Founded in 1991, Felton Road is located in the Bannockburn appellation of Central Otago, New Zealand. Its first vintage, 1997 was met with immediate critical acclaim, and the winery has continued to build its reputation as a producer of balanced, elegant wines in the world’s most southerly wine growing region. The wines – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling are produced from the estate’s 80 acres of vineyards, divided between three sites – Elms Vineyard, Cornish Point Vineyard and Calvert Vineyard. All three vineyards are farmed biodynamically. Winemaker Blair Walter’s experience in Oregon and Burgundy has stood him in good stead, teaching him to coax the best out of the property’s vines. His wines show polish, sophistication, complexity and exceptional depth of fruit.

Tasting notes

Complex layers of dark berries, earth and minerals seamlessly blend with notes of tobacco, mocha and hints of earth and spice rack. Balanced and rounded tannins lend a silken texture to the wine which is kept in proportion with vibrant acids and cleansing minerality.

Technical notes

Situated just over the hill from Felton Road, the vineyard soils at Cornish Point are classified as ’moderately deep, fine, sandy loams,’ and planted with 18 different combinations of Pinot Noir rootstocks and clones. Offers quintessential Pinot Noir expressions with a New Zealand twist.