2020 Bell Hill Shelf Pinot Noir
2020 Bell Hill Shelf Pinot Noir

2020 Bell Hill Shelf Pinot Noir

99 pts
Bell Hill |North Canterbury |Pinot Noir
99 points from James Suckling - Only three bottles available.
Price:
$675.00
Stock:
Sold out
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Description

The 2020 Bell Hill Shelf Pinot Noir is an incredibly rare wine and one of the most sought-after in all of the Southern Hemisphere. Pulling massive 99-point and 98-point scores from James Suckling and Stephen Wong respectively, this is a wine of intense character and depth, right at the apex of NZ's fine wine scene.

Crafted from a minuscule six-barrel blend, it brings together fruit from the Shelf 1998, Shelf Top 2007-2008, and Shelf West 2009 plantings. After spending 28 to 29 days on skins, the fruit was basket-pressed and aged for 12 months in 100% new French oak. It then rested for another nine months in tank before bottling, resulting in a microscopic run of just 1,596 bottles and 100 magnums.

It opens with flint, chalk, and blood-orange aromas , revealing a tightly wound core of wild forest strawberries, blue fruits, and reduced black currant. Velvety tannins and a lithe acidity provide a fine-boned structure , leading to a long, perfumed finish layered with violet, leather, and a hint of bitter chocolate. It is absolutely built for the cellar. Three bottles available.

99 points
"Such depth and complexity without power—it’s about intensity and character. Drinkable but will age beautifully. Screw cap."
- James Suckling

98 points
"Confidently powerful with surprisingly youthful restraint which is barely able to contain the intense concentration within... Although it is already six years old, this is still a baby and will require many more years before it reveals its true qualities."
- Stephen Wong (The Real Review)

99 points - "So much spice, flint and chalk with blood-orange aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, it has fine, velvety tannins that run the length of the wine, layered and superb in every sense of the word. Such depth and complexity without power—it’s about intensity and character. Drinkable but will age beautifully. Screw cap." - James Suckling

98 points - "Confidently powerful with surprisingly youthful restraint which is barely able to contain the intense concentration within. A cool layer of flint and blackberry leaf lead the way for the magnificently concentrated yet elegant palate. Velvet-textured tannins and roasted coffee oak provide the underlying structure for the very perfumed flavours of violet, blueberry and black raspberry. Despite the evident power and intensity, the lithe acidity creates a sense of levity and lightness, keeping the alcoholic ripeness and oak from weighing things down. The key here is the incredibly long, perfumed finish which outlives all of the structure, wood and tannin. Although it is already six years old, this is still a baby and will require many more years before it reveals its true qualities." - Stephen Wong (The Real Review)

The Shelf Pinot Noir 2020 is a 6-barrel of Shelf 1998, Shelf Top 2007-2008 and Shelf West 2009 plantings. Harvested from the 26th of March to the 5th of April 2020, at 24.6 to 25.3 Brix, basket pressed after 28-29 days on skins and aged in 100% new French oak for 12 months followed by racking and blending and a further 9 months in tank before bottling on January 25th, 2022. The final wine has a pH of 3.56g/L, TA of 5.0g/L and 14% alcohol. 1596 bottles and 100 magnums were produced.

At first, a little closed with brightness shining through like rays of light on a forest floor. There is a brighter primary lift with wild forest strawberries, some herbs; spicy earthy notes draw you in. It opens on the palate with a cool blue fruit element with a high-toned lift, fine and linear, its seamless nature leads a fine-boned pathway of spice and restrained tension. The change in the glass is significant and begs decanting, on opening there is more presence of reduced black currant notes and then with time the spice, forest floor, leather as well as blue fruits are revealed, it is still so young! A lot of tension to the fruit, with a structural exterior, but a deep and meaningful core that holds sweetness and a hint of bitter chocolate. The Shelf is speaking in its own language, drawing us into a conversation that will need years to finish. It is a very deep, intriguing wine – not a Bell Hill but the Shelf from Bell Hill!

Price Bracket $101 and Above
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country New Zealand
Region North Canterbury
Feature Iconic
Women in Wine
Cult
High Score
Reviewed By James Suckling
The Real Review
Critic Score 98
Size 750ml
Vintage 2020
Closure Screw Cap

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