has become renowned.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Pair this with grilled seafood, butter-sauced fish or roasted chicken; it sits equally well with pasta, risotto and shellfish. Its mineral backbone and refined oak make it a natural choice for weeknight dining or a more contemplative Sunday lunch. Explore our Whites with Oak selection to discover similar expressions, or venture further into New Zealand Chardonnay, where ocean winds and gravel soils push the variety toward freshness rather than richness alone. Vegan and vegetarian friendly.