Pale garnet. Lots of sweetness on the nose & palate. Red cherries ,apples, spice on the palate. Very good wine, first bottle of a case so it will be interesting to see how it evolves
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Still very closed. After a full day opens up strawberry, blueberry, black cherry, sandalwood, baking spice, clove, hint of vanilla, forest floor and earth, touch of coco. Concentrated and delicious but needs a few more years.
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Fairly consistent with my previous note, but everything was just a bit more polished and put together in this bottle. The fruit was very spicy, but full of depth and elegance.
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Surprisingly well developed for its age given the screwcap. There was an earthy, savoury maturity with some leather and sous bois, but the punchy cherry and rhubarb fruit is the star here. Hints of Christmas spice lurk on the back palate, this is decidedly New World but very much in the style of Pommard.
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From 75cl screwcap, opened but not decanted 1 hour, no change in glass. Surprisingly mature colour with orange reflexes. The taste profile is also fully mature, but more vivid than the bottle recorded here on 15.06.2023. Consommé, lovely bright red berry fruit, gentle acidity, no tannins to speak of. A bit one-dimensional and thin, but allowing for that the material is excellent, like a village Chambolles-Musigny from a really good producer... at age 15-20, that is. The speed with which these Felton Roads mature is a little alarming. 89-90P
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From 75cl screwcap, opened but not decanted 1 hour. Indistinct aromatics. Soft, fuzzy entrry. Mid-palate has a mealy texture, the fruit, acidity and sweetness lacking the focus I expected from FR. All in all, this tastes oddly disjointed, its individual elements not coming together (yet?) Perhaps better next year? 88P(?)
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This single vineyard Pinot Noir is unfiltered, unfined and aged for 13 months in French oak (27% new). Nice notes of ripe red cherries, some strawberries, flint stone and some cedar. Soft earthy notes in the background. Nice and fresh acidity. Tannins are soft. More on the earthy side than fruit driven. Good complexity and depth. Great overall balance. The finish is medium long and refreshing. It’s young, but it’s already drinking nicely. Probably a bit better in 2-3 years. (IG)
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Really like this. Sweet cherry, strawberry, mushroom, and wet earth on the nose. Firm acidity, great texture, soft tannins, balanced, lengthy finish. Maybe a few years early but I don’t regret it. First time trying this producer.
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Long awaited acquaintance with this cult NZ producer. Wine was not fined nor filtered, then aged for 13 months in FR oak barriques (27% new). Medium pale ruby colour. Medium intensity aroma with great mineral backbone, notes of cherries, leather, stones, smoke, flint and mushroom hints. Medium body, feels fleshy, leathery and earthy with medium light density, bright acidity, mellow extra fine tannins and lengthy finish with a tat of bitterness.
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Had the 2018 Felton Road Calvert not too long ago, and I like the Bannockburn slightly better. I think the Bannockburn has more depth and nuance than the Calvert. There's both sweet and tart cherry - red and dark. Strawberry juice too. Stony mineralogy, wet earth and a tinge of dried herbs. The wine is exuberant while also being balanced. I think it has just entered its drinking window and probably has a good 10-15 years of developing.
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2019 Visit to Cromwell (Central Otago, NZ): Blair noted that 20 components went into making this cuvée, mainly in fairly neutral oak (mainly 4 – 5 year old barrels, 27% new). Whole cluster 20%. An attractive bouquet of raspberries, red cherries, red plums and touches of black fruit with notes of fennel. In the mouth, a more red fruited expression that I would normally expect from this cuvée. Fine grained tannins. I liked this Bannockburn …
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- no decanting - Nose: Medium + intense, youthful aromas of strawberries and fresh raspberries, candy floss and some sweet, candied red fruits. Plus lots of ash, smoky nuances that are probably typical for New Zealand. - Palate: Although Pinot can be a bit lean in itself, the Felton Road comes across as mouth-filling and integrated. A medium + animating acidity and ripe, medium tannins characterise the wine. Compared to many Burgundies, this has less fruit ripeness but a layer of stony, smoky flavours. The finish is a little too short. - Can be drunk nicely now, still has potential (rather five than ten years).
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Obviously this is a fairly polarizing wine based on the comments noted herein. I have no how WS rated this as the 14th best wine in the world (I usually like WS ratings). I drank this blind with a few friends side-by-side with WS #9 Beaux Freres and not a single person thought this wine was in the same solar system. Having said that, this is an enjoyable wine, like the lingering cherry, elegant finish, low acidity, will likely get better with time. Enjoy peeps!!!
