Pinot Noir
75cl * Vegan * Organic * Biodynamic * 14.0% ABV * Central Otago, New Zealand
We are incredibly lucky to have a small allocation of 2022 Bannockburn Pinot Noir from legendary New Zealand estate Felton Road.
Slap-bang in the "vinous sweet spot" of Bannockburn in the world’s most southerly winemaking region, Felton Road’s story began with meticulous site selection and vineyard design by Stewart Elms in 1991. Nigel Greening, a self-described Pinot Noir addict from Devon, who had previously sold his British film production company to plant the Cornish Point Vineyard in Bannockburn, bought Felton Road in 2000. Nigel kept the team in place, including Blair Walter who has made every one of Felton Road’s wines from their very first vintage in 1997. Together with viticulturalist Gareth King, the team promptly embarked on full estate conversion to organic (2002) and then to biodynamic farming, gaining a Demeter certification for all its vineyards in 2010.
Felton Road believes that growth by its own definition is unsustainable and early on Nigel decided that Felton Road would never grow beyond 400 barrels (150,000 bottles). The entire estate totals just 34 hectares across four vineyards, however within this area there are multiple pockets of microclimates and 10 different soil types alone along the 3km length of Felton Road. To preserve the wine's expression of its terroir, the entire estate comes as close to true sustainability as is possible, working with nature using organic treatments, manure and plant cover crops to ensure natural bio-diversity in the vineyards. Low yields are achieved through hand pruning and all picking takes place by hand. In the cellars Burgundian barrels are used for the oak-aged wines and bottling takes place without fining or filtration. A gentle, minimal intervention approach to winemaking is assisted by a three-level gravity-flow winery alongside wild yeast and natural malolactic fermentation.
And to the wine itself: a vivid nose of deep florals; dark roses, violets, and an undertow of ripe red fruit. The palate really shows the best of each vineyard that makes up the cuvée. A pure but powerful drive of fruit on a perfect cusp of ripeness, with complex notes of sandalwood and spice. This is all about harmony and balance with the transparency of fruit allowing the detail to shine through. Silken tannins finish the package.
Drinking Window: 2023 - 2036
"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 is 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 MW, The Real Review
* Discounts will not be applied as irreplaceable stock *