Bald Hills Pinot Noir (2008, 2007, 2006, 2005)
Bald Hills Central Otago Pinot Noir derives from grapes grown solely on the estate vineyard. Winemaker Grant Taylor prefers to make Pinots from single-vineyard sites. The particular nuances, aroma and flavours inherent to the grape grown on that site add an intellectual element to the wine.
Our Pinot Noir vineyard is separated into three distinct blocks; The original block was planted with clones 5 and 10/5 vines on their own roots in 1997. Two further blocks were established in 2002, being our South and North blocks, both planted with the Dijon clone B115. The main proportion of the South block is on rootstock 3309 with the balance of that block and the entire North block on rootstock 101-14. Clone Abel has now been planted in the position formerly occupied by an olive grove.
These vineyards are all tended by hand from the beginning of Spring until harvest. This is a labour and time intensive process, concentrating on each vine as an individual. The merit of this is that we have the best possible control over growth and ripening, ensuring only the best quality fruit is chosen at harvest time.
Bald Hills’ first vintage was in 2002 ( Gold Medal, Air NZ Wine Awards). Only those since 2005 are discussed here.
Bald Hills Central Otago “Three Acres” Pinot Noir 2008
Download tasting note (55Kb .pdf) 2008 Pinot Noir
For the first time, we at Bald Hills have made an early drinking style of Pinot Noir.
We have called it “Three Acres”.
Tasting Note:
The 2008 “Three Acres” Pinot Noir displays delightfully rich aromas of coffee beans, caramel, spice, leather and a hint of baked hillside herbs with a layer of red berry fruits. The palate is light and ripe in the mouth. Good acid and light tannin definition supports the sweet fruit flavours where raspberries and cherries predominate. Decanting will render the tannins subtler still, and soften the acidity.
Foodmatch:
Bright, clean and uncomplicated, this wine is very versatile. It is a great accompaniment to both luncheon and dinner dishes such as soups, salad, chicken, cheese and meats. Try it with a Caesar Salad , a Chicken Cacciatore or a pork roast.
Viticulture & Winemaking:
Hand-picked fruit, cold soaked, 30% selected whole clusters. Fermented in open top fermenters, plunged by hand 4 times per day.
After a post fermentation period of 1 week the wine was pressed gently and transferred to french oak barriques, 35% new. Aged for ten months in barriques.
Technical Notes:
- Picked 11 April 2008
- Brix 25.5
- Alcohol 14.23 %
- TA 5.4g/L
- pH 3.66
Winemaker:
Grant Taylor
Awards:
- International Wine Challenge 2010
- Silver Medal
- Sydney International Wine Competition 2010
- Blue/Gold
Decanter World Wine Awards 2010
- Silver Medal
Pricing:
| Vintage | Per Bottle | Per Dozen | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Three Acres" Pinot Noir 2008 | $30.00 | $360.00 | List Outlets | Buy Direct |
Bald Hills Central Otago “Single Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2008
Tasting Note:
The coarse filtration employed in the making of this Pinot is revealed in its density, giving depthto its alluring deep ruby colour. On the nose, an inviting aroma of Black Doris plums and blackberry jelly pervades, with subtle layers of herbs such as tarragon and chervil and an unmistakable whiff of almond meal.
Upon tasting, plums, cherries and dark berries come to the fore and linger there throughout the mid-palate, during the slow development of a bright acidity and emerging mellow tannins.
Foodmatch:
This wine is delicious with pork, red meats and cheeses.
Viticulture & Winemaking:
VSP trellis system with a 95cm fruiting wire. Vine density of 2500 vines per hectare. Hand tending reduces the fruit weight to approximately 5.5 tonnes per hectare. Plantings of phacaelia, buckwheat and mustard through every tenth row promote beneficial insects for biological control. Irrigation is strictly controlled through individual drippers.
One week pre-fermentation cold soak, 30% whole bunch.Primary fermentation completed in 8 days, during which time ferment plunged by hand up to 4 times per day. After a further maceration of 1 week the wine was pressed gently and transferred to French oak barrels, 35% new, where is was aged for 11 months before bottling.
Technical Notes:
- TA 5.9 g/L
- pH 3.54
- Alcohol 14%
- Picked 11th April; brix 25.0
Winemaker:
Grant Taylor
Awards:
- International Wine Challenge (London) 2010
- Silver Medal
- Decanter World Wine Awards (London) 2010
- Silver Medal
Accolades
Elegance is the theme in this poised, finely scented, tightly structured Bannockburn red, still very youthful. Sweet-fruited and ruby hued, with rich cherry and plum flavours, a hint of herbs, and ripe, supple tannins, it’s a complex wine, well worth cellaring. 4 1/2 Stars Winestate Magazine, 2010.
Pricing:
| Vintage | Per Bottle | Per Dozen | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Single Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2008 | $44.00 | $528.00 | List Outlets | Buy Direct |
Bald Hills Central Otago “Single Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2007
Download tasting note (62Kb .pdf) 2007 Pinot Noir
Tasting Note:
Enticing ruby colour with purple/violet tinge at the rim.
Rosemary George, a UK wine judge, tasted this wine in May 2008. She had this to say..
