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Pinot Noir Bannockburn
2012
Felton Road is an iconic New Zealand winery located in Central Otago, renowned for its exceptional wines. Founded in 1991 by Stewart Elms, the estate quickly became known for its commitment to biodynamic viticulture and meticulous winemaking practices. The vineyards are planted on steep, rocky slopes, benefiting from an extreme climate that enhances the production of finely crafted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Each wine from Felton Road embodies the pure and authentic expression of...
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Felton Road farms three properties totaling 32 ha in the Bannockburn sub-region of Central Otago. This wine is approximately a one third blend from each of the three vineyards. Meticulous summer management of a single vertical shoot positioned (VSP) canopy ensures even and early fruit maturity. Shoot thinning, shoot positioning, leaf plucking, bunch thinning and harvest are all carried out by hand to ensure optimum quality fruit. Cover crops are planted between rows to assist in vine balance and to improve soil health and general biodiversity.
The growing season was most unusual with spring being the warmest and most stable to date and no frosts. We experienced a very early, fast and successful flowering which resulted in solid crops across all varieties. We were relieved to see things cool down in January, which set the pattern for a cooler and wetter mid-season. The description “wetter” must be read with respect to our normal very low rainfall, so still not a lot of rain. The weather settled for a flawless and warm Indian summer during harvest. There was no rain and the harvest started very early on March 21. We see the wines as being less overtly fruity (possibly a good thing as overtly fruity wines can appear one dimensional and simple) with reasonably firm structures and a pleasant kind of rusticity about them. Precision, mineral and tension will be good descriptors for the 2011’s.
The unique gravity flow winery enabled the grapes to be gently destemmed directly into open-top fermenters without pumping with approximately 20% 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 11 months in French oak barrels from highly regarded Burgundian coopers. In accordance with our non-interventionalist approach to winemaking, this wine was fermented with indigenous yeast and was not fined or filtered.
Beginning with meticulous site selection and vineyard design started in 1991, Felton Road's story is one of refusal to compromise. A strict 100% estate policy with fully organic and biodynamic viticulture (Demeter certified) ensures that our fruit arrives at the winery as pure as it can be, while our entire estate comes as close to true sustainability as is possible. A commitment to hands off winemaking: gravity flow, wild yeasts, wild malo, an avoidance of fining and filtration all help preserve the wine's expression of its terroir. No additions or adjustments are performed unless they absolutely need to be. The result is Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir which we believe express the authenticity and complexity of our unique vineyards.
Gareth King; Viticulturist, Blair Walter; Winemaker, Nigel Greening; Proprietor.
A nose of ripe red fruits and dark florals immediately confirms this wine’s pedigree. The palate leads with a savoury note and a touch of earthiness adds complexity and interest. Finishes clean and long with a swipe of fine tannins. Texturally plush while still showing transparency.
Heady violets, undergrowth and spiced sour cherries with vitality and vibrancy through the palate. Sinewy tannins, roasted nut oak tones and nervy acidity hold up the complex, rippling flavours of black cherry, plum compote, autumn leaves and earthy minerals. Bursting with potential; give it time.
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Generous and juicy wild strawberry, cranberry and spiced cherry flavors start off flashy and mouthwatering, but then settle into a harmonious mix of spicy tobacco, clove and oolong tea notes, with details of chicory and forest floor that linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2034. 4,064 cases made, 168 cases imported.
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Once aromas are unlocked, this is a charming, multifaceted wine. It wafts notes of brambly berries, tree sap, graphite, baking spice, mushrooms and florals. Well-placed oak adds polish to an otherwise raw, stripped-back fruit character. Even after decanting, the palate is still tightly wound, the tannins fine yet taut and talc-like. Lovely fruit purity and balance hint at a happy pairing with, say, roast duck in a fruit glaze. This wine should evolve well into the late 2020s.
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A hint of smokiness and toast appears first, still with the echo of slight reduction. The fine web of tannins on the palate holds oak as well as surprisingly dark fruit. Very juicy, fruity and bold, this is Felton Road's estate Pinot Noir, with just 25% new oak.
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There's a sense of ease to this ripe yet elegant Pinot. It has a fluidity as it flows along the palate, offering cherry, raspberry and floral aromas. A portion of whole cluster fruit has created additional layers of woody herbs and spice. There's almost 30% new oak, but the fruit, sourced from four vineyards, absorbs it easily. The tannins coat the mouth, providing a pleasing clasp with their fine, chalky veil. While this might be Felton Road's “entry-level” Pinot Noir, there's plenty of seriousness here.
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Full bottle 1,165 g. Fruit from the Elms, MacMuir, Cornish Point and Calvert vineyards with vine age between seven and 27 years. 20% whole cluster. 13 months' élevage in 27% new oak.
Healthy mid garnet and beguilingly scented. I have to say that when I unscrewed these five bottles of Felton Road Pinot the most appetising, luscious perfume of Pinot scented the air – which doesn't always happen by any means. I've been tasting a lot of 2019 red burgundy and this phenomenon was rare. Great balance of fruit and acidity – though perhaps the acidity is just slightly winning. Light chalky texture on the finish. An appetising wine whose only shortcoming is a slight lack of any compelling undertow but very nicely judged with just a light violet note.
Younger than most of these NZ Pinots, which may explain the intensity of crimson. Pure exuberant southern-hemisphere fruit on the nose. The wonderfully gentle texture on the palate into which a lot of work seems to have gone. There’s a hint of dunked digestive biscuits here. Long and fresh.
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Earthy and interesting on the nose. Already open and sweet but with good structure. Great for current drinking, with real interest and freshness. At the moment I prefer this to Block 3.
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