2023 Felton Road Pinot Noir Block 5
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Tasting notes
Full screwcapped bottle just 1,166 g. Justerini’s background note, edited: Gentle north-facing slope in the middle of The Elms vineyard planted in 1993. The soils vary up the slope from heavy loess and silt, clay lake-bed deposits and angular schist gravels. 20% whole-cluster fermentation. Aged 16 months in 25% new French oak barrels. Bright mid garnet. Briary and herbal on the lifted nose – very much not a fruit bomb. Rather restrained in fact with a definitely dry, savoury finish. Definitely not trying to be burgundy but a very refreshing wine that promises considerable development. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Block 5 Pinot Noir is muscular and powerful and savory, totally in line with its esteemed reputation up to this point. This 2023 vintage has retained all of the thundering drive that the wine has become famous for, yet, via the fruit, it posits it in a highly focused and precise manner. The fruit feels lighter and more persistent, the tannins deftly handled and overwhelmingly sophisticated. Flavors include sandalwood, mortadella, cherry compote, dried herbs, pink peppercorns and crushed rocks. I love this wine because it tastes like Central Otago, specifically Bannockburn, but every aspect that has been able to be reined in has been, making for an elevated drinking experience. Excellent. Quite likely the best yet. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
RS 0 g/l. 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)
Dense crimson. Tension and excitement and a real thrill to taste even though it’s pretty youthful. Very dry finish but impressive – this would stand comparison with some pretty smart burgundy. (JR)