Felton Road Block 3 Pinot Noir Central Otago – 2021

Felton Road is one of the world’s most southerly wine producers, located in the Central Otago region of New Zealand’s south island. The winery was founded in 1991 and has been certified  biodynamic since 2002.

Block 3 is one of Felton Road’s two “grand crus”, consistently producing some of the winery’s best quality Pinot Noirs each vintage.

Vinification
The unique gravity flow winery enabled the grapes to be gently destemmed directly into open-top fermenters without pumping, retaining 25% as whole clusters. Traditional fermentation with a
moderately long maceration on skins has extracted good colour and tannin with considerable depth of flavour. This wine was aged for 13 months in 30% new French oak barrels from artisan Burgundian coopers. In accordance with our noninterventionalist approach to winemaking, this wine was fermented with indigenous yeast and was not fined or filtered.

Winemaker tasting note

“Distinct wild thyme and spice introducing its more diverse and complex nose. It’s incredibly transparent on the palate, drawing you in to the chocolate that lies beneath the surface. The tannins are surprisingly svelte and perfectly formed. All the power is
focussed on the back of the palate, as it should be. By the time you’ve got there, you know you are in the presence of a serious wine. ” Blair Walter, winemaker

Press reviews

“A fine-boned pinot noir that was a little closed initially but soon opened up with a few swirls of the glass. Restrained cherry/berry fruit is intertwined with savoury characters suggesting roast chestnut, toasted nut and spice flavours. Very classy wine that needs time to reveal its true potential.” 97pts Bob Campbell MW