98 points & No. 6 in James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of New Zealand
"Stupendous and complex aromas of dried strawberries, smoke, oyster shells and rust follow through to a medium body with dusty, velvety tannins that give length and lift. Spicy at the end, with cloves and gunpowder."
- James Suckling
This release is a masterful 13-barrel blend drawn from the Shelf, Quarry Rootlings and 10/5, Roadblock, and Slope parcels. The winemaking approach is highly focused: relying on natural vineyard yeasts, the fruit was mostly destemmed and spent between 28 to 33 days on skins. It was then basket-pressed straight to 100% new French oak for 12 months of maturation, before resting for a further eight months in tank to refine its texture.
With a minuscule 3,729 bottles produced, this is an incredibly rare and compelling Pinot. It opens with a pure, earthy bouquet of hibiscus, dried thyme, wild strawberry, and smoke. The palate is densely fruited and velvety, delivering ripe black raspberry and a bright hit of sour cherry. It wraps around you with warmth and flavour, driven by fresh acidity. As the Bell Hill team perfectly sums it up: "this wine is talking".
