Country: New Zealand  Region: Hawkes Bay  Vintage: 2018 Varietal:  Pinot Noir   Category: Red Wine  Color:  Red Producer: Trinity Hill Vineyards Fruit for the 2018 Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir is sourced from the Porangahau and Waipawa vineyards in Central Hawkes Bay. These two vineyard sites are situated significantly south and inland of the Heretaunga Plains. Soil types include argylite, sandstone, limestone and sandy loam. The clones used are Abel and 667. Vintage Information 2018 was a warm vintage in Hawkes Bay. The summer saw higher temperatures and lower rainfall than normal and this was then followed by a mild and relatively dry Autumn. This allowed the grapes to be harvested at a time when their flavour profile was at their maximum potential. Vinification Gentle handling of the fruit from harvesting through to fermentation helped retain the fresh primary fruit aromas typical of the variety. Each individual vineyard parcel was harvested separately with the fruit then destemmed prior to fermentation. Maturation in the cellar was for 12 months in a combination of small 228 litre barriques and stainless steel tanks. Tasting Notes Primary aromas of fresh raspberry and cherry alongside sweet spicy notes from the oak are evident on the nose. On the palate, the wine has soft, velvety tannins and will develop complex forest-floor and earthy characters with bottle age.