Early drought conditions emerging in Hawke’s Bay as rainfall drops
As you approach Hastings from the south along SH2, the colour of the west-facing hills are a good indicator of a drought.
The wines were tasted by Caillard for the 2013 Annual Vintage Selection, which is the sixth year of this tasting initiative by members of the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers’ Association (GGWA).
“The tasting serves as a unique snapshot of a particular vintage and helps to chart the evolution of Gimblett Gravels® wines on a vintage by vintage basis,” says GGWA chairman Gordon Russell.
“The excitement generated by the perfect growing conditions of the 2013 harvest meant this was the most anticipated Annual Vintage Selection yet. To have had Andrew Caillard MW with us in person has been a privilege, adding a global perspective and professionalism to this annual tasting.”
The 2013 selection attracted a record number of 46 wines submitted by GGWA members for tasting. Caillard described the 2013 wines stylistically as having: “all the hallmarks of a classic vintage, with lovely aromatic complexity, generous flavours, supple textures and mineral length.”
Russell says that GGWA members plan to send a limited number of 2013 Annual Vintage Selection packs out to key wine media and influencers around the world for their review.
