14 Felton Roads from Museum to Current
4 x Vintage Verticals
Bannockburn Pinot Noir - 2008 | 2023
Calvert Pinot Noir - 2008 | 2023
Block 3 Pinot Noir - 2008 | 2009 | 2023
Block 5 Pinot Noir - 2008 | 2009 | 2011 | 2023
Exploring Vintage Verticals:
A vintage vertical tasting is a rare opportunity to experience the evolution of a wine across multiple vintages, throughout different stages of it’s life. Highlighting the intricate interplay of age, vintage conditions, and winemaking craftsmanship in shaping its identity.
By tasting different years of the same wine side by side, guests can explore how aging transforms structure and flavour, how vintage conditions shape expression, and how the winemaker’s vision unfolds over decades.
Masterclass: 4-6pm, 14 Wines with nibbles $215
Sunday May 11th
11 Wines over a period of 10 years have consistently scored 95 points or more about 90% of the time… Quite Extraordinary!!!
The Real Review Rieslings, Chardonnays & Pinot Noirs
Points in Context
It is undeniable that Felton Road is one of the finest New World producers of pinot noir and a benchmark for those seeking the best that New Zealand wines have to offer.
Founder Nigel Greening and winemaker Blair Walter have built the world-famous wine brand around fastidious site selection and viticulture (Demeter and Biogro Certified Biodynamic) and a range of wines that are not only beautifully crafted and compete effortlessly on the world stage, but speak so clearly of the intricacies of their Central Otago vineyards.
The emphasis is on transparency of site and minimal intervention – great farming, gravity flow winery, wild yeasts, wild malo and no fining or filtration. An inspiring producer of the highest caliber.
Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
Felton Road - Winery Accolades and Awards
The Real Review New Zealand Winery of the Year 2024
#3 Real Review Top Wineries of NZ 2023
#5 Real Review Top Wineries of NZ 2022
#3 Real Review Top Wineries of NZ 2021
#4 Real Review Top Wineries of NZ 2020
#3 Real Review Top Wineries of NZ 2021
#19 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2023
#19 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2022
#14 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2021
#24 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2020
#12 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2019
# 9 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2018
#13 World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2017
“I cannot think of a more deserving winery occupying the top slot.”
Bob Campbell
The Wine List & Menu
1st Course
Bannockburn Chardonnay 2023
Pure grapefruit zest, citrus, stonefruit kernel, a hint of roasted nuts, all bound in enlivening acid. The satisfying palate weight carries the acid completely without effort; it just shrugs it off. Very clean, already showing some length, which will no doubt build gracefully. A pleasing absence of oak notes…in fact a pleasing absence of everything but essence of Chardonnay. A definite candidate for benchmark.
feltonroad.com
Block 2 Chardonnay 2023
An enticing nose of lemon and elderflower blossom, citrus notes and crushed stones, sets the scene for this vineyard expressive Chardonnay. It’s all about the schist soils, the ideal growing season, carefully guided and gently raised, rather than winemaking. The harmoniously integrated acidity tightens the core, giving length and focus. A classic Block 2 that speaks eloquently to its usual fine and elegant style.
feltonroad.com
2nd Course
Cornish Point Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023
Layered, heady perfume of roses, wild berries and cinnamon bloom on this complex, arrestingly aromatic pinot. Densely concentrated and compact flavours of blackberry coulis and baking spice soak the entire palate in vibrant primary fruit. Submerged cocoa-tinged tannins make an appearance after a fashion. Impressive and intense yet effortless, this is very young, and already so delicious right now, but it will be vastly better with a bit of time in the cellar to gain more complexity
96 Points Stephen Wong, The Real Review (October 2024)
Calvert Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023
Characteristic floral notes of rose petal and violets are complimented by hints of cola, cardamom and polished leather. A sweet core of red cherry through the mid provides an elegant backbone in this finesse driven wine. Being not excessively fruited, allows the typical Calvert mineral laden fine tannins to take centre stage, leading to a sustained and memorable finish.
