2016 Bell Hill Chardonnay

Community Tasting Notes (11) Avg Score: 93.5 points

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  6/18/2023 - Thomas123 wrote: 96 Points

  Light and elegant expression, not to distinguish from a top burgundy. Our thoughts were on Chassagne-Montrachet. Very mineral and with citrus notes (yellow grape fruit). For me the winner of the evening against Chardonnays from Pahlmeyer and even Ramonet.

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  5/17/2023 - levicn Does not like this wine: 91 Points

  淡金黄色，闻香有草本植物气息，柠檬，柑橘，奶油面包和芝麻香，橡木桶影响明显的一支酒，带着一些还原味。入口酸度高，酒液很咸，植物气息明显，混合着柑橘和柠檬的果香，还有焦糖的香气，口中香料的辛辣感明显，后段回苦，酒体中等，余味是柑橘味。咸矿物感明显，酒体扎实，有着不错的结构，香气复杂，但植物气息太重有些影响愉悦感。两个半小时后再试一杯，还能明显闻到一些没有散掉的还原味，还有奶油，饼干，酵母和焦糖香气。以上就是它的全部。

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  3/19/2022 - deverett wrote: 96 Points

  Seriously good Chardonnay here and easily the best I have had from NZ and likely Oz too for some time. Full of flavour but balanced and long, it is both refreshing yet mouthful of and satisfying. Ripe stone fruits, melon, nougat and cashews, there is oak but it complements rather than distracts. Has length for days and texturally just perfect. Pitch perfect Chardonnay from a brilliant producer.

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  8/1/2021 - tanduybui Likes this wine: 95 Points

  I have had the fortune to enjoy some world class Chardonnay this year but this one takes the cake, it is simply a stunning chardonnay. Yes, it is expensive but it is a rounding error compared to Leflaive B-M.
  
  Coming out of its youth, it has a very intense and complex nose - so many different layers. White flowers, stone fruit, chalkiness and flint. The body was alive and vibrant with notes of citrus, stone fruit (yellow peach and nectarine) supported by an elegant acid that was so beautifully balanced. Finish had mineral and chalkiness that had me screaming for more. Oak was so well integrated that it simply lifted the wine to another level.
  
  So possibly the best Chardonnay for the year. The other two would be a 2000 Bonneau du Martray CC and a 2008 Giaconda. But then we still have 5 months left of this year!
  
  Ideally, wait for another 3+ years (I decanted it an hour before consumption) and will last for another 8+ years. But why wait when it is so good?!?

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  5/21/2021 - Geoff7777 wrote:

  OZ & NZ Chardonnay Lunch (Grappa Leichhardt): Paired with the Kumeu Mate. Fuller colour shows the extended oak maturation time. Exotic nose of melons, grapefruit, pineapple, smoke and citrus. This is Batard-M-like! More of the same on the palate plus hazelnuts. The acid is so soft but so compelling and keeps this exotically rich and complex wine in perfect balance. Rare, expensive, hard to get, but great wine. Should have been paired with the Giaconda. Thank you Greg F.

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