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Description
When a wine is named New Zealand Wine of the Year and scores a perfect 100 points from James Suckling, you know you are looking at something pretty special. The 2020 Bell Hill Limeworks Chardonnay is exactly that - a phenomenal, highly collectable release that, according to Mr. Suckling, could go toe-to-toe with the very best premier cru Puligny-Montrachet.
Grown on calcareous soils in a former lime quarry, this site imparts a distinctive, electric energy and intense acidity to the fruit. The winemaking is painstakingly precise for what is literally just a 2.7-barrel blend. The fruit - a mix of their 1999 (72%) and 2009 (28%) Limeworks plantings - was whole-bunch pressed and spent 12 months in French oak with 30% new barrels. It was then racked and rested in tank for a further nine months to refine its focus before bottling.
With a microscopic production of only 654 bottles and 96 magnums, it is as rare as it is brilliant. In the glass, it is a "curled-up spring" of restraint and mineral intensity. Suckling notes its incredible depth, power, and beautifully integrated phenolics. If you can secure a bottle, definitely give it time in the cellar to uncoil.
100 points & 2024 New Zealand Wine of the Year
"Wow. So tight and dense, showing incredible depth and power with phenolics that integrate beautifully into the wine."
- James Suckling
98 points
"Despite its density and power, it is poised and even relatively elegant. Surprisingly unevolved for its age, this astounding wine commands attention effortlessly and will reward a long sleep in the cellar with unmatched complexity. Grand vin."
- Stephen Wong (The Real Review)
| Price Bracket | $101 and Above |
| Type | White |
| Body | Medium Bodied |
| Variety | Chardonnay |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | North Canterbury |
| Feature |
Iconic Women in Wine Cult High Score |
| Reviewed By |
James Suckling The Real Review |
| Critic Score |
100 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
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