feltonroad.com
Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2008
This was my favourite Pinot of this tasting but I did not pick it out as the New Zealander among the Australians (in fact only 2 out of around 50 tasters did so). Deeply coloured. Slightly savoury and oaky on the nose but with ripe red fruit too. Raspberry-ripple ice cream. Fragrant on the mid palate. Soft, elegant and very pure fruited. Good length. Fine grained and beautifully balanced. (JH)
17.5/20 points - Jancis Robinson
Calvert Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008
Medium to deep red, purple edge. Spicy, earth and foresty, complex, not grapy, at the other extreme from fruity. Traces of mint and herbs, but ripe. Blackberry too. Gorgeous bouquet! Deep and meaty. Rich, fleshy and quite dense. Lovely fruit and secondary complexities. Multi-layered wine, and very long finish. Superior stuff.
95 Points Huon Hooke, The Real Review
3rd Course
Macmuir Pinot Noir 2023
A shy nose of ground spice, rosemary and violet unfurls from the dense core of savoury black fruit. Complex but also compact. The palate is a juxtaposition of very sweet, plush fruit with a generous personality against a backdrop of grainy wood spice, cocoa and cinnamon which coats the mouth. Relatively forward in style with gobs of intense fruit coating some serious tannins which also sit quite far forward. A crowd-pleasing style with plenty of substance and impressively concentrated though currently lacking the finesse which will hopefully come as it settles
95 Points Stephen Wong, The Real Review (October 2024)
Block 3 Pinot Noir 2023, Our Price $132
Restrained wood with floral, dried herb and mineral complexity over a core of concentrated black fruit. Unquestionable elegance married to remarkable power, the intensely flavoursome palate unfolds in stages of savoury, fruit and floral, all kept in check by reasonably firm, ripe tannins with flashes of rosemary. Astounding complexity in a poised package. Medium-bodied but very long, this wine is all about the back-palate; there is plenty of matter here and it's currently very young. Despite the sheer concentration in evidence, this has impeccable balance and should age gracefully over the coming decade without losing its finesse
97 Points Stephen Wong, The Real Review
Block 3 Pinot Noir 2009
From one of Felton's oldest vineyard blocks, this vintage of Block 3 offers much of the high-toned aromatics and structure this longtime biodynamic estate is renowned for. It's a heady combo of cherry and currant fruit, baking spice, cedar and dried violet, with savory, meaty bass notes. Powdery tannins provide lovely texture. There's elegance and harmony. Of Felton's Pinots, it feels the most complete and ready to drink now, while being cellarworthy for at least another decade.
94 points - Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast
Block 3 Pinot Noir 2008
Dense red and black fruit flavours interwoven with exotic Oriental spices. Powerful Pinot Noir that's richly textured and has an impressively lingering finish. A house style is evident although the wine has more apparent fruit, or perhaps less savoury influence, than the mainstream labels.
95 Points Bob Campbell MW
4th Course
Block 5 Pinot Noir 2023
A perfectly seamless and finely balanced nose, asserting Block 5’s hallmark elegance and refinement. The palate opens subtly, but expands generously in the manner of the great Pinot Noir descriptor of peacock’s tail. Encompassing, harmonious with not a single component jostling for recognition - it’s just mature 30-year-old vines doing their business. The precision of fruit and flavour, combined with silk laden tannins, bring it all to an immensely satisfying finish.
feltonroad.com
Block 5 Pinot Noir 2011
Pure power on the palate with a fine-boned, elegant yet intense wine that produces an extraordinarily lengthy finish.
98 points - Bob Campbell MW
Block 5 Pinot Noir 2009
Haunting perfume of violets, dark cherry, anise, mineral and roasted chestnuts; silken textured with good concentration delivered with supreme elegance. This is so good now it is hard to justify bothering with bottle age.
95 Points Gourmet Traveller Wine
Block 5 Pinot Noir 2008
Big, rich and intense wine with impressive layered flavours including cherry/berry, spices, herb and savoury characters. Lovely sweet fruit interwoven with fine tannins giving a drying finish.
98 Points Bob Campbell, The Real Review