Reviews

NICK STOCK
TOP 50 NEW ZEALAND WINES OF 2016
JAMES SUCKLING.COM
DECEMBER, 2016

The Top 10 wines this year are dominated by pinot noir, and the pick of them is the 2013 Bell Hill Pinot Noir from Waikari, my New Zealand Wine of the Year for 2016. A layered, concentrated and profound expression from Sherwyn Veldhuizen and Marcel Giesen’s tiny close-planted vineyard has so much to say. It’s staggering:

No. 1 Bell Hill Pinot Noir Waikari 2013 The aromatic layering here is impressive, where plenty of toasty, spicy, cinnamon-scented French timber is played into rich red and dark cherries as well as a brambly, undergrowth-like edge. Peppery moments and sweet, autumnal leafy notes lurk beneath. The palate’s bathed in pitch perfectly ripened pinot fruits such as red and purple cherries, dark plums, blackberries and blueberries. The tannins are seductively fine and even, the acidity is bright, and this runs effortlessly along delivering concentrated fruit flavors amid nicely matched oak spices that warm up the expansive finish. A rare and certainly costly bottle of NZ pinot that delivers on the promise of pleasure and interest. Drink now through to 2025. 98 Points

No. 20 Bell Hill Chardonnay Waikari 2013 One of the most complete and complex New Zealand Chardonnays on release, this 2013 Bell Hill has beautifully judged reductive flintiness across grapefruit, peach and hazelnut aromas, not to mention lemon curd and wet stones. The palate’s built around an arc of succulent and appealing acidity that draws concentrated fruit flavors in the lemon, grapefruit and peach spectrum long and even. A texturally flawless, great wine. Drink now to 2020+. 96 Points

No. 44 Bell Hill Pinot Noir Old Weka Pass Road Waikari 2013 The Old Weka Pass Road Pinot Noir from the 2013 vintage is very much reflective of the same DNA seen in the Bell Hill bottling from the same vintage, but only a lighter and more transparent rendering. It delivers redder cherry-fruit aromas, and is quite fragrant and pure, but less of the darker fruits and swanky oak-derived overtones. The palate’s fine, elegant and focused with a core of bright and crunchy red cherries. Quite elegant and refreshing. The texture is chalky, supported by tannins that hold a linear shape and an almost crunchy edge. Drink now to 2020. 94 Points

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN
THE WINE ADVOCATE
DECEMBER, 2016

Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2013 Pale to medium ruby colored, the 2013 Pinot Noir offers an earthy/meaty nose to begin, morphing into dried cranberries, kirsch and lavender notes with sauteed herbs and Ceylon tea emerging in the undercurrent. Light to medium-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling earth, herbal and evolved red berry flavors with a compelling distinctive perfume and notable grip coming from the ripe grape and stem tannins. It finishes with great length and depth. 95 Points, Drink 2016-2024

Bell Hill Chardonnay 2013 The 2013 Chardonnay has a refreshingly savory and mineral-scented nose, with notes of baking bread, yeast extract, toasted almonds, crushed stones and struck flint over a core of lemon meringue pie and grapefruit peel. Medium-bodied with a gorgeous satiny texture, it offers an understated, quiet intensity that is truly unique and compelling. 93+Points, Drink 2016-2021

Bell Hill Old Weka Pass Road Pinot Noir 2013 Pale ruby colored, the 2013 Old Weka Pass Pinot Noir reveals an intensely scented nose of pomegranate, warm cranberries and red currants with hints of Provence herbs, lavender and forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate gives a firm structure of grainy tannins and lively acid, supporting the generous earth and red berry flavor layers, finishing with great persistence. 91 Points, Drink 2016-2021

BOB CAMBPELL
GOURMET TRAVELER
DECEMBER, 2016

Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2013 This tiny North Canterbury producer has a small vineyard planted on a hill that was once a limestone quarry. This is aromatic and powerful pinot noir, it has cherry, violet, fresh herb and chalky/mineral flavours. It’s an elegant, supple wine with an incredibly lengthy finish. Although it can be readily appreciated now the wine promised to age very well indeed. Very collectible.

Bell Hill Old Weka Pass Road 2013 Old Weka Pass Road is Bell Hill’s second label, although the quality of the wine frequently transcends that of many first labels and is generally made from younger plantings of Pommard and Dijon clones. The winemaking regime is similar to that of the Bell Hill label with a little less new oak. Appealing aromatic pinot noir with cherry, violet, chalky mineral flavours together with a subtle seasoning of fresh herbs. An elegant wine with purity and poise. 95 Points, Drink 2022

GARY WALSH
WINE FRONT.COM.AU
NOVEMBER 16, 2016

Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2013 The seductive whiff of Chinese five spice is merely a teaser; this wine, is as they say in the classics, inscrutable. Drifting smoke of burning autumn leaves, cherry pip, dried roses and violet, sweet dried herbs, BBQ pork and plum. It’s medium bodied, but tightly bound – all bones and structure – with the latent promise of succulence. Ribs of roasty pencilly oak, fine peppery tannin, and a dry minerally finish of super length. Gee it’s a serious wine. Superb. 96+ Points, Drink 2019 – 2033

Bell Hill Chardonnay 2013 Sizzled butter with a sage leaf, stonefruit and mango pulp, oyster shell, mint chocolate and spice – it certainly has a touch of exotic about it – then into a slick glycerol palate with every sip, and a light chalkiness of texture to carry it. It’s one of those wines that blows warm and cool at once, and the finish is distinctly savoury, let laced with a passionfruit crème brûlée succulence and pulpy tang. It gets better, tightens up, and reveals more, given time in glass. Complex and rewarding, and distinctively individual. 95 Points, Drink 2016 – 2022+

