Bell Hill Vineyard was established by Marcel Giesen and Sherwyn Veldhuizen and is situated at an old lime quarry in the Weka Pass, North Canterbury. This is a unique site with limestone derived soils and north facing hillside exposures. From 1997 through to 2009 they planted two hectares at high density with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Bell Hill uses the Burgundian model of vineyard architecture with a high plant density of 9,259 to 12,500 vines/ha. All plantings since 2005 are at 11,363 vines/ha or 1.1m row spacing by 0.8m vine spacing. The intention of this is to reduce yield per vine and encourage deep root penetration of the soil profile, it’s flavour and its elements. They seek to reflect the characteristic expression of their site and soil in the wines they make, looking for consistent quality, fruit concentration and expression of terroir. The management of the vineyard is very detailed and they consider their high level of manual labour as being very influential in achieving site potential.
The Weka Pass area was previously unplanted in grapes and they were drawn to the pure chalky limestone soils and calcareous clays. The subsurface glauconitic clay (rich in iron and magnesium) is found below the layers of lime in the soil from a minimum depth of 1.5 metres. The Roadblock and Slope are rich in dense, calcareous clays bringing another influence to their wines. They have been farming organically and bio dynamically since the 2007/2008 growing season and see this as paramount to increased soil and vine health as well as fruit quality and expression. Their Bio-Gro Organic Certification came through on 1 March 2015.
98 Points James Suckling
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.
