Blind Tasting - Smell Like Burgundy Spirit
Remuera, Auckland
Tasted Thursday, May 1, 2025 by evanqian with 102 views
Introduction
An outstanding lineup, with Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny as the benchmark: perfumed, rich, densely layered, and powerfully elegant. With its intensity, high extraction, and grace, it's unmistakably a Burgundy Grand Cru, impossible to confuse with anything else.
Prophet’s Rock Pinot Noir Cuvée Aux Antipodes, made by the same winemaker, François Millet, is dark and bold, showing power and balance with layers of subtle savoury complexity. It clearly carries a Burgundian signature, but the heat of Bendigo shows, it lacks the finesse and delicacy of Musigny.
Bell Hill was remarkably close to Musigny on the nose, possibly even more perfumed at first. Its energy held strong over three hours, never fading. Yet on the palate, it leans toward a cleaner, more linear expression, the fruit too pristine, revealing its New World identity.
Kusuda is pure and clean, with a delicate texture is so Musigny-like. It offers flawless quality within a medium structure, though just slightly shorter on the finish compared to the others.
Musigny stood as an icon of fine Burgundy, while the three New Zealand wines each echoed different aspects of that spirit. A beautifully curated flight and I was lucky to correctly identify all four wines in the blind tasting.
2013 Bell Hill Pinot Noir 96 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury
Opened and breathed in-bottle for 3 hours before serving.
Aromatic and perfumed from the start, with layers of red and dark cherry, red flowers, herbal notes, forest mushrooms, and subtle spice: clove, cinnamon, and bay leaf. The savoury and fruity elements are beautifully integrated, though the fruit expression takes the lead. Bright acidity and superfine, silky tannins carry a m+ body with grace.
The finish is long and persistent, and the wine continued to release delicate perfumes over the full three-hour tasting: evolving and drawing you in with every swirl.
Bell Hill is arguably New Zealand’s finest Pinot Noir: seductive, perfumed, and structured with layered complexity. Simply superb. at its peak.
At first sip, it could easily be mistaken for a premium Burgundy, but the fruit remains front, vibrant and illuminated, and every element in the wine is so clean and pure, so I knew it's New World Pinot at its absolute best.
Voted #3 by me, and #2 by the group.
BC 98, CD 97, WA 95, JS 98, WE 97, WS 93, JR 17.5+, WF 96, JG 95
Ap 5/5, Ar 14/15, Palate 18/20, Overall 5+4/10
Total 96/100
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2018 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 98 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Opened and allowed to breathe in bottle for 4 hours.
Deep dark ruby in the glass. The nose is aromatic and expressive: red and dark cherry, plum, rose petal, licorice, cocoa, and subtle mineral notes. Dense, layered, and full of nuance. On the palate, it’s velvety in texture, echoing the aromas with all elements beautifully harmonised. Full-bodied with ripe, fine-grained tannins and a long, lingering finish marked by creamy dark chocolate.
This is Musigny at its finest—flawless, compelling, and utterly captivating. It feels vibrant and alive, constantly revealing new facets with every sip. Built on a solid structure, yet fluid and multi-layered. Bravo.
Rated #1 by 5 out of 6 tasters—undeniably the wine of the night.
BH 94-97, JM 92, WA 96+, LRVF 19.5, TA 95
Ap 5/5, Ar 14/15, Palate 19/20, Overall 5+5/10
Total 98+/100
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2014 Kusuda Pinot Noir 93 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
opened and breathed in bottle for 3 hours. medium ruby, clear. slight perfumed red flower, cherry and red berries, medium body, silky tannins, vibrant acidity, mild oak, very well integrated and balanced, very good on the purity and elegance, though a little sudden drop in the finish.
It's a beautiful Pinot Noir, rather than a powerful one, nodding to Chambolle-Musigny, but the fresh fruity flavour are so new world style. at peak.
Rated #4 by me and the group.
BC 95, JM 91, TA 94
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+4/10
Total 93/100
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2017 Prophets Rock Pinot Noir Cuvée Aux Antipodes 95 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago Bendigo
Slightly darker in colour than Bell Hill or Kusuda. A concentrated nose of dark berries, fragrant and dense, with notes of violet, dried herbs, rich earth, and subtle spice. Savoury complexity builds through the palate, supported by fine, slightly firm tannins.
Burgundy in style, more Chambertin than Musigny in its power and structure. Yet the fruit is crystal-clear and pure from start to finish—revealing its New World origin with transparency and charm.
Excellent density and energy throughout. Focused, strong, and full of vitality. voted #2 by me and by the group (tied with Bell Hill)
JM 93, JS 98, RP 95, HH 98, JG 96, RG 94
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 19/20, Overall 4+4/10
Total 95+/100
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