“This is a Gimblett Gravels elixir.” - Vinous

We know that as a seasoned Operative, you continue looking for the next great wine at a GREAT price… Imagine a wine that marries the fruit purity, ripeness, and vibrant flavors of the New World with the structure, age-ability, and textural depth of classic Bordeaux.

A 99 Pointer (DOUBLE 98s and DOUBLE 97s backing that up!) that you could comfortably cellar for up to a decade and beyond. Well worth the original price of $120 but today…

For less than $70?!

Not to compare apples and oranges, but this is a TOP BOTTLING from one of the World’s Top Regions for Reds. Our own notes read, ‘As gorgeous as New Zealand gets! Dead ringer for Cos d’Estournel’. ($200+) BTW, the top score for which we could find in the same vintage was… a 98.

As for other famous regions, we’ve worked hard to offer many Napa Reds that also hit close to this mark, at 98 Points (Stone the Crows 2021, Bevan 2019 Ontogeny, BV 2021 ‘Georges de Latour’, Favia 2021 Coombsville Cab, Accendo Cellars 2019 Napa Valley Cab, Harlan 2022 Maiden). BUT NONE NEAR THIS PRICE!

Put simply, today’s wine is one of the reasons we got into wine. The type of find we just can’t keep to ourselves. Gimblett Gravels in Hawke’s Bay is a region that carries immense caché with Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers around the globe but is rarely seen.

If you remember our last Elephant Hill offer, we know you’re in. (special shoutout to Eric Liu for the support on FB!)

One of the region’s Producers to Know in a recent Decanter article, they point out that Elephant Hill “produces a wide array of sophisticated wines from across the three sub-regions under the guidance of longtime Hawke’s Bay winemaker Hugh Crichton, formerly of Vidal Estate.” And this? It’s their flagship bottling!

But let’s back up. Like to the other side of the globe.

Our comparison to Cos d’Estournel wasn’t an accident. Bordeaux loving Ops will remember that the region’s Left Bank owes its character, maybe even its success, to its Maritime Climate and DEEP gravel soils. As Vinography puts it, “Gravel is a word used in conjunction with some of wine’s most hallowed ground. The gravelly clays of Bordeaux’s Left Bank produce bottles bearing vaunted names such as Haut-Brion, Latour, Lafite, Mouton, and Margaux.” AND these soils were underwater until the region was drained by the Dutch in the 1600’s.

Today, there are other famous regions that have some gravel. But the only one to rival Bordeaux’s depth, AND the only one with a similar Maritime climate…

That’s right. It’s Gimblett Gravels.

And in wine terms, the region is in its infancy. “Little more than 150 years ago, the Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District was completely under water.” explains Decanter. A shift in the local river in 1867 revealed the regions rocky soils, though it would be some time before anyone glimpsed their potential. “Too bony and barren to be of much use for farming, the gravel became the sort of wasteland that housed an army rifle range… But in the early 1980s, Chris Pask planted a small block of Cabernet Sauvignon – a variety that struggled to ripen elsewhere in New Zealand.”

And the rest is history. Only, not really… most of our Agents haven’t even heard of this region!

Which is to say, IT’S STILL UNDERVALUED!

Founded in 2003 by the Weiss family, Elephant Hill quickly became a flag-bearer of Hawke’s Bay. Their commitment to sustainability, quality, and authenticity is celebrated locally, with a packed tasting room and stunning restaurant. If you have the chance to visit, the winery is jaw-dropping. Yet they have only recently been imported to the U.S. – and this bottle specifically for Wine Spies!

The Hieronymus is part of their ICON series, named for a noble 16th-century family member. But we can’t help but associate it with the more famous painter of the same name’s ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’, not just because it’s a MASTERPIECE, but that… At today’s price, it’s a SURREAL VALUE!

The 2021 vintage completed a trilogy of outstanding harvests for Hawke’s Bay. Intensity, concentration, complexity, but most of all, BALANCE is the trademark of this wine. It takes a while to open (we recommend decanting an hour) but with a little air explodes with black and red fruits, pipe tobacco, five spice, and earthy aromas. The palate possesses the coiled energy of a cobra about to strike – like a lover that could kiss or kill you. A sultry, seductive temptress. So very complex it’ll be hard not to open, but built to improve, and get even better with time!

While it’s still under the radar here, the top local voices are unanimous… 99 Points, 98, 98, 97, 97…

Not to put too fine a point on it, but here is your chance for grab a highly allocated world-class wine, exclusively here.

Time to grab it before it’s gone!

99 Points – Andrew Caillard MW “Deep crimson. Classical blackcurrant, mocha, roasted chestnut, hint marzipan notes. Richly concentrated cassis, dark cherry, mocha flavours, fine slinky tannins, lovely mid palate density and beautiful balanced grilled nut/ marzipan oak notes. Lovely complexity, richness and vigour. A standout wine. Drink now – 2032”

98 Points – Wine Orbit “Impressive and captivating, the bouquet is filled with blackcurrant, tobacco, game, toasted spice and cedary oak aromas. The palate exhibits awesome weight and depth, superbly complemented by rich fruit intensity with savoury complexity. Tannins are ultra-fine and in abundance, offering a solid frame to this magnificent offering. At its best: 2026 to 2041.”

98 Points – Raymond Chan “Deep, full, ruby-red with a brick-red hue, lighter on edge. This has an opulent, voluminous bouquet with aromas of plum, black currant, blackberry, menthol, dried herbs, cedar, pencil shavings and an amalgam of spice. Full-bodied, aromas of black plum, blackberry and blackcurrant entwined with menthol, vine leaf, cedar, tar, cloves and nutmeg. The fruit is beautifully expressed with concentration and depth; layering mint and herb components shows the fruit’s quality. Fine-grained, tightly woven tannins provide structure and vitality, along with enlivening acidity, driving a lengthy, seductive, satisfying finish. This is a harmonious Cabernet Merlot blend with grace and power; long-term cellaring will be rewarded. Match with Tomahawk and braised short ribs over the next 15+ years.”

97 Points – Cameron Douglas MS “A bouquet of intrigue and power, concentration and complexity. Aromas and flavours of fresh blackberry and roasted stone fruits, cinnamon and clove, fruit spice and violet, sweet tobacco and smoky oak qualities. Firm and dry, taut mouthfeel with tannins and acidity showing this wine needs cellar time as well as framing the core fruit flavours. Lengthy, complex and delicious. I could drink a glass of this wine tonight with dinner, I also know it will age well with best drinking likely from 2029 through 2039.”

97 Points – The Wine Writer “Jammy cassis and autumn leaves intertwine with liquorice, redcurrants, and sweet tobacco on the nose. The palate is dense, rich, and velvety, with stewed blackcurrants, a chocolatey concentration and a praline finish. Ripe, polished tannins and bright acidity add lift and balance, while its impressive length lingers beautifully. Powerful and highly concentrated, this wine is built to evolve gracefully over two decades—A cracking display of regional brilliance.”