Bell Hill Vineyard, Limeworks Chardonnay, Canterbury, New Zealand , 2020

Producer Profile

Bell Hill Vineyard is a boutique winery situated in the Weka Pass area of North Canterbury.

Established in 1997 by Marcel Giesen and Sherwyn Veldhuizen, the vineyard is on the site of a former limestone quarry that imparts unique characteristics to the resulting wines, which are known for their elegance, complexity, and longevity. The Pinot Noir exhibits layers of ripe red and dark fruits with fine tannins, while the Chardonnay offers flinty complexity and a tight structure that evolves beautifully with age.

Viticulture

Chardonnay is grown across multiple parcels using a multi-clonal approach, allowing subtle differences in site, soil and vine material to be expressed. Each block is managed and harvested independently, with the intention of understanding how individual parcels respond through the growing season and at harvest. This block-by-block approach also provides the foundation for assessing single-parcel potential in stronger years and creates the flexibility to undertake comparative trials when volumes allow.

Winemaking

In the winery, Chardonnay parcels are pressed, fermented and aged separately in barrel to preserve their individual identities. Fermentation is carried out using natural yeasts sourced from the vineyard, with small parcel-specific starters developed after pressing into tank. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally and is completed in full. No fining or clarification agents are used, and filtration is minimal, limited to coarse filtration only where necessary. The wine remains in barrel for 12 months before its first sulphur addition is made on transfer to tank. Only small sulphur adjustments are made prior to bottling, if required, with the emphasis placed on purity, texture and long-term stability.

Tasting Note

The Limeworks Chardonnay 2020 is initially restrained and mineral-driven, with fresh herbs and white florals giving way to a subtle green edge as it opens. The palate is savoury yet pure, led by citrus and lime, with chalky texture creating fine, tactile tension. Linear, clean and youthful, it finishes on a taut, salivating mineral line, tightly coiled and clearly destined to unfurl with further time in bottle.

Food matching

Roast chicken with tarragon and lemon, Pan‑seared scallops or turbot, Wild mushroom risotto.