(Decanter) - Winemakers in New Zealand's Hawke's Bay say the 2013 harvest is set to produce a historic vintage.

The wine grape harvest in Hawke's Bay, on the east coast of New Zealand's north island, may have only just been completed, but several winemakers are already lauding 2013 as perhaps the best vintage they've seen.

There is particular excitement around sub-region Gimblett Gravels. Tony Bish, chairman of the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association and chief winemaker at Sacred Hill, described 2013 as the 'best in living memory... the stuff legends are made of'.

He said the 'quality of the fruit is just terrific, the best in my 32 years, a great Merlot year'. The Merlot is so good that Scared Hill may, for the first time, release a straight varietal, he said, adding that 2012 was actually the worst year he'd experienced.