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Pinot Noir Bannockburn
2019
$68.50
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 Pinot Noirs are among the most exciting and celebrated wines in New Zealand. Winemaker Blair Walter is known for consistently producing distinctive, aromatic wines, and the Bannockburn cuvée—named for a subregion of Central Otago—is typically among the top-scoring bottles each vintage. This wine is a blend of four organic and biodynamic estate vineyards: Cornish Point, Calvert, MacMuir and The Elms. 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 27% new French oak barrels from artisan Burgundian coopers. In accordance with our non-interventionalist approach to winemaking, this wine was fermented with indigenous yeast and was not fined or filtered.
Dark raspberry, hints of the leaves as well, with a touch of old cedar wood panelling. The palate is viscous and concentrated, displaying cane fruits that deftly integrate with an alluring savouriness. Fine, long tannins with no shortage of chew, but no harshness. This is at a level way above its Bannockburn “village” designation, being a blend of our four primely situated vineyards. A serious wine with considerable definition and poise.
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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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.
