2022 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 totalling 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 core with black shaded edges and a red to dark red hue. Captivating scents of violet, dark cherry, dark plum and anise are captured by the olfactory senses followed by some fresh herb, forest floor and spicy cedar notes. Expansive and powerful yet light on its feet, the palate is engulfed with delicious dark plum, cherry and strawberry fruits which are interwoven with spicy anise, earthy forest floor, dried herb and cedar elements. Excellent intensity and drive with finely grained yet structural tannins. The long spicy conclusion loaded with dark fruits.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%

Other Reviews….
Deliciously fragrant and intense floral aroma that follows on to the palate where it is joined by cassis, dark cherry, black Doris plum, vanilla, savoury dried herbs and mixed spice and anise flavours. This could be the best Bannockburn pinot noir that I can recall tasting. It has an ethereal texture and a backbone of fine tannins. Absolutely delicious wine!
97 points
Bob Campbell – The Real Review