Bell Hill Old Weka Pass Road Pinot Noir 2004 Wednesday, Jul 4 2007
Tasting Notes and New Zealand and Waipara and Central Otago and Variety and Red and pinot noir
I wasn’t sure where this was so I opened Google earth and typed Old Weka Pass road Waipara NZ, and I reckon I saw the vineyard and its wind break! This is a production of 3300 bottles produced ie about 12 barrels of the one wine. The website implies this is from fruit that they have bought in rather than the Dijon clones grown at Bell Hill. The aromas are of a bit of spice, a nice dose of cherry, a little plum and a hint of dried herbs and maybe some mint.
The palate has nice balance. A strange way to start but I believe that balance is very important. The cherry is stronger on the palate. There is still a slightly herbal edge but it is more like Burgundian terroir set of herbs than something offensive. I like the overall feel of this wine. My only reservation is that at the $81 I paid it seems rather expensive, especially if it is from purchased fruit.
Tasted : May07
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $81
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2007 - 2010
Source : Edinburgh Cellars
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12 Responses to “Bell Hill Old Weka Pass Road Pinot Noir 2004”
July 4th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
David,
I’ve been reading all sorts of rave reviews on Bell Hill, still yet to try one though. From memory Stew Plant has a big rap on them..(Stew?). Agreed that at $81 it needs to deliver though.
GD
July 4th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Yeah, it’s one of those wines in NZ that you need to be on the Mail list to get at the cellar door price, which I think for this, the wineries second label is $45(cheapest retail in NZ is about $60). I haven’t yet tried the Bell Hill label wine, but the first couple of this wine, in particular 2003 were pretty decent single vineyard Pinots. Price worries me without the reputation to match, one other winery exists in the Waipara sub region of Waikari and that is Pyramid Valley, they are to release their first home vineyard wine from 2006 vintage, in the meanwhile are putting out a growers collection from others vineyards.
July 4th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
I love this wine, and it’s big sibling even more. The 2001 OWP seems to be at the end of its run, and I never got the 02 (I saw heat, menthol, eucalypt - didn’t like it at all). Loved the 03 and the 04 even more.
Matau may be able to add more on the vineyards (it’s been 2 1/2 years since I’ve visited them) but Bell Hill was three one acre (or so) vineyards and the OWP comes from the oldest (maybe 1997) vines, mainly 10/5 and clone 5, whereas the Bell Hill Pinot is drawn from the two newer, upper vineyards (I think they’re called Shelfworks and Limestone Block or something like that). All are planted on the side of an abandoned limestone quarry. The upper vineyard is very steep, fruiting wire about 40cm off the ground, with limestone chips strewn on the ground to reflect light and heat into the canopy.
These guys (if they’re not already) are my pick as producing the best Pinot Noir outside Burgundy. But you need to like elegant, refined, fragrant Pinot Noir.
There are as many knockers as lovers of OWP (and indeed Bell Hill). I ante up my own cash for them, so I guess my views are well known.
Oh, they have amazing vine density - like 9,500 to 11,000 vines per hectar too - that’s about as dense as it comes.
Antonio may know more too (being a local, well, sort off).
I liked this wine more than David, but would probably agree with his tasting notes in general (what I’m saying is I reckon the terroir and style of this wine justifies the dollars - and the Bell Hill even more so).
July 4th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Wow, that is a big rap.
July 4th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
Try looking via Google Earth Stew.
A concern I have with some Central Otago wines is what I describe as sweet and sour fruit. Many Waiapara look elegant and avoid this but don’t have the palate weight of say an Ata Rangi. The location of the Bell Hill place seems to give the best mix of Kiwi fruit and have some dried herb terroir. I prefer elegant styles but prefer some sweeter cherry in the mix. The key will be how it performs over time but for my money it is overpriced at the moment, as someone who paid full wack at the Ed. I have not seen the much hyped Bell Hill but hope Stew/Jules et al will grab me one when its about.
By the way Stew, Glenmaggie camp was totally washed away in the floods, including the slabs!!
July 4th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Just having had a look at the Bell Hill website - and I’m impressed mightily. One of the most genuinely informative winery websites I have ever seen. Concise statements of their philosophy, layers of information on their soils, clones and site history… excellent. The vine density seems a little over the top to me, but they look like a classy bunch. I will have to track down their wines for a taste.
July 4th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Just finished the 01 OWP tonight and think i have tried every vintage brought in so far but have to say i am still left searching. I have tried 1 bottle at dinner of the Bell Hill as well. Its good wine but not great. As a lover of all wine but particular pinot im going to make a big call… New Zealand Pinot is overrated.
ps had 05 Carrick as well enjoyed it very much but 98 points rated i cant see it.
July 5th, 2007 at 1:44 am
Remember that the vines are young. I have only had this one wine from Bell Hill yet it suggests that as the vines age the palate will fill out and like any Pinot producer, subject to years, some great wine will be made. I have huge respect for Marcels winemaking having followed his Pinot for over 10 years (ie the Canterbury wines). I think the 05 Carrick is very good as well but you will have to wait a few weeks for my next look and subsequent rating, but I would be surprised if I gave it much past 92.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Pressed by the front row of the Weka Pass Warriors…need I say more?
July 5th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
By an interesting coincidence the PR for Bell Hill continues in the current edition of Gourmet Traveller where Max Allen seems to have been bewitched, but the style as described by myself and Stew seems consistent with Max, just that he is talking about the Bell Hill at a mere $120! I am still waiting for someone to tell me where do ya get it.
July 20th, 2007 at 8:42 am
03 last night much better i thought. Also tried Chard Farm 05 which was my first look at that label and thought that was very good as well.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I have a bottle of the 2004 Bell Hill on the bench to have with some other top PN from Aust, NZ and USA with friends over meals tomorrow.