Gimblett Gravels Selection 2022 Vintage Selection released late 2024

Below are my notes on the fifteenth release of the annual Gimblett Gravels selection. Twelve wines independently tasted and selected by Andrew Caillard, Master of Wine. Andrew’s assessment of the wines showcases what he feels and highlights the best representation of the 2022 vintage from wines grown on the ‘Gimblett Gravels’ soils.

My independent reviews, thoughts and tasting of the same wines below.

Cameron.

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Esk Valley Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2022 RRP from $24.99. Great colour concentration leading to a bouquet of ripe dark red berry fruits, blackberry and roasted plums, a mix of sweet and bitter chocolate, cacao and baking spices. The wood smoke from use of barrel adds complexity and depth. Dry with an abundance of ripe tannins and plenty of acidity for bite and freshness, Well made, lengthy and delicious with best drinking from day of purchase through 2030. 93 Points Excellent

Mission Reserve Merlot 2022, RRP from $30.00. A very enticing bouquet of ripe plums and red berries, there’s a layer of stony clay mineral scents then a sweet lift from new barrel and toasty kitchen cupboard spice ideas. Firm and dry with salivating acid line and ripe polished tannins, medium+ weighted and very new to the taste still. Plums and red berry flavours, cherry and a lick of barrel spice flavours add to the delicious, freshness and mouthfeel qualities. Best from late 2025 through 2030. 93 Points Excellent.

Mills Reef Reserve Merlot 2022. RRP from $26.99. A very enticing bouquet of red and black Doris plums, fruit spice with stony clay soil suggestions then smoky barrel spices with clove and sweet vanilla pod. On the palate a delicious wine, dry, taut, firm with an abundance of polished tannins and backbone of acidity. Flavours of plum and raspberry, boysenberry and smoky brown spices from barrel. Best drinking from 2026 through 2033+. 94 Points Excellent

Squawking Magpie ‘The Nest’ 2022 (Merlot, Cab Sav, Malbec blend. RRP from $59.95. Fabulous colour and concentration with a bouquet to match. Scents of blackberry and Doris plums, bitter chocolate and toasty barrels spices of clove, vanilla and five spice. There’s a smoky wood quality with hints of sweet tobacco and aw sugar. Full-bodied, concentrated and dry on the palate, firm tannins and acidity frame the core palate flavours of dark berries, cherry and plum the tobacco and blackberry laced with chocolate. Delicious, lengthy and well made with a complex lingering and harmonious finish. Best from 2028 through 2038+. 95 Points. Outstanding.

Trinity Hill ‘The Gimblett’ 2022. RRP from $40.00 Made with Cabernet Franc, and Tempranillo the bouquet excellent with a core of blackberry and dark olive, raspberry and echoes of gravel stony soil layers then barrel spice and a touch of wood smoke. Youthful, tense and complex. On the palate the youth of the bouquet is proven with a taut, tense and poised wine. Firm tannins and plenty of acidity locks in the tension and core fruit flavours, oak spices and olive, non-fruit complexities. Lengthy with best drinking from 2028 through 2035+. 94 Points Excellent

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2022. RRP from $18.99. Aromas and flavours of dark cherries and plums, some blackberry and barrel spices of vanilla and clove. Great texture and mouthfeel as the wine touches the palate, fine dusty tannins and medium+ acid line then flavours of blackberry and dark skinned plums. Balanced, well made and ready to drink from 2024 through 2029. Great value. 92 Points Premium

Church Road ‘Tom 1’ Single Vineyard Malbec. RRP from $120.00. Opaque at the core with dark purple then ruby hues at the rim. Aromas of inky palate staining dark berry flesh and overripe Doris plum skin, violets and oak spices rush at the senses with power and energy. Smoky ashen barrel spices of clove and five spice then milk chocolate. On the palate a dry wine with core ripe dark berry and violet flavours, inky almost jam-level-ripe. An abundance of highly polished tannins and acidity frame the core soundly. Well made, lengthy and delicious, a wine that will age well for the next ten years effortlessly. Best from 2030 through 2040. 96 Points Outstanding

Stonecroft ‘Serine’ Syrah 2022. RRP from $33.00. ruby and light purple hues and plenty of polish lead to a bouquet of fresh raspberry and boysenberry fruits scents, a mix of new and older barrel spice ideas then a dry stone and dark clay soil suggestion. Complex, youthful and very inviting. A dry wine on the palate with a fine floral and mineral quality, there’s a light reductive quality layering in a stony gunflint quality then fruit flavours of red berries and plum. Fine tannins and acidity add complexity and texture, finesse and style. Well made and ready to drink from 2026 through 2030. 93 Points. Excellent.

Stonecroft Reserve Syrah 2022. RRP from $60.00. Excellent colour with purples and reds leading to a bouquet of concentration and floral complexity. Aromas and flavours of fresh and baked raspberry, earth smoke of gravelly sandy soils then barrel spices and a nettle-bracken dried herb quality. Dry and rather delicious on the palate with a salty red fruited core of flavours. An abundance of fine tannins add mouthfeel and style while the acidity drives the freshness of thr fruit flavours throughout the palate. Best drinking from 2026 through 2032+. 95 Points. Outstanding.

Church Road ‘TOM’ Syrah 2022. RRP from $220.00. Fabulous colour of purple and deep red hues lead seamlessly to aromas of violets and dark rose then sweet oak and dark raspberry then black currant. There’s a generous lift and perfume in the bouquet from the synergy of the aromas. On the palate a naturally dry wine with an elegance and sophistication embracing flavours of berries and spices, sunbaked soils and fruit spices. Delicious, lengthy and well made. Best drinking from 2027 through 2034+. 95 Points Outstanding

Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2022. RRP from $180.00. I tasted this wine earlier in 2024 so was very curious to try again, my feelings and assessment of this wine remain the same. Delicious, complex and benchmarking. A bouquet and palate of purity and complexity, myriad red berry fruit flavours set in a frame of texture and complexity. Textures from an abundance of ripe polished tannins and equally ripe acidity, a silky touch. Flavours of dark raspberry and blue fruits, a whisper of leather then a mix of new and older barrel complexity layering in flavours of toasted kitchen spices and smoke. Well made and lengthy with best drinking from 2025 through 2035. 95 Points Outstanding

Smith and Sheth Heretaunga Syrah 2022. RRP from $40.00.I tasted this wine on two previous occasions, the is and remains delicious, fresh and enticing. A wine of texture and youth with core aromas and flavours of boysenberry and spice, dark plum and leather, raspberry and violets. There’s layers of wood spice and earth with firm tannins and plenty of acidity for mouthfeel and length. A lovely example, happy to be your cellar for a while longer with best drinking from early 2026 through 2034+. 94 Points Excellent