Felton Road’s Block 5 Pinot Noir is a generous and versatile wine, crafted exclusively from estate-owned vineyards. It starts with a deep, layered nose, showcasing hints of leather, rose petals, cherry and a mélange of spice. The Pinot Noir fruits were harvested from The Elms Vineyard, in the Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago, New Zealand, where Felton Road has made its home.
Those at Felton Road employ a minimal-intervention approach to wine-making, valuing organic and biodynamic methods above all else. This comes across in the pure, unrestrained character of their wines - it is clear that at Felton Road, nature is always allowed to take its course.
On the palate, a rich mouthful of red berries awaits you, along with modest, tongue-coating tannins and a dose of bright acidity. Each sip brings hints of winter spices and comforting fruitcake. It is ripe, for a Pinot Noir, but maintains excellent structure with a steely acidic backbone. There is cocoa and subtle hints of flowers on the finish, which is long and satisfying. Four years of cellaring from the vintage will unlock some secondary flavours, but this wine can be kept much longer. It spent 17 months in oak barrels before release. Consider pairing this Pinot Noir with a roast dinner or a meaty stew.