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Come on!? This race to the most Burgundian new world wine is futile. So tart it makes you grin in a funny way. To me this is verging on silly. Are we thinking this should be awesome in 10 years? Perhaps but only if balance is good which I find isn't its strongest game...
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The wine is clear, with pale garnet-ruby color, and watery rims. On the nose the wine is clean, with medium plus aroma intensity of wild forest berries, mineral notes, plums, sweet spices, earthiness notes, fresh green herbs. On the palate the wine is dry, with medium plus acidity, medium ripe tannins, medium body, medium plus alcohol, medium plus flavors of black and red ripe fruits, strawberries jam, sour cherries, mineral notes, fresh green herbs, almost salty. The wine is of a very good quality, due to its long finish, and complexity. It is appealing, vibrant and fruit driven at time of tasting, but can also benefit from further aging, in order to develop more of the secondary aromas it is having in its potential.
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Tasting Ground official tasting, Felton Road part 1: 2018 Pinot Noir (Oinoscent): The wines shows fine, delicate and warm fruit, ripe currant and strawberry, a few spices. The wine is smooth and airy, light body with fresh red fruit, a bit smoky, earthy, medium acidity and long finish. A nice intro in the Felton Road's pinot noir world
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Given its price, this was one of the most disappointing wines this year, although I concede it is young and could yet develop in many directions. My main problem is that the wine had almost no nose, even though it sat for several hours. On the palate it was velvet smooth and moderately rich. At first, very pleasant red fruit predominated, but later not so nice black fruit took over and eventually it developed a candy/medicinal quality. I have the Calvert, Block 5 and others in my cellar and hope I have not spent in vain. This wine was overpriced judging by today's assessment. As the years roll on, however, it could well be a different story.
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Light medium ruby color. Medium perfumed nose of fresh red fruits and hint of clove. Dry, rounded acidity, structured tannins, on the palate juicy strawberry, redcurrant, hint of cedar and spice. Medium and smooth body. Great balance. Medium long finish. Freshness with maturity. 93(1). GUESS EX-FR PN 2018. RESULT NZ FELTON ROAD 2018 (5).
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Pale purple,medium rose,strawberry,liquorice,ripe fruit,candy,earth,dry,medium(+) acidity,ripe medium(-) tannin,low alcohol,medium(-) body,medium finish,very good wine,suitable for bottle ageing
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tight upon opening but blossomed quickly with air, light and transparent appearance, scents of crushed berries, brown sugar and forest floor waft from the glass, softened edges, velvety texture, fruit-driven but not overdone, nuances of black tea and mineral mix with the dark berry and spice flavors to create a pleasant experience, overall elegant and juicy
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deep dark burgundy red, medium to little clarity, ruby hue Nose: blackberry, black cherry, plum, earth, clove, violets, black pepper, green herbs, tannins, smoke, oak Pal: blackberry, black cherry, plum, cinnamon, fennel, wet earth, violets, black pepper, silver, green herbs, smoke, tannins, oak Feel: medium, savory Finish: medium T8 (could be a 7)
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Extremely beautiful and elegant- very primary and could use some time, but already delicious. VERY similar in both quality and style to Two Paddocks' 'Last Chance' Pinot 2017 (another Otago), even with this Bannockburn coming from a warmer site and being a full point higher in ABV.
Quite powerful, fresh, higher-toned cool climate red Pinot fruit on nose, raspberry, even cranberry before relaxing a bit into red cherries. The nose is an interesting contrast of sweetness (some candied fruit melding with oak, almost like jordan almonds with the ripe cherry), and stemmy, floral, earthy tones; wet stone, toasted sesame seeds, subtle pepper. The nose was a touch more explosively powerful in the Two Paddocks, but a touch more mineral here.
Palate is really similar to the nose, bright red cherry, but less ripeness showing, much more intensely mineral, almost an herbal bitterness which I didn't love as much (only a minor downside- still plenty of great fruit). Good medium-plus acidity, could even use more, but not truly necessary. The strangest part of the whole experience was the tannic texture, which showed up as a sort of creamy coating in the mouth. Really cool stuff. Day 2 showed even more present minerality and tannic structure, but I liked the intensity of the nose more on day 1.
Seems to be very ageable and I can see why they're a respected producer.
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Clear pale ruby/garnet; clean medium plus nose of ripe red cherries, soil, wood, hint of fresh strawberries and animal; dry; medium plus acidity; medium tannins; medium plus alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus flavour intensity; pfn; long finish; delicious wine - we see what the fuss is all about
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1st Reopening Wine Dinner Celebration @ CHL!: This is definitely young still but enjoyable already. I would keep away for 3 more years thought. Notes to come
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No notes taken. Cool climate Pinot Noir with fruit and savory notes. Medium body and tannin; concentrated palate. Good length layered sweet spicy finish and slight rustic character.
