2021 Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir

Felton Road's vineyards are managed using organic and biodynamic viticulture, ensuring the highest quality fruit arrives at the winery. From there winemaking is intentionally hands off with gravity flow, wild yeasts, wild malo, and an avoidance of fining and filtration to help preserve the expression of its terroir.
Felton Road farms four properties totaling 32 ha in the Bannockburn sub-region of Central Otago. The fruit for this wine is a blend of four vineyards; Cornish Point, Calvert, MacMuir and The Elms.
Aged for 13 months in 25% new French oak barrels with 20% whole clusters included in the ferment. Deep dark red purple core with black shaded edges and a dark red purple hue. Engulfing the nostrils are fragrant scents of violets, dark cherries and anise which meld into dark plum, subtly toasted vanillin cedar, forest floor and spicy herb notes. Rich dark cherry and plum fruits overlay strawberry, anise, spicy oak, scorched earth and dried herb elements. Excellent concentration and power with a fleshy mouthfeel supported by a sturdy tannin framework. Long moreish dark fruited conclusion.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%

Other Reviews....
I tasted through a swag of Felton Road wines yesterday with affable winemaker, Blair Walter, all present and correct. There’s a purity and restraint to all the 2021 vintage wines that I find very appealing, and I might even suggest that it’s my favourite release of these wines to date?
Bright, raspberry, spiced strawberry and cherry, but all the red fruits here, a little savoury umami/mushroom thing, and a rosy perfume. Medium-bodied, soft but correct acidity, and a whole lot of charm here, a light fine chew to tannin adds to it all, and the finish is good and long. It’s a pretty wine, and so lovely to drink. I reckon it will show even better in a year or two. Drink 2023 - 2030+
94+ Points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front (August 2022)