Reviews

Browse our reviews below.

 

 

NICK STOCK
SMALL BATCH WINES COME TO THE FORE
JAMESSUCKLING.COM
24 NOVEMBER, 2020

Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2017 is the latest and best ever release of pinot from this super high-density vineyard that has produced only tiny amounts of wine that are highly sought afterThis has an impressive red and dark-cherry nose, integrated beautifully with sweetly fragrant spice and blueberries. The palate has such fine yet fleshy texture with intense, spicy red-cherry flavors and a very brightly defined, long and fresh finish. Love the purity here. This has such fine, vibrant texture and a stunning finish. 99

Points Bell Hill Chardonnay 2017 Intense, vivid aromas of lemon, peach and hazelnut with some crushed-stone notes, too. Smells ripe and needs some air to open up. The palate has a very intense, layered structure, building plenty of peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, as well as some hazelnut and pastry. Acidity and minerals surge into the finish. Stunning. Drink over the next four years. 97 Points



ALLEN MEADOWS'
SPECIAL REPORT:
CURRENT RELEASE NEW ZEALAND PINOT NOIR
BURGHOUND.COM
4TH QUARTER, 2020

Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2016 This initially displays enough reduction to mention but a quick aeration causes it to quickly dissipate to reveal pretty and high-toned essence of red currant, raspberry, cherry and discreet spice and floral nuances. There is fine volume to the delicious, vibrant and appealingly textured medium weight flavors that possess solid depth and persistence. This is lovely and understated and a wine that could be enjoyed young or aged to good effect, which is what I would suggest. 2023+ 91 Points
Old Weka Pass Road Pinot Noir 2013 Initially there is a touch of reduction, but it rapidly dissipates to reveal very fresh herbal tea-inflected high-tonged essence of various red berries that display almost no secondary development. The sleek and delicious flavors possess an appealing texture while offering fine depth and persistence on the slightly sweet finish where the tannins are largely resolved. This has entered its peak drinking phase though it should have no trouble holding here for another decade or so. Now+ 89 Points



CAMERON DOUGLAS MS 
CAMDOUGLASMS.COM
26 OCTOBER, 2020

Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2016 Complex and layered, fresh red cherry and berry fruits in the bouquet and on the palate, the mouthfeel is as defining as the fruit. Balanced, youthful, long. Well made, still developing. Long finish. Be lovely to see how this wine develops over the next 10 years. The sense of mystery and soil is part of this wine's charm. This is my note as I tasted the wine at Bell Hill - a truly remarkable wine with complexity, a little mystery and fabulous pinosity.Outstanding. 96 Points



MIKE BENNIE 
WINEFRONT.COM
9 AUGUST, 2020

From an extraordinary, close-planted site in north Canterbury that was formerly a lime quarry. All of this raised and reared by the wonderful Sherwyn Veldhuizen and Marcel Giesen. An amazing project and vision realised in these wines. One of my favourite wine producers of New Zealand but popped out of a blind tasting and hello. Exacting farming, extraordinary site. Bell Hill Chardonnay 2016 Destroys the bulk of fancy Burgundy. Dive in, people. Flint and steel, green apple, floral notes, water biscuits. So precise and tight, racy, insanely minerally and pure, energy to burn. Purity, freshness, vibrant and just so damn energetic, the whole thing mouthwatering and delicious, like the finest texture married to the most tense fruit character. How is this possible? It’s mesmerising and memorable. People will talk about their experience with this wine. Damn. Wow. Drink 2020 – 2040 97+ Points Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2016 This has purity, shimmering beauty and tension writ large. It feels pretty and perfumed to sniff on, sour cherry, wild herbs, faint cedar and clove. Flavours mesh light and frisky, more of the sour cherry and wild herb, though theres a distinct stony minerality that trails long through the wine’s epic length. Texture here is incredible. So much detail in the wine too. An outstanding wine. Drink 2020-2035 97 Points.



JOHN SZABO
NEW ZEALAND’S INSIDER SECRETS 
WINEALIGN.COM
7 MAY, 2020

High density planting, 11,363 vines per hectare, planted between 1997-2009, 2.25ha total. Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2013 Some whole cluster lots (9-21%), the rest mostly whole berry with only a small proportion crushed; close to a month on skins. Clearly serious wine, not yet at full peak, with dense, finely woven tannic structure abetted by firm, ripe, complete acids, with the sort of extract and complexity, genuine density and length on the palate that can only come from meticulous farming. There’s a real streak of savoury-earthy-herbal flavour, framed up by crunchy red and black fruit. The finish lifts up with a welcome touch of volatility, and lingers on and on. Top kit, structured, ageworthy. Best after 2022. Tasted July 2019.



BOB CAMPBELL
NEW ZEALAND’S TOP WINERIES
THEREALREVIEW.COM
27 MARCH, 2020

Bell Hill Vineyard Ranked #2 in New Zealand. Best known for sleek chardonnay and sophisticated pinot noir that are clearly shaped by limestone-rich soils and a lot of love in the vineyard. These wines are in noticeably short supply. Old Weka Pass Road 2016 Relatively light in colour but with impressive purity and power with floral, violet, red rose, red cherry and a chalk-mineral character. Graceful wine with an ethereal texture and very lengthy finish. A seriously good pinot noir with a promising future. 96 Points, Drink 2020-2025



CAMERON DOUGLAS MS
FINE WINES OF NEW ZEALAND
THE SHOUT
APRIL 2020

The Bell Hill wines quickly became a sought after addition to wine lists around the world. The Bell Hill is literally as the name suggests a bell-shaped bulbous hill with gleaming white lime-rich soil upon which grows outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Bell Hill Chardonnay 2016 The wine itself has lovely purity and detail in the bouquet, a fine core of fruit, judicious use of oak, amazing complexity with fine tannins and a long harmonious finish. 96 Points



JOELLE THOMSON
50 SHADES OF PINOT NOIR
JOELLETHOMSON.COM
28 FEBRUARY, 2020

Bell Hill Pinot Noir 2016 This is the best New Zealand Pinot Noir I have tasted in and extremely long time – and there’s been no shortage of Pinots poured into my glass.