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Roasted, rich in a lush style, very sexy and charming with an abundance of fruit that really stays with you. Too easy to drink, too easy to love. Young, but approachable. #test
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Very friendly and approachable despite its very young vintage. The wine is made to be consumed almost immediately after bottling. Mushroom, earth, red cherry, strawberries. Medium acidity and tannin. A good for everyday drinking wine.
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The current release Felton Road Bannockburn Chardonnay and Pinot Noir: Felton Road's entry level Pinot Noir is a blend of four vineyards (Elms, MacMuir, Calvert and Cornish Point). Aged for 13 months in 27% new French oak barrels with 20% whole clusters (making a positive contribution to complexity). Under screwcap. A bottle drunk over three evenings, during which it did not change. Good bright ruby. Lifted spice and rose floral notes entwine with primary blackberry and dark cherry fruit aromas, earth, dry brushwood and garrigue. A hint of strawberries on the lovely bouquet. A savoury, brambly, lighter bodied entry to the palate. More savoury and umami flavours across the mid palate and relatively long finish. Cherries, spices, dried herbs and bonfire smoke. Silky but sappy, quite succulent. Fine grained tannins. It'd be interesting to watch this wine develop over the next 3-7 years. Elegant and ethereal. Impressive!
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Served at lunch during President Obama's talk in Singapore. Simple, clearly new world, but this was well made and very pleasant. The nose had a nice mix of modern dark cherry, sweet red berry fruit and floral aromas infused with a good bit of dried earth and lifted spice aromas, then just a touch of bramble and a bit of toasty oak. A touch sweet and obvious, but attractive. I liked it a touch more on the palate than on the nose. There was still a bit of candied sweetness on the attack that threw me off slightly, but otherwise the wine had a nice round sappiness to its flavours of red cherries and berries, again seasoned with a proper burst of pepper and wood spice. Mid weight, but tannins were fine, and acidity decent, giving a nice sense of juicy balance and structure, and a grippy length to the wine as it moved its way into a slightly more savoury, earth-infused finish. It is still a baby, showing very primary fruit and flavours, but I liked what this wine had - simple, but yummy, and one that should improve with 4-5 years in the bottle.
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During a walkabout tasting with very small pours, so only brief impressions. Consistent as always with an expressive nose of dark and red fruit, toast and sweet spices, polished palate. Continues to be one of my favorite Pinots outside of France.
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Blend of the 4 estate vineyards , 20% whole bunch , 27% new French oak , 13 months in oak , unfined and unfiltered
Popped and poured Colour deep ruby red with purple hues , pink edges translucent 15/15 Nose med intensity dark red cherry and dark red rose petals , spice, dried herbs, beautiful balance and early complexity 28/30 Palate med bodied like vely texture and silken mouthfeel , cherries ,plum, perfect balance 42/44 Overall Sensational drinking , so good now , why buy anything else 10/11 24 hours later , even more silky
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3/13/2024 - foyfrcs Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pale garnet.
Lots of sweetness on the nose & palate.
Red cherries ,apples, spice on the palate.
Very good wine, first bottle of a case so it will be interesting to see how it evolves
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1/27/2024 - Kiranonwine wrote:
Still very closed. After a full day opens up strawberry, blueberry, black cherry, sandalwood, baking spice, clove, hint of vanilla, forest floor and earth, touch of coco. Concentrated and delicious but needs a few more years.
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12/8/2023 - Dsen wrote: 96 Points
Beautiful
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10/30/2023 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fairly consistent with my previous note, but everything was just a bit more polished and put together in this bottle. The fruit was very spicy, but full of depth and elegance.
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8/28/2023 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Surprisingly well developed for its age given the screwcap. There was an earthy, savoury maturity with some leather and sous bois, but the punchy cherry and rhubarb fruit is the star here. Hints of Christmas spice lurk on the back palate, this is decidedly New World but very much in the style of Pommard.
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8/4/2023 - honest bob wrote: 90 Points
From 75cl screwcap, opened but not decanted 1 hour, no change in glass. Surprisingly mature colour with orange reflexes. The taste profile is also fully mature, but more vivid than the bottle recorded here on 15.06.2023. Consommé, lovely bright red berry fruit, gentle acidity, no tannins to speak of. A bit one-dimensional and thin, but allowing for that the material is excellent, like a village Chambolles-Musigny from a really good producer... at age 15-20, that is. The speed with which these Felton Roads mature is a little alarming. 89-90P
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7/15/2023 - Jimothy Brown Likes this wine: 92 Points
A great tasting Pinot. Quite soft and earthy with a rhubarb lick of acidity. Complex enough to be a notch above the usual suspects.