“The 2007 developed beautifully over the evening. Deep vibrant colour with an initially closed fresh nose, some ripe fruit and a firm streak of tannin. It developed some lovely black cherry aromas, and is layered and textured with good fruit and depth and would continue to develop in the bottle.”
Bald Hills own tasting in August notes the development of a star anise spiciness and a familiar scent of violets as the wine unfolds.
Drinking well now but has cellaring potential for at least 10 years.
Viticulture:
VSP trellis system with a 95cm fruiting wire. Vine density of 2500 vines/hectare. Hand tended and picked. Inter-row plantings of phacelia, buckwheat and triticale to promote the activity of beneficial insects and to condition the soil.
Winemaking:
Hand-picked fruit cold soaked, 30% whole bunch. Primary fermentation completed in 8 days, during which time ferment was plunged by hand up to 4 times per day.After a post fermentation period of 1 week the wine was pressed gently and transferred to French oak barrels, 35% new. Very coarse filtration.
Technical Notes:
- Titratable Acidity 6.4.grams/litre
- pH – 3.64
- Free SO2 – 25ppm
- Dissolved CO2 – 770ppm
- Alcohol – 13.66%
Awards:
- Sydney International Wine Competition 2009
- Blue/Gold And Top 100
- Blue/Gold And Top 100
- Decanter World Wine Awards 2009
- Gold Medal ( the only one for Central Otago!)
- International Wine And Spirit Competition (London) 2008
- Silver Medal
Accolades:
“…The 2007 (Pinot Noir) developed beautifully over the evening. Deep vibrant colour with an initial closed fresh nose, some ripe fruit and a firm streak of tannin. It developed some lovely black cherry aromas, and is layered and textured with good fruit and depth….”. Rosemary George, MW
“2007 Bald Hills Pinot Noir Single Vineyard (*****) Big pinot noir ruby, above midway in depth, not as youthful as some 2007s. Bouquet is intensely floral, including dusky rose and boronia aromas, with red grading to black cherry fruit teetering towards plummyness, and some sur-maturité. Palate rescues the wine, being fresh, the flavours dark … yes, but not heavy, with sensitive oaking, and great length on the skin tannins, all lingering attractively. A clue to the volume of bouquet is apparent in the slight suggestion of stalkyness on palate, but the total depth of varietal fruit is remarkable – a lovely wine. The benefits of a part-stalk component in the fermentation are well-apparent here. Cellar 3 – 8 years.” Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews
Bald Hills is proud to have been chosen in the Top 10 New Zealand Pinots tasted at the Pinot Noir 2010 Conference, by Geoff Kelly, and published online and in NZ Winegrower, the industry magazine.
Nestled in the valleys between the white caps of the adventure playground surrounding Queenstown, Central Otago enjoys its own idyllic little world, quite distinct from the other regions of New Zealand. In 2007, when most of New Zealand (and Australia, too) suffered one of the toughest vintages in a long time, Central Otago enjoyed its finest season ever. One after another, its top producers have released their most mesmerising Pinot Noirs to date. Here’s another one, with a classic Central Otago core of black cherry and plum fruit, dancing with spicy nutmeg and briary notes. 95 points. Tyson Stelzer, “Glass”
Pricing:
| Per Bottle | Per Dozen | Purchase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Single Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2007 | $44.00 (Limited stock) | $528.00 (Limited stock) | List Outlets | Buy Direct |
Bald Hills Central Otago “Single Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2006
Awards:
- Sydney International Wine Competition 2009
- Blue/Gold
- Winestate Magazine 2008
- 5 Stars
- Cuisine Magazine October 2008
- Recommended
Accolades:
“…The (Pinot Noir) 2006 vintage (*****) was estate-grown at Bannockburn and matured in French oak barriques (35% new). Full-coloured, rich and lively, with cherry, plum and spice flavours, savoury and complex, it is very finely balanced and lingering, offering delicious drinking now onwards…” Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide 2009
Pricing:
| Per Bottle | Per Dozen | Purchase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Single Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2006 | Limited stock | Limited stock | Email Us |
Bald Hills Central Otago Pinot Noir 2005
Awards
- International Wine Challenge (London) 2007
- Sustainable Trophy
- Champion Red Wine Trophy
- International Pinot Noir Trophy
- NZ South Island Pinot Noir Trophy
- Decanter World Wine Awards (London) 2007
- International Pinot Noir Over £10 Trophy
- Regional NZ Pinot Noir Over £10 Trophy
- Sydney International Wine Competition 2007
- Blue/Gold
Accolades:
“…this year it was Bald Hills [2005] Pinot Noir’s ripe red currant nose, summer fruit palate and impeccable balance that set the wine apart from the 4,761 other red wines judged in the competition, an incredible effort for an incredible wine which also picked up the first ever champion sustainable award…..”. Ultimate accolades announced by International Wine Challenge, London, 2007
Pricing:
| Per Bottle | Per Dozen | Purchase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinot Noir 2005 | Limited stock | Limited stock | Email Us |
- Pricing information current as at May 2010
- Sales outside New Zealand in case lots only
- Freight Charges: North Island $14 per case or part case, South Island $9 per case or part case
- All wine and freight costs are inclusive of GST
- Please note that wine sales may only be made to persons 18 years of age or over
- We are happy to courier wine in any quantity direct to your home or place of work in New Zealand
- Order online or by phone, fax or email, and we will take care of everything