Bell Hill Old Weka Pass Road 2013 It’s all going on here. Dried roses, spice and smoke, earth and sap, raspberry and blackberry. Medium bodied, smoky and sappy, with a cool line of acidity and dusty peppery tannin. It delivers flavor, but with the kind of brooding reluctance to do so. Has a distinct pencil/mineral thing going on, and the finish is bony, spicy and long. Impressive. A couple more years, and it will improve, but give it some consideration as a youngster – some breathing space – and it will stand and deliver. There’s a bit of X-Factor about this wine for me. 94 Points, Drink 2018 – 2026+

ALLEN MEADOWS
BURGHOUND.COM
OCTOBER, 2016

Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2012 Subtle hints of oak, menthol and Asian-style tea add breadth to the ripe and fresh aromas of mostly dark berry fruit, plum and violets. Here too there is a really lovely mouth feel to the lush, succulent and solidly well-concentrated medium weight flavors that possess a supple mid-palate that contrasts moderately with the firm and dusty finale that possesses both fin depth and persistence. Lovely and this is still very much on the way up though the abundant amount of dry extract renders this accessible, if young fruit is your preference. (Canterbury, 13%) 91 Points, Drink 2020+

Bell Hill Old Weka Pass Road Pinot Noir 2011 A top note of menthol can be found on the maturing yet fresh mix of both red and dark currant aromas that are nuanced by hints of both spice and tea. I very much like the mouth feel of the caressing medium-bodied flavors that possess good richness and a punch, all wrapped in a complex and impressively persistent finish where an interesting note of tobacco appears. This is already drinking well though there is no reason that it could not continue to be held as I suspect that even more depth will develop in time. (Canterbury 12.5%) 91 Points, Drink Now+ 

BOB CAMPBELL MW
WINE OF THE WEEK NZ
THE REAL REVIEW.COM
AUGUST 23, 2016

Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2013 Very aromatic pinot noir, with delicate charry and violet characters on the nose. The palate continues that theme with added chalky mineral and a suggestion of fresh herbs. An elegant, supple wine showing extraordinary power as evidenced by its lengthy finish. Deliciously approachable now but with obvious cellaring potential, drink now to 2025.  98 Points

MARY WOROBIEC
WINESPECTATOR, INSIDER
AUGUST 3, 2016

Bell Hill Chardonnay 2012, Rich and Succulent, with lemongrass, crisp green apple and lemon flavors revealing a supple, creamy, buttery side. Shows subtlety on the long finish, with a nutmeg note that lingers. Drink now through 2020. 94 points  

AIR NEW ZEALAND
FINE WINES OF NEW ZEALAND AWARDS 2016
BELL HILL PINOT NOIR 2012

LUCA GARDINI
GARDINI NOTES.COM
APRIL, 2016

Bell Hill Chardonnay 2011 Obtained from three areas planted on terrains of different compositions. The complexity arrives from the geological inlay. Nose characterized by a floral and citrus dualism.  The sip highlights the neroli, citrus fruits – especially bergamot and cedar – and salt. Nice persistence. 93 Points

JULIA HARDING MW
HOW TO MAKE (NZ) CHARDONNAY
JANCIS ROBINSON.COM
MAY 13, 2016

Bell Hill Chardonnay 2012 North Canterbury Super inviting – just a suggestion of creamy oak and lightly smoky, struck match, all in moderation but all adding complexity. Even with that complexity there is pure citrus and dried herbs. On the palate, fabulous acidity, itense, cool and still elegant. Complex but still young and has terrific purity and length. Like ripe-fruited fine burgundy. 18/20, Drink 2016-2022

CAMERON DOUGLAS MS
THESHOUT NZ
APRIL, 2016

Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2013 Complex, sophisticated and specific with a fine concentration of fruit, oak, spice and elegance, loaded with pinosity and a deeply seated mineral core. On the palate- tense, vibrant, balanced, youthful, mineral laden and fruit focused; ripe tannins mixed with oak and plenty of acidity, some finer sulphide action adding complexity; long almost beautiful finish. Too much to like. 97 Points

Bell Hill Old Weka Pass Road Pinot Noir 2013 Very alluring bouquet with the spices of toasty oak and generosity of fruit all captured as one. Darker red berry fruit suggestions, cinnamon and cedar baking spice moments, lovely concentration. On the palate – elegant, smooth, fruity and fine with dusty tannins and toned acid line; darker black forest red fruit flavours and noticeable oak components with a fine mineral line. 93 Points

BOB CAMPBELL MW
WINE OF THE WEEK NZ
THE REAL REVIEW.COM
MARCH 28, 2016

Bell Hill 2012 Chardonnay Remarkable Chardonnay with a character all of its own. Strong chalky, mineral flavours with citrus, lemon, a hint of wild flowers, nutty lees and spicy oak characters. Weighty, textural and silken-smooth wine with extraordinary length of flavor. Should age very well indeed, although it is very appealing right now. 99 Points, 5 Stars, Ageing: 2015 – 2022

JAMIE GOODE
WINE ANORAK
FEBRUARY 5, 2016

The Chardonnay is beautifully focused, and a tasting of 2012, 2009 and 2006 was really interesting, showing the ageing potential of this wine – at almost 10 years old, the 2006 is just beginning to develop. The Pinot Noir is quite superb. Old Weka Pass Road is the second label, and 2011 and 2012 were quite lovely, especially the latter. The 2012 Bell Hill Pinot is fine and expressive with some spicy depth and good structure. 2010 is sweetly fruited and shows lovely concentration, with some ripeness. 2008 is quite beautiful: it’s supple and has some mineral, savoury notes and has a silky elegance.