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This outstanding wine has topped Tri-Nations Shiraz Tastings (Australia 2006) and been awarded Champion Wine of the Hawkes Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards and Gold at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2006. Only the second release of the Homage Syrah series, it shows all the class of the Gimblett Gravels and the dedicated wine-growing and wine-making team at Trinity Hill.
THE VARIETY
Syrah approx. 96% (mass selected NZ clone, plus small proportions of Rhone clones 174, 383 and 470), Viognier approx. 4% (Rhone clone 642). The fruit came from vines planted in 1994. The fruit was thinned to give a crop level of around 1 tonne per acre (approx 20 Hectolitres per Hectare). The fruit came from vines planted in 1994. The fruit was thinned to give a crop level of around 1 tonne per acre (approx 20 Hectolitres per Hectare).
VINEYARD LOCATION
Gimblett Estate - the vineyard is situated in the Gimblett Road area of the Gimblett Gravels sub-region of Hawkes Bay.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
2004 ended up being good season in Hawkes Bay. A damp late-spring/early summer meant that the vine canopies were very healthy coming into the main ripening period. A warm, dry autumn allowed us to hang the grapes on in good condition until they were physiologically ripe. It could have been a very difficult year if it wasn’t for the famous Hawkes Bay Indian Summer which saved the harvest in similar fashion to the great 2002 season.
WINEMAKING
The handpicked grapes were hand-sorted, then gently destemmed without crushing leaving a large portion of uncrushed berries. Fermentation took place in an open top stainless steel fermenter and the cap was hand plunged four times daily for optimum color and tannin extraction. A short post- fermentation maceration helped complex the tannins. The wine was subsequently aged in new French oak barriques.
Malolactic fermentation took place in tank before going to barrel.
Regular racking for clarification took place during aging in barrel.
The wine was blended after 16 months oak aging and bottled in December 2005.
THE COLOUR
Rich, ruby red with hints of crimson.
THE BOUQUET
Ripe red berry fruit complexed with mocha and licorice notes.
THE PALATE
Full-bodied and concentrated. Rich citrus, ripe figs and stone-fruit with toasty, savoury oak. A long finish.
FOOD MATCHES
Richly flavoured red meat dishes. | 
