Felton Road Calvert Pinot Noir 2023

Felton Road Calvert Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2023

Grape: 100% Pinot Noir, organic/biodynamic, handpicked from the Calvert vineyard (deep silt soil), indigenous yeast fermentation, destemmed fruit with 25% whole bunch, 16 months' ageing in French oak barrels (28% new), bottled unfined & unfiltered.

Winemaker's Tasting Note:

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.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Lifted aromas of strawberries, cherries and orange peel. The palate is pure with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of raspberries, dried herbs, wet bark and cedar. Very tightly wound with a high tension that will unravel in years to come. Drink or hold. Screw cap"

96/100 points, JamesSuckling.com, November 2024

"This is one of the great vineyard sites in Central Otago and is planted entirely in Pinot Noir, all of which is hand picked with approximately 23% whole bunch fermented and 100% outstanding wine as a result of these and other incremental quality steps in production. Lifted aromatics of plush dark cherry and ripe, concentrated plums sit within a framework of firm but balanced acidity. This adds great structure to this wine, providing it with excellent depth of flavour and length now but also giving it the potential for a long life, if cellared in good conditions. Oak maturation on this wine was 13 months in French oak barriques, typically 20% of which were new. This is one of the great Pinot Noirs of Aotearoa, New Zealand, every year. It drinks well now and will definitely age, evolving into an even more rewarding wine over the next 10+ years"

19/20 points, joellethomson.com, February 2025

Drink this Pinot Noir with turkey, duck, goose and game birds such as quail & pheasant.