Felton Road 2023 Block 5 Pinot Noir

intage
Spring temperatures and rainfall were normal with
only a couple of mild frost events which were
successfully fought. Flowering proceeded in warm
and relatively stable weather and resulted in setting a
normal sized crop across all three varieties.
December was warm and dry with these conditions
further exacerbated over the next several weeks until
a welcome rain event on February 21. With the
relatively dry conditions prevailing for the previous
months, this event and the periodic rain throughout
March (but still only 43mm recorded), did not
present any disease pressure issues and provided
welcome relief to the warm and somewhat previous
stressful conditions. Cooler night temperatures
arrested the ripening for slow and steady
development. Harvest commenced on March 23,
and fears of an early, hot and fast harvest were
fortunately not realised.
Vinification
20% of the fruit was retained as whole clusters with
the remainder carefully de-stemmed directly to the
fermenters by gravity without harsh pumping. Long
pre-fermentation soaks of 8-10 days prior to
fermentation with indigenous yeasts and punched
down by hand up to two times per day with a total
time on skins of 21-25 days. Pressed off and barrels
filled immediately by gravity to the underground barrel
cellars. The wine spent 16 months in barrel (25% new
French) with two rackings and no fining

Vintage: 2023

Perfumed floral nose with crystalline small red fruit dusted in icing sugar. Very precise and aromatically layered. The palate is compact and concentrated with very good density and depth, wrapped in grainy, ripe tannins. Very long, evolving finish with a classic peacock’s tail. The structure currently dominates the back-palate and this will need time to emerge properly but will be spectacular when it finally does. Drink: 2027-2039

Central Otago, New Zealand

Volume: 750mL

Alcohol: 14%

November 2024 – Jancisrobinson.com, Julia Harding MW – 18 points

Mid cherry red. Darker-fruited and spicier than the other Felton Road Pinots. Also has a touch of crushed stones giving an elegant minerally note. Firm, drily yet elegantly chewy. Intense without excess weight. Finely built with great fruit purity at the core. Seems restrained at the moment but there is so much there. (JH) 13.5%, Drink 2028 – 2038

November 2024, The Real Review, Stephen Wong, MW – 97 points *****

Perfumed floral nose with crystalline small red fruit dusted in icing sugar. Very precise and aromatically layered. The palate is compact and concentrated with very good density and depth, wrapped in grainy, ripe tannins. Very long, evolving finish with a classic peacock’s tail. The structure currently dominates the back-palate and this will need time to emerge properly but will be spectacular when it finally does. Drink: 2027-2039

November 2024 – JAMESSUCKLING.COM, James Suckling – 98 points