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6/15/2023 - honest bob wrote: 88 Points
From 75cl screwcap, opened but not decanted 1 hour. Indistinct aromatics. Soft, fuzzy entrry. Mid-palate has a mealy texture, the fruit, acidity and sweetness lacking the focus I expected from FR. All in all, this tastes oddly disjointed, its individual elements not coming together (yet?) Perhaps better next year? 88P(?)
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4/3/2023 - DrZett wrote: 92 Points
This single vineyard Pinot Noir is unfiltered, unfined and aged for 13 months in French oak (27% new).
Nice notes of ripe red cherries, some strawberries, flint stone and some cedar. Soft earthy notes in the background. Nice and fresh acidity. Tannins are soft. More on the earthy side than fruit driven. Good complexity and depth. Great overall balance. The finish is medium long and refreshing.
It’s young, but it’s already drinking nicely. Probably a bit better in 2-3 years. (IG)
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3/9/2023 - Gone with the wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sharp raspberry and redcurrant, slight bramble and earthy aromas. Rounded and smooth mouthfeel with lengthy finish
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2/26/2023 - Costes76 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fresh, crunchy, primary red fruits, light oak.
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1/6/2023 - theboot Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really like this. Sweet cherry, strawberry, mushroom, and wet earth on the nose. Firm acidity, great texture, soft tannins, balanced, lengthy finish. Maybe a few years early but I don’t regret it. First time trying this producer.
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2/13/2022 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 90 Points
Long awaited acquaintance with this cult NZ producer. Wine was not fined nor filtered, then aged for 13 months in FR oak barriques (27% new). Medium pale ruby colour. Medium intensity aroma with great mineral backbone, notes of cherries, leather, stones, smoke, flint and mushroom hints. Medium body, feels fleshy, leathery and earthy with medium light density, bright acidity, mellow extra fine tannins and lengthy finish with a tat of bitterness.
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1/19/2022 - Jay A wrote: 93 Points
Had the 2018 Felton Road Calvert not too long ago, and I like the Bannockburn slightly better. I think the Bannockburn has more depth and nuance than the Calvert. There's both sweet and tart cherry - red and dark. Strawberry juice too. Stony mineralogy, wet earth and a tinge of dried herbs. The wine is exuberant while also being balanced. I think it has just entered its drinking window and probably has a good 10-15 years of developing.
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1/14/2022 - HowardNZ Likes this wine:
2019 Visit to Cromwell (Central Otago, NZ): Blair noted that 20 components went into making this cuvée, mainly in fairly neutral oak (mainly 4 – 5 year old barrels, 27% new). Whole cluster 20%. An attractive bouquet of raspberries, red cherries, red plums and touches of black fruit with notes of fennel. In the mouth, a more red fruited expression that I would normally expect from this cuvée. Fine grained tannins. I liked this Bannockburn …
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12/25/2021 - J_H Likes this wine: 91 Points
- no decanting
- Nose: Medium + intense, youthful aromas of strawberries and fresh raspberries, candy floss and some sweet, candied red fruits. Plus lots of ash, smoky nuances that are probably typical for New Zealand.
- Palate: Although Pinot can be a bit lean in itself, the Felton Road comes across as mouth-filling and integrated. A medium + animating acidity and ripe, medium tannins characterise the wine. Compared to many Burgundies, this has less fruit ripeness but a layer of stony, smoky flavours. The finish is a little too short.
- Can be drunk nicely now, still has potential (rather five than ten years).
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10/6/2021 - GeoCab wrote: 91 Points
Obviously this is a fairly polarizing wine based on the comments noted herein. I have no how WS rated this as the 14th best wine in the world (I usually like WS ratings). I drank this blind with a few friends side-by-side with WS #9 Beaux Freres and not a single person thought this wine was in the same solar system. Having said that, this is an enjoyable wine, like the lingering cherry, elegant finish, low acidity, will likely get better with time. Enjoy peeps!!!
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8/30/2021 - Eriklainen wrote:
Come on!? This race to the most Burgundian new world wine is futile. So tart it makes you grin in a funny way. To me this is verging on silly. Are we thinking this should be awesome in 10 years? Perhaps but only if balance is good which I find isn't its strongest game...
