Folding Hill is a small wine brand situated in Bendigo, one of the driest of all wine sub regions in Central Otago. Evocative by name and by location, it is owned by Tim and Nikki Kerruish, who own an off the grid home on their vineyard and pour their time, resources and love of wine into building up this brand. All wines are now sealed with screwcaps after earlier years with a mixture of screwcaps and cork closures for the top tier wines.
This is a brand to watch.
17.5/20
2022 Folding Hill Bendigo Chardonnay RRP $35
This wine captures the purity and freshness that are the essence of Chardonnay made in a Chablis like style, at its best. Flavours of lemon, grapefruit, almonds and a cedar oak nuance are all held in a medium body, expressing Chardonnay from a relatively cool climate. This excellent wine shines a light on the outstanding potential of Chardonnay in Central Otago, particularly in areas where cool nights and temperatures can contain the freshness of this great white grape.
17.5/20
2023 Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir RRP $35
This lively, lovely youthful Pinot Noir comes from a single vineyard in Bendigo, Central Otago, and is named after a village on the Isle of Man. Ballasalla is a medium bodied Pinot Noir, aged for 10 months in French oak, which adds a framework of depth and spicy notes of cedar, red cherries and red summer berries.
18.5/20
2021 Folding Hill Bendigo Pinot Noir RRP $45
Unfined, unfiltered, earthy Pinot Noir from a single vineyard site in Bendigo, Central Otago. This is a full bodied Pinot Noir with lively aromas and beautiful balanced acidity adding tension and structure to this wine, which drinks well now but will reward ageing for five to six years+. If enjoying now, decant prior to drinking and serve in Burgundy glasses.
18.5/20
2021 Folding Hill Orchard Block Pinot Noir Bendigo RRP $65
The Orchard Block is the most sheltered part of Folding Hill’s vineyard in Bendigo, Central Otago. It’s here on this warmer, more settled site that Pinot Noir thrives and this wine is made in small volumes from this site; making it a genuine nexpression of Pinot Noir from a single site. Ageing of 20 months in French oak barrels accentuates the firmer, fuller bodied style while retaining the elegance, red fruit and layers of structure of great Pinot Noir.
Warming, full bodied and silky, it has a long life ahead. Cellar with confidence for up to a decade.
