2015 Bell Hill Pinot Noir

Is there any doubt that Bell Hill has emerged as one of New Zealand's top Pinot Noir producers? The 2015 Pinot Noir continues a fine run of recent releases, deftly combining savory hints of smoked meat, clean compost and dried spices with notes of Bing cherries and strawberries. It's medium-bodied yet packs in plenty of flavor, adds a fine, silky texture and plenty of length and intensity on the finish.

100% destemmed as hail damage didn’t give enough quality bunches for that approach. Vines planted 1997–2009 from across the estate. 11,363 vines/ha, multi-clone planted. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts and 21–28 days on skins. 12 months in new oak. Pale ruby. Notable cinnamon-clove oak. Wild strawberry and chalky minerality behind the oak cloak. Racy, German-style acidity, with plenty of wild-strawberry fruit intensity. Good depth. Fairly firm, but polished, fine tannins. Smoky mineral, cinnamon-spice oak and a perfumed, long finish that carries a saline edge. Classy. Give it another year or two to let its oak cloak come down. (TJ)

A stunning pinot noir that is the product of incredible attention to detail in both the vineyard and the winery. The product of dramatically low yields and an unwavering commitment to the ultimate expression of a site’s potential quality. The nose has deeply fused aromas of red and black cherries, earth, baking spices, wild dried herbs and wild flowers. The palate is youthfully energetic, but it will be some years before it reaches full potential. For now, though, it is certainly approachable with a very bright and composed core of rich, spicy red cherries and plums that intertwine with long, ultra-silky tannins. A lesson in finesse. Delicious now, or hold. Screw cap.