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8/23/2021 - il_diavolo wrote: 89 Points
Decent but not great QPR. Cherry candy, tea, rhubarb with nice interchange between fruit and earthy finish. Pleasant.
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5/26/2021 - Shloly Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine is clear, with pale garnet-ruby color, and watery rims.
On the nose the wine is clean, with medium plus aroma intensity of wild forest berries, mineral notes, plums, sweet spices, earthiness notes, fresh green herbs.
On the palate the wine is dry, with medium plus acidity, medium ripe tannins, medium body, medium plus alcohol, medium plus flavors of black and red ripe fruits, strawberries jam, sour cherries, mineral notes, fresh green herbs, almost salty.
The wine is of a very good quality, due to its long finish, and complexity. It is appealing, vibrant and fruit driven at time of tasting, but can also benefit from further aging, in order to develop more of the secondary aromas it is having in its potential.
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5/26/2021 - kostaslonis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasting Ground official tasting, Felton Road part 1: 2018 Pinot Noir (Oinoscent): The wines shows fine, delicate and warm fruit, ripe currant and strawberry, a few spices.
The wine is smooth and airy, light body with fresh red fruit, a bit smoky, earthy, medium acidity and long finish.
A nice intro in the Felton Road's pinot noir world
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4/24/2021 - Jemby wrote: 77 Points
Given its price, this was one of the most disappointing wines this year, although I concede it is young and could yet develop in many directions. My main problem is that the wine had almost no nose, even though it sat for several hours. On the palate it was velvet smooth and moderately rich. At first, very pleasant red fruit predominated, but later not so nice black fruit took over and eventually it developed a candy/medicinal quality. I have the Calvert, Block 5 and others in my cellar and hope I have not spent in vain. This wine was overpriced judging by today's assessment. As the years roll on, however, it could well be a different story.
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4/22/2021 - beatles wrote: 94 Points
Rich, creamy, elegant and balanced. The fruit is ripe, sweet but in no way to much, this is pinot de luxe, very difficult to hate.
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4/11/2021 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark cherries on the nose. Great mid-palate on dark cherries with some spice and a hint of licorice on the nice ending. Very good.
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4/8/2021 - maxima wrote: 88 Points
Dense et pas mal extrait.
Fraises compotées, cassonade et
poivre blanc. Long avec une légère
chauffe en finale.
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12/21/2020 - Costes76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light medium ruby color. Medium perfumed nose of fresh red fruits and hint of clove. Dry, rounded acidity, structured tannins, on the palate juicy strawberry, redcurrant, hint of cedar and spice. Medium and smooth body. Great balance. Medium long finish. Freshness with maturity. 93(1). GUESS EX-FR PN 2018. RESULT NZ FELTON ROAD 2018 (5).
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12/14/2020 - MarshallLi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pale purple,medium rose,strawberry,liquorice,ripe fruit,candy,earth,dry,medium(+) acidity,ripe medium(-) tannin,low alcohol,medium(-) body,medium finish,very good wine,suitable for bottle ageing
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11/10/2020 - whits Likes this wine: 90 Points
tight upon opening but blossomed quickly with air, light and transparent appearance, scents of crushed berries, brown sugar and forest floor waft from the glass, softened edges, velvety texture, fruit-driven but not overdone, nuances of black tea and mineral mix with the dark berry and spice flavors to create a pleasant experience, overall elegant and juicy
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8/7/2020 - alpara Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice smooth wine
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7/23/2020 - Frijole wrote:
deep dark burgundy red, medium to little clarity, ruby hue
Nose: blackberry, black cherry, plum, earth, clove, violets, black pepper, green herbs, tannins, smoke, oak
Pal: blackberry, black cherry, plum, cinnamon, fennel, wet earth, violets, black pepper, silver, green herbs, smoke, tannins, oak
Feel: medium, savory
Finish: medium
T8 (could be a 7)
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7/22/2020 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Extremely beautiful and elegant- very primary and could use some time, but already delicious. VERY similar in both quality and style to Two Paddocks' 'Last Chance' Pinot 2017 (another Otago), even with this Bannockburn coming from a warmer site and being a full point higher in ABV.
Quite powerful, fresh, higher-toned cool climate red Pinot fruit on nose, raspberry, even cranberry before relaxing a bit into red cherries. The nose is an interesting contrast of sweetness (some candied fruit melding with oak, almost like jordan almonds with the ripe cherry), and stemmy, floral, earthy tones; wet stone, toasted sesame seeds, subtle pepper. The nose was a touch more explosively powerful in the Two Paddocks, but a touch more mineral here.
Palate is really similar to the nose, bright red cherry, but less ripeness showing, much more intensely mