Felton Road

Bannockburn Pinot Noir

9.1351 ratings
9.167 pro ratings
Bannockburn, Otago, South Island, New Zealand
Pinot Noir
Turkey, Game, Exotic Spices, Soft Cheese, Duck, Goose, Salads & Greens, Potato, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, White Rice, Pasta, Herbs, Nuts & Seeds, Mushrooms, Chicken, Meaty & Oily Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Stew, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Salmon, Quinoa, Shellfish
Top Notes For
Peter van den Besselaar

Vintage 2020 lovely complexity

Vintage 2020 lovely complexity

Jul 4th, 2023
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Young for me but, drinking surprisingly well.

If you have not had a Pinot or Chardonnay from Felton Road, your are truly missing special wines.

Central Otago is a cool climate, which means long vine ripening and great acidity. Beautiful, ripe; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, raspberries, strawberries, pomegranate. Berry fruit cola, mid spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, finely crushed dry limestone, clay, light pepper and bright floral bouquet, crazy, excellent waterfall acidity and ripe polished, well balanced, structured finish for a full minute plus.

Sofia and I tasted with Nigel at the property in 2017.

Young for me but, drinking surprisingly well.

If you have not had a Pinot or Chardonnay from Felton Road, your are truly missing special wines.

Central Otago is a cool climate, which means long vine ripening and great acidity. Beautiful, ripe; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, raspberries, strawberries, pomegranate. Berry fruit cola, mid spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, finely crushed dry limestone, clay, light pepper and bright floral bouquet, crazy, excellent waterfall acidity and ripe polished, well balanced, structured finish for a full minute plus.

Sofia and I tasted with Nigel at the property in 2017.

Jun 25th, 2023
Bob McDonald

Aromatic notes of red fruits and red florals, dried herbs and whole bunch influences. Not as typically Otago as I was expecting - more restrained and less full bodied as you normally expect from this part of the world. I had written previously on Otago as being a “Shiraz drinkers Pinot” but this certainly wasn’t. The following day still those red cherry aromatics and a little pepper. Not overly complex, a little young, but very pleasant. Next in a year or so.

Aromatic notes of red fruits and red florals, dried herbs and whole bunch influences. Not as typically Otago as I was expecting - more restrained and less full bodied as you normally expect from this part of the world. I had written previously on Otago as being a “Shiraz drinkers Pinot” but this certainly wasn’t. The following day still those red cherry aromatics and a little pepper. Not overly complex, a little young, but very pleasant. Next in a year or so.

Aug 3rd, 2022
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Dark cherries in the salad meet dark cherries.

If you love mid & dark, ripe fruits, spice, soft dry earth-dry gravel & stone, pronounced limestone, soft, fresh tobacco and cool climate acidity for days, spend $60-$65 on a Block 3 or 5 Pinot Noir. So good.

Both lettuces picked hours ago from my garden.

Dark cherries in the salad meet dark cherries.

If you love mid & dark, ripe fruits, spice, soft dry earth-dry gravel & stone, pronounced limestone, soft, fresh tobacco and cool climate acidity for days, spend $60-$65 on a Block 3 or 5 Pinot Noir. So good.

Both lettuces picked hours ago from my garden.

Jun 5th, 2021
Lars Fasel

Had the 2017 Calvert a few weeks ago that was drinking great. This ‘18 Bannockburn is tight and laser focused but needs time.

Had the 2017 Calvert a few weeks ago that was drinking great. This ‘18 Bannockburn is tight and laser focused but needs time.

Jul 16th, 2020
Ceccherini Cristiano

Well, it took me an extra day to fully enjoy it, also too in order to make vanish the clear sensations of the 2 pinots I drank just yesterday and the day before which were delicious
Unfortunately I keep comparing them
Day 1: Felton Rd was so much fleshier, even a little hot. I know it had to be different, but in the comparison it definitely lacked elegance, harmony and enjoyment. Though it had personality
Day 2:another wine, fully enjoyable, very defined, focus, pleasant. Not hot anymore. Still thousands of kms away from Burgandy, like it should be (but also so apart from others Central Otago pinots)
More than decent after taste

Well, it took me an extra day to fully enjoy it, also too in order to make vanish the clear sensations of the 2 pinots I drank just yesterday and the day before which were delicious
Unfortunately I keep comparing them
Day 1: Felton Rd was so much fleshier, even a little hot. I know it had to be different, but in the comparison it definitely lacked elegance, harmony and enjoyment. Though it had personality
Day 2:another wine, fully enjoyable, very defined, focus, pleasant. Not hot anymore. Still thousands of kms away from Burgandy, like it should be (but also so apart from others Central Otago pinots)
More than decent after taste

Nov 29th, 2019
Ceccherini Cristiano

Focused, personality, fun, great balance
I find it a little light when we think that we are drinking Central Otago, but Felton Rd is so unique. Never overpowering.
I just wonder if I identify their wines more with the region or with their winemaking🧐
Ps this might tell you how wine is a cerebral enjoyment rather than just material 🤔

Focused, personality, fun, great balance
I find it a little light when we think that we are drinking Central Otago, but Felton Rd is so unique. Never overpowering.
I just wonder if I identify their wines more with the region or with their winemaking🧐
Ps this might tell you how wine is a cerebral enjoyment rather than just material 🤔

Nov 9th, 2019
Ceccherini Cristiano

This wine has great potential to age gracefully, but it is so extraordinary delicious already that it is hard to put aside when it comes to select a wine

This wine has great potential to age gracefully, but it is so extraordinary delicious already that it is hard to put aside when it comes to select a wine

Apr 23rd, 2019
Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.1

Still holding a bit of garnet, smells of warm wool, carob, and dried cherries. Juicy red fruit, a touch of earth, dried flowers. Excellent acidity. Leather and anise on the finish.

Still holding a bit of garnet, smells of warm wool, carob, and dried cherries. Juicy red fruit, a touch of earth, dried flowers. Excellent acidity. Leather and anise on the finish.

Feb 18th, 2019
Bassel Sommelier

Fruity all the way, a New Zealand classic Pinot

Fruity all the way, a New Zealand classic Pinot

Jan 3rd, 2019