If anything I would have wanted a more tannic grip but otherwise fantastic! Packed with fruity sweetness, concentrated allthough quite sharp. Will benefit from 2-5 more years I believe to make fruit a bit more secondary.
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Bottle off the wine list over lunch at Sage. Screw-cap. Finished off the bottle easily. Appearance pale intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of dried leafy earth, dark vegetation, dark red cherries, black cherries. Developing. On the palate, dry, good high acidity, medium alcohol (13.5%), smooth medium tannins, very good layered full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of savoury earth, dark undergrowth, dark red cherries, black cherries, dark spices. Sweeter fruits with more air. Very good quality. Reflects the Central Otago terroir astutely. Already a charmer of a drink at this young stage, and has the chops for some age too.
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Beautiful nose of strawberries, which just seems to pull you in to enjoy this beautiful Kiwi Pinot.
Reading Jancis Robinson's review highlighted that this has a richer nose compared to the more basic Bannockburn blend, I will check again tonight on Day 2. In her tastings, she went on to say that "It is almost impossible to spit this!".
This is both an elegant as well as feminine Pinot, with some much needed density on the palate and luscious hints of rose petals as this Pinot warmed up. The finish was medium-long on the 1st night of pouring.
Quite similar to the two Bannockburn 2020 Pinots we enjoyed in the past week, thus I question of this Cornish Point bottling warrants the USD 10 premium over its more humble sibling?
JoeYee recommended that this wine further opens up with more complexity after some hours, or even 24 hours later, so I will be trying the 2nd half of my bottle later tonight!
Overall, Felton Road farms in 4 properties, which total 32 Ha in Bannockburn, Central Otago, NZ's south island. This wine is a single plot wine, from Cornish Point vineyard which is close to water creating what is described as a mesoclimate.
Having only started in 1991, Felton Road has continued to live by "Refusal to compromise". It is proudly and truly fully organic and biodynamic, with Demeter certification. Fruit has to be "pure", whilst the estate works and lives in a sustainable manner.
This includes utilising gravity flow, wild yeasts, wild malolactic, an avoidance of fining and filtration as well.
Felton Road describes 2019 as an excellent vintage, lets see what happened weather-wise?
This 2019 vintage is described as an "in-between", where 2017 was concentrated, and 2018 was lighter on the palate. Whilst the 2019 crop was expected to be lighter, the bunches ended up heavier then the norm, thus the overall tonnages were normal.
Mid-October saw frost, and this was the most severe since 2003. The wineyards had to actively frost fight, even through the night, to prevent damage to the infant shoots. Soil moisture helped some of these vines recover.
In December, at Cornish Point, fruit set was varied and small shattered bunches were observed in its free draining soils. Then in January, the rain came and the season became very wet (Over 20 mm). Oddly, right before this, there was a period of drought at the end of Dec and 1st week of Jan!
February saw equally high rainfall, with moderate temperatures. 2019's grape development was described as gently measured, and thus pleasing. Harvest at Cornish Point began on the last days of March, with the majority of picking having to be done in a short 12 day window.
Shared my bottle with Colin who popped by to pick up some wines at my home, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 5 Oct 2022
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The (Temporary) Return of the Golden Weather: Autumn 2021 Visit to Central Otago: Whole bunch 23% and 30% new oak. A fuller, richer, dark cherry and plum nose than the 2019 Calvert. Spices and dried and fresh herbs. On palate, fatter and rounder, with more apparent fruit sweetness. Less minerality and apparent acidity. Also, less grippy tannins. Tannins suave and fine grained. Blair noted that with this wine “less punching down” led to “more restraint and clarity” than for, I understood, earlier Cornish Point pinots.
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dark burgundy red, medium clarity, cloudy, ruby hue Nose: black cherry, plum, blackberries, roses, tobacco, cola, dried thyme, green tea, earth, cedar Pal: black cherry, plum, blackberries, roses, tobacco, cola, thyme, sage, black tea, dirt, cedar Feel: medium, full Finish: medium T8 (could be a 9)
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Purchased at HK retail a month ago, popped and poured at HK summer room temperature (28 degrees celcius) - so warmer than optimal.
Translucent dark ruby colored, medium viscosity. Dark fruited nose with spicy and noticeable flinty aromas (sulphur from the stem inclusion?). In the mouth, spiced cherries, some forest floor, great sap from very well managed tannins with just a hint of acidity, suggesting this has the structure to age. Lovely long finish. It ain’t burgundy, but I could drink this any time!
Popped the bottle in the fridge so will report back if the impression is different.
