Felton Road 'Block 3' Pinot Noir 1.5L 2021

Felton Road ‘Block 3’ Pinot Noir 1.5L 2021 - Bannockburn, Central Otago, New Zealand

Producer's Notes:

The 25th bottling of Block 3 engenders memories of the very first and its demanding of a single vineyard bottling: distinct wild thyme and spice introducing its more diverse and complex nose. It’s incredibly transparent on the palate, drawing you in to the chocolate that lies beneath the surface. The tannins are surprisingly svelte and perfectly formed. All the power is focused on the back of the palate, as it should be. By the time you’ve got there, you know you are in the presence of a serious wine.

What we say:

Deeply expressive, perfumed and beautifully complete, ‘Block 3’ is one of Felton Road’s great single-block Pinot Noirs, drawn from The Elms vineyard in Bannockburn. The 2021 opens with dark cherry, raspberry, plum and wild strawberry, layered with violet, exotic spice, dried herbs, savoury earth and a cool mineral thread. The palate is silky and concentrated, with fine tannins, bright acidity and a seamless texture that carries the fruit with real elegance. There’s more depth and quiet authority here than in the broader Bannockburn bottling, but it never feels heavy; the wine stays lifted, detailed and graceful, with the magnum format giving it even more potential to evolve slowly and beautifully in the cellar.

Sourced from Felton Road’s original Elms vineyard, Block 3 is one of the estate’s most celebrated parcels and has helped define the reputation of Central Otago Pinot Noir internationally. The vineyards have been farmed organically and biodynamically since 2002, received full Demeter certification in 2010, and were certified organic by BioGro in 2020. Felton Road’s strict estate-only approach, careful vineyard work and minimal-intervention cellar philosophy are central to the wine’s purity, texture and sense of place.

Grape Variety: Pinot Noir

Style: Red – Medium-bodied, silky, biodynamic, cellar-worthy

Drink Window: Now – 2040+

Perfect For: Duck, lamb, roast chicken, mushroom dishes, salmon, special-occasion dinners

A superb Central Otago Pinot in a serious cellar format - floral, silky and quietly powerful, with the precision and pedigree to age beautifully.