Bell Hill Vineyard, Shelf Pinot Noir, 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

Crafted from six select barrels, the Shelf Pinot Noir 2020 draws together fruit from the historic Shelf plantings of 1998, Shelf Top from 2007–2008, and Shelf West from 2009. Harvested between 26 March and 5 April at 24.6–25.3 Brix.

Winemaking

The grapes spent 28–29 days on skins before being basket‑pressed. The wine then matured for 12 months in 100% new French oak, followed by careful racking, blending and a further nine months of élevage in tank. Bottled on 25 January 2022, it stands as a precise and expressive interpretation of this remarkable site.

Tasting Note

Initially a little closed, it reveals bright forest‑floor aromatics with wild strawberries, herbs and earthy spice. The palate shows cool blue fruits, fine tension and a seamless, linear flow. With air, reduced blackcurrant, spice, leather and forest notes emerge, showing its youthful energy. Structured yet deep at its core, with a hint of bitter chocolate, it is a thoughtful, expressive wine that speaks in the distinctive voice of The Shelf.

Food matching

Roast quail with wild mushrooms, Venison carpaccio with shaved truffle, Roast beetroot, goat’s cheese and walnut salad.