On my recent visit to Elephant Hill at the end of April, I was given insight to some of the exciting new happenings and wines about to make their mark on the wine scene and market. It was evident that the company’s three vineyards, the home site at Te Awanga, the Gimblett Gravels vineyard and the Bridge Pa block all provide different characteristics that suit different varieties, as well as giving the wines that emanate individual personalities (click here to see my report on visiting the vineyards). This offers winemaker Steve Skinner the opportunity of many blending options, but also the ability to make single vineyard wines.
While at Elephant Hill, I tasted the excellent ‘Earth’ Tempranillo and the stunning ‘Earth’ Syrah wine, these from the Bridge Pa vineyard. These are very high aspirational wines which sit above the ‘Reserve’ tier, and just below the ‘Icon’ wines. In this series, individual bottlings from the Te Awanga vineyard will be labelled ‘Sea’, and the equivalent wines from the Gimblett Gravels will carry the name ’Stone’. Clearly these names refer to the defining factors of each vineyard. Here, I review the 2017 Pinot Gris, from the Te Awanga vineyard, this being an ‘estate’ wine rather than under the ‘Sea’ designation. I also review the 2015 ‘Stone’ Syrah, from the Gimblett Gravels vineyard. www.elephanthill.co.nz