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The End of the Golden Weather: a pre-COVID-19 Visit to Central Otago in Autumn 2020: Quick barrel tasting. Five samples tasted. The first sample more Calvert than Cornish Point-like. Black fruited and dark spices on the nose. In the mouth, delicate, subtle and flowing. Lacy. A sample from a more typical Cornish site was more rich, fuller, darker fruited and powerful. Almost Bendigo-like. The third sample had a lifted, spicy bouquet with hints of cassis and blackberry. In the mouth, very structured, full with lots of ripe fruit. An older 10/5 clone barrel was a bigger, fleshy wine. Finally an Abel clone barrel showed excellent acidity and structure. Some interesting components to see come together here …
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23% whole bunch 13 months in 30% new French oak wild ferment , single vineyard , multiple clones Colour deep garnet ruby , purple crimson edges 15/15 Nose med intensity dark fruits ,plums ,florals of dark rose and violet, quite subtle nose, savoury , dried herbs , great fruit purity , needs time to unfurl 28/30 Palate , med+ bodied, savoury masculine mouthfeel dark fruits , Asian spices , dried herbs , great acid backbone throughout the palate long finish 42/44 Overall , bit of a sleeper here, brooding, needs more time 9/11 24 hours later it has really opened up , more intense florals , more feminine mouthfeel = an extra point
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10/23/2023 - Kim Gerner wrote: 90 Points
Australian and new Zealand tasting (Copenhagen): Tasted 10 different cuvees from Leeuwin Estate and Felton Road.
This wine. More savoury style than the others. No notes taken. 90+
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10/4/2023 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 92 Points
My last bottle.. and this keeps getting better, its developed even more mouthfeel and weight over the past year since I had my previous bottle.
Ripe strawberries, dark cherries, and that signature intense floral bouquet. Love the earthy notes on the mid palate too.
Acidity medium+ gave this a great chance to be paired with the delicious char siew ... welcome to KL, Jes. Its been years!
Grand Imperial
Plaza Damas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4 Oct 2023
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5/20/2023 - Ulveström Likes this wine: 93 Points
If anything I would have wanted a more tannic grip but otherwise fantastic! Packed with fruity sweetness, concentrated allthough quite sharp. Will benefit from 2-5 more years I believe to make fruit a bit more secondary.
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12/1/2022 - Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bottle off the wine list over lunch at Sage. Screw-cap. Finished off the bottle easily.
Appearance pale intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of dried leafy earth, dark vegetation, dark red cherries, black cherries. Developing.
On the palate, dry, good high acidity, medium alcohol (13.5%), smooth medium tannins, very good layered full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of savoury earth, dark undergrowth, dark red cherries, black cherries, dark spices. Sweeter fruits with more air.
Very good quality. Reflects the Central Otago terroir astutely. Already a charmer of a drink at this young stage, and has the chops for some age too.
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10/5/2022 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful nose of strawberries, which just seems to pull you in to enjoy this beautiful Kiwi Pinot.
Reading Jancis Robinson's review highlighted that this has a richer nose compared to the more basic Bannockburn blend, I will check again tonight on Day 2. In her tastings, she went on to say that "It is almost impossible to spit this!".
This is both an elegant as well as feminine Pinot, with some much needed density on the palate and luscious hints of rose petals as this Pinot warmed up. The finish was medium-long on the 1st night of pouring.
Quite similar to the two Bannockburn 2020 Pinots we enjoyed in the past week, thus I question of this Cornish Point bottling warrants the USD 10 premium over its more humble sibling?
JoeYee recommended that this wine further opens up with more complexity after some hours, or even 24 hours later, so I will be trying the 2nd half of my bottle later tonight!
Overall, Felton Road farms in 4 properties, which total 32 Ha in Bannockburn, Central Otago, NZ's south island. This wine is a single plot wine, from Cornish Point vineyard which is close to water creating what is described as a mesoclimate.
Having only started in 1991, Felton Road has continued to live by "Refusal to compromise". It is proudly and truly fully organic and biodynamic, with Demeter certification. Fruit has to be "pure", whilst the estate works and lives in a sustainable manner.
This includes utilising gravity flow, wild yeasts, wild malolactic, an avoidance of fining and filtration as well.
Felton Road describes 2019 as an excellent vintage, lets see what happened weather-wise?
This 2019 vintage is described as an "in-between", where 2017 was concentrated, and 2018 was lighter on the palate. Whilst the 2019 crop was expected to be lighter, the bunches ended up heavier then the norm, thus the overall tonnages were normal.
Mid-October saw frost, and this was the most severe since 2003. The wineyards had to actively frost fight, even through the night, to prevent damage to the infant shoots. Soil moisture helped some of these vines recover.
In December, at Cornish Point, fruit set was varied and small shattered bunches were observed in its free draining soils. Then in January, the rain came and the season became very wet (Over 20 mm). Oddly, right before this, there was a period of drought at the end of Dec and 1st week of Jan!
February saw equally high rainfall, with moderate temperatures. 2019's grape development was described as gently measured, and thus pleasing. Harvest at Cornish Point began on the last days of March, with the majority of picking having to be done in a short 12 day window.
Shared my bottle with Colin who popped by to pick up some wines at my home, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 5 Oct 2022
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5/26/2022 - maxima wrote: 89 Points
Un brin sweet, on goute l'élevage.
Assez fruité et long, pas mal intense.
Bien si on aime ce style.
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12/24/2021 - HowardNZ Likes this wine:
The (Temporary) Return of the Golden Weather: Autumn 2021 Visit to Central Otago: Whole bunch 23% and 30% new oak. A fuller, richer, dark cherry and plum nose than the 2019 Calvert. Spices and dried and fresh herbs. On palate, fatter and rounder, with more apparent fruit sweetness. Less minerality and apparent acidity. Also, less grippy tannins. Tannins suave and fine grained. Blair noted that with this wine “less punching down” led to “more restraint and clarity” than for, I understood, earlier Cornish Point pinots.
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10/14/2021 - Radders12345 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pennyhill Park - Burgundy vs New World (Pennyhill Park): Nose of rich sour cherry, lovely spice
Young zippy cherry and raspberry.
A little Christmas spice tinge. Lovely and tonnes of potential - this is young!
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8/31/2021 - Frijole wrote:
dark burgundy red, medium clarity, cloudy, ruby hue
Nose: black cherry, plum, blackberries, roses, tobacco, cola, dried thyme, green tea, earth, cedar
Pal: black cherry, plum, blackberries, roses, tobacco, cola, thyme, sage, black tea, dirt, cedar
Feel: medium, full
Finish: medium
T8 (could be a 9)
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8/29/2021 - therougecork wrote: 94 Points
red fruit, hint of oak, slight honey mid palette, finishing with good acidity. light body.
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6/15/2021 - Mascarello59 wrote:
Dark fruit and relatively rich.
Feels more advanced than 2 years.
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5/18/2021 - jchua123 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Purchased at HK retail a month ago, popped and poured at HK summer room temperature (28 degrees celcius) - so warmer than optimal.
Translucent dark ruby colored, medium viscosity. Dark fruited nose with spicy and noticeable flinty aromas (sulphur from the stem inclusion?). In the mouth, spiced cherries, some forest floor, great sap from very well managed tannins with just a hint of acidity, suggesting this has the structure to age. Lovely long finish. It ain’t burgundy, but I could drink this any time!
Popped the bottle in the fridge so will report back if the impression is different.
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1/27/2021 - HowardNZ Likes this wine:
The End of the Golden Weather: a pre-COVID-19 Visit to Central Otago in Autumn 2020: Quick barrel tasting. Five samples tasted. The first sample more Calvert than Cornish Point-like. Black fruited and dark spices on the nose. In the mouth, delicate, subtle and flowing. Lacy. A sample from a more typical Cornish site was more rich, fuller, darker fruited and powerful. Almost Bendigo-like. The third sample had a lifted, spicy bouquet with hints of cassis and blackberry. In the mouth, very structured, full with lots of ripe fruit. An older 10/5 clone barrel was a bigger, fleshy wine. Finally an Abel clone barrel showed excellent acidity and structure. Some interesting components to see come together here …
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1/21/2021 - kingkanu wrote:
2019: A magic number for Felton Road as well with Nigel Greening and Dimitri Walters (67@Home Zoom Tasting): this vineyard is making more restrained wines as the vines age, they are now around 20 years old. Bright cherry, blood orange some spice box but quite restrained now. medium body, quite fine boned and elegant
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8/18/2020 - LindsayM Likes this wine: 95 Points
23% whole bunch 13 months in 30% new French oak wild ferment , single vineyard , multiple clones
Colour deep garnet ruby , purple crimson edges 15/15
Nose med intensity dark fruits ,plums ,florals of dark rose and violet, quite subtle nose, savoury , dried herbs , great fruit purity , needs time to unfurl 28/30
Palate , med+ bodied, savoury masculine mouthfeel dark fruits , Asian spices , dried herbs , great acid backbone throughout the palate long finish 42/44
Overall , bit of a sleeper here, brooding, needs more time 9/11
24 hours later it has really opened up , more intense florals , more feminine mouthfeel = an extra point
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