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Felton Road is located in Bannockburn, Central Otago, New Zealand, the southernmost wine growing region in the world. This region is synonymous with 'Winemaking on the edge'. The fact is that a cat and mouse game is regularly played with the frost. The fragmented vineyards nestle in small micro-climates on slopes surrounded by high mountains, many of which remain covered with snow peaks all year round. Since the domain started in 1991, Felton Road wines have been an overwhelming success. The cello door in the sympathetic small domain is closed for more than half of the year due to 'sold out'. Together with Martinborough's Ata Rangi, Felton Road was awarded 'grand cru' status at the Pinot Noir Conference in Wellington in January 2010. What is special is that the title 'grand cru' was chosen by wine professionals. Great class, wines with a lot of sophistication and top style great Burgundy. Nigel Greening of Felton Road is a passionate winemaker with a clear philosophy: "A winemaker has a thousand ways to make a wine" better. " But better than who or what? "It has taken us over a decade to gradually coordinate grape, terroir and our winemaking methods." The Pinot Noir of Felton Road symbolizes the most beautiful and purest that can be obtained from New Zealand. Complex, graceful layering, completely biodynamic. Scarce and limited availability!

The Pinot Noir grape bunches are hand-picked extremely selectively for optimum ripeness. In the vinification cellar, 75% of the grapes are destemmed and crushed, after which they, together with the other trusses, first undergo a cold soak of 5 days in order to obtain more color and aroma extraction. This is followed by a 2-week spontaneous alcoholic fermentation with wild (grape) yeasts on stainless steel tanks. This is followed by pressing the grape must and crossing the young wine on French oak barriques (30% new) in order to undergo and mature the malolactic fermentation. After 13 months, the wine is bottled without clarification or filtering. This entire process proceeds according to strict biodynamic rules and regulations.

In the glass, the Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir has a clear, slightly ruby red color. In the nose aromas of black cherries, rose petals, leather, thyme and fresh toast. In the taste palette pure notes of ripe berries, strawberries, cinnamon and something of licorice and vanilla, which are accompanied by a lingering finish with good tannins and the right acids.

James Suckling: 93/100