The Bald Hills 2015 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir has scooped the pool at the prestigious Sydney International Wine Competition receiving three Trophies – Best Pinot Noir, Best Red Table Wine, and the ultimate Trophy distinction for Best Wine of Competition. An astounding achievement for a small boutique vineyard in The Heart of the Desert in Bannockburn, Central Otago.
But it doesn’t stop there! The 2015 Single Vineyard has also collected a trio of Gold Medals throughout the year as well as 5 Star status from Australia’s leading industry publication, Winestate Magazine. The Gold Medal awards began with a 95/100 Gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards, followed by a 97/100 Gold in the New World Wine Awards. The year was rounded out in superb fashion with a very significant Gold from New Zealand’s esteemed Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
The Trophy results from the Sydney International Competition are particularly significant for Bald Hills as it is exactly 10 years since they first entered the competition with their celebrated 2005 vintage Pinot Noir crafted from the very vines which produced the award winning 2015. The company has always held this wine show in high esteem due to their unique approach of judging the top ranked wines alongside food, making it the most relevant wine competition for consumers. This year over 1750 wines were judged from a record 13 countries.
As a further nod to consumers 2017 was the first year our Central Otago wine producer has entered the New World Wine Awards, receiving Gold status and achieving the highest score for Pinot Noir in the Premium NZ Wines^ category. Jim Harré, Chair of Judges for the New World Wine Competition says of it “… with intense aromatics of cranberry, raspberry, blackberry and lovely cedar oak. The palate is deep and dense with concentrated red fruit and dusky rose. The oak brings a lovely spice to the flavour which is superbly balanced with juicy acidity and persistence, elegance and finesse of this remarkable Central Otago Pinot Noir.”
The calibre of Bald Hills Single Vineyard Pinot Noir has been further demonstrated with the 2014 vintage receiving double Gold’s from the New Zealand International Wine Show and the Bragato Wine Awards. These Gold medals alongside 4.5 Star status from Michael Cooper showing year on year the outstanding pedigree of this wine.
“The 2014 vintage (4.5*) is one of the finest yet. Matured in French oak barriques (30 per cent new), it is a stylish, deeply coloured red, mouthfilling and youthful, with strong cherry, plum and spice flavours, integrated oak, and fine-grained tannins. Vibrantly fruity and concentrated, with good harmony, it has excellent cellaring potential.” Micheal Cooper
It is hard to believe a wine of the 2014 vintage calibre could be matched by vintages to come, but at this stage the Gold and Trophy finery awarded to the 2015 is causing quite the scene on the Bald Hills mantelpiece.
“Year on year the Bald Hills Single Vineyard Pinot Noir performs with exceptional structure, complexity and intensity of flavour” remarks Bald Hills Winemaker Pete Bartle. “The vines and fruit are treated with the utmost respect and this is carried through in the winery, it’s a privilege to work with such outstanding fruit when we craft this wine. It’s a full team effort and we are thrilled with these results over consecutive years”.
The back-to-back award-winning vintages of 2014 and 2015 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir are now available for purchase online through www.baldhills.co.nz.
For trade sales enquiries or further information on current stockists please contact Maree Anthony on maree@baldhills.co.nz