Felton Road
Block 3 Central Otago Pinot Noir
Central Otago, Otago, South Island, New Zealand
If you do anything in your life, find a 6-7 yr old Felton Road Pinot or their Chardonnay at 3-4 yrs old. Decant it hours. The Chardonnay served at near room temperature. You will thank me. The fruit, complexity and acidity get my highest recommendation. It extraordinary Burgundy & style at a fraction of the price. Crossroads of new & old world.
Still room for growth here.
If you do anything in your life, find a 6-7 yr old Felton Road Pinot or their Chardonnay at 3-4 yrs old. Decant it hours. The Chardonnay served at near room temperature. You will thank me. The fruit, complexity and acidity get my highest recommendation. It extraordinary Burgundy & style at a fraction of the price. Crossroads of new & old world.
Still room for growth here.
I might have mentioned this in a previous Felton Road post. If you haven’t tried this producer and you love White Burgundy, Burgundy & Ca Pinot, you owe to yourself to find a bottle(s). The fruit Nigel and his team produce is top shelf & some of the best acidity I’ve had. This is better than most more expensive CA Pinots & Burgundies I’ve had & their offering’s are in the $50-$65 range.
I love warm day & cool night Pinots. This is the climate of Central Otago. Their fruits are nicely ripe with acidity for days.
The mouthfeel is glorious, sexy and elegant. The blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries and strawberries really sing. This 16 is young & I’d hold it another 3-5 years for better things. Think it hits 95-96 at that point. This still shows some stronger spice & cinnamon stick at this age. Dark soils, underbrush, some savory meats, a dash of herbaceousness, tree bark dipped in sap, mixed mid fruit cola. clove, some vanillin with amazing, bright florals that are dark, fresh; red, blue, purple set in violets. Perfect acidity and an elegant, ruby, well balanced, smartly polished finish that sings on the palate for minutes.
Photos of; the view from their property in April 2017 which, is their fall, outside fermentation tank, my walking the property with owner Nigel Greening and my wife enjoying her walk around the property.
I might have mentioned this in a previous Felton Road post. If you haven’t tried this producer and you love White Burgundy, Burgundy & Ca Pinot, you owe to yourself to find a bottle(s). The fruit Nigel and his team produce is top shelf & some of the best acidity I’ve had. This is better than most more expensive CA Pinots & Burgundies I’ve had & their offering’s are in the $50-$65 range.
I love warm day & cool night Pinots. This is the climate of Central Otago. Their fruits are nicely ripe with acidity for days.
The mouthfeel is glorious, sexy and elegant. The blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries and strawberries really sing. This 16 is young & I’d hold it another 3-5 years for better things. Think it hits 95-96 at that point. This still shows some stronger spice & cinnamon stick at this age. Dark soils, underbrush, some savory meats, a dash of herbaceousness, tree bark dipped in sap, mixed mid fruit cola. clove, some vanillin with amazing, bright florals that are dark, fresh; red, blue, purple set in violets. Perfect acidity and an elegant, ruby, well balanced, smartly polished finish that sings on the palate for minutes.
Photos of; the view from their property in April 2017 which, is their fall, outside fermentation tank, my walking the property with owner Nigel Greening and my wife enjoying her walk around the property.
Love this quote from Neil Martin from The Wine Advocate - “Whenever there is a tasting designed to challenge the supremacy of Burgundy, it is usually Felton Road that is ushered into the ring. “. This wine never disappoints. Aromatics of Beetroot, Plums, Sous Bois, Herbs and violets. Sweeter than expected on the palate. A new world twist on Gevrey Chambertin. Medium plus bodied but still a suave Pinot Noir with silky tannins. I will seek out the just released 2019s which Felton Road says “Text book Block 3 that is potentially one of the greatest. “
Love this quote from Neil Martin from The Wine Advocate - “Whenever there is a tasting designed to challenge the supremacy of Burgundy, it is usually Felton Road that is ushered into the ring. “. This wine never disappoints. Aromatics of Beetroot, Plums, Sous Bois, Herbs and violets. Sweeter than expected on the palate. A new world twist on Gevrey Chambertin. Medium plus bodied but still a suave Pinot Noir with silky tannins. I will seek out the just released 2019s which Felton Road says “Text book Block 3 that is potentially one of the greatest. “
Jul 12th, 2020
Simple but correct. So much SO2. Developed
Simple but correct. So much SO2. Developed
Jun 21st, 2020Deep crimson in colour. A rich Pinot as it always is with savoury plum notes, integrated oak and soft resolved tannins. Block 3 along with Block 5 always regarded as in the Dress Circle of Otago Pinots along with Mt Difficulty and Terra Sancta (ex Ollsens) all located in Felton Road. As mentioned in an earlier post I prefer other areas in NZ for PN but Felton Road has always been in the top echelon of New Zealand Pinot’s. A “cool” wine in every sense of the word. Good drinking now and can’t see any major improvement apart from becoming more savoury with more cellaring.
Deep crimson in colour. A rich Pinot as it always is with savoury plum notes, integrated oak and soft resolved tannins. Block 3 along with Block 5 always regarded as in the Dress Circle of Otago Pinots along with Mt Difficulty and Terra Sancta (ex Ollsens) all located in Felton Road. As mentioned in an earlier post I prefer other areas in NZ for PN but Felton Road has always been in the top echelon of New Zealand Pinot’s. A “cool” wine in every sense of the word. Good drinking now and can’t see any major improvement apart from becoming more savoury with more cellaring.
Dec 9th, 2018
Great vintage. Has aged very well. Eminently drinkable, nice balance of fruit , tannins and acidity. Happy days!
Great vintage. Has aged very well. Eminently drinkable, nice balance of fruit , tannins and acidity. Happy days!
Jan 2nd, 2018Super perfumed, almost intoxicatingly so. All florals, scattering of red fruits, slight whole bunch spice, rhubarb & orange with no sight of the 30% new oak. Wildly complex for its youth. Acidity well intergrated, just looking for a touch more depth and tannin presence.
Super perfumed, almost intoxicatingly so. All florals, scattering of red fruits, slight whole bunch spice, rhubarb & orange with no sight of the 30% new oak. Wildly complex for its youth. Acidity well intergrated, just looking for a touch more depth and tannin presence.
1 person found it helpfulMay 1st, 2019One of NZs best Pinot Noirs and arguably one of the wines that put Central Otago on the map. Full bodied for a Pinot with lush silky fruit flavours. Concentrated and long. Easy to drink. 18+.
One of NZs best Pinot Noirs and arguably one of the wines that put Central Otago on the map. Full bodied for a Pinot with lush silky fruit flavours. Concentrated and long. Easy to drink. 18+.
1 person found it helpfulMar 22nd, 2015Cherry, toasty oak, dried flowers, vanilla, reminded me of Burgundy.
Cherry, toasty oak, dried flowers, vanilla, reminded me of Burgundy.
1 person found it helpfulNov 16th, 2014
Pretty killer NZ PN. Stewed tomatoes, spice, red cherries and toast coupled with silky, lush mouthfeel and tannins that could go very well with duck or pork loin.
Pretty killer NZ PN. Stewed tomatoes, spice, red cherries and toast coupled with silky, lush mouthfeel and tannins that could go very well with duck or pork loin.
Apr 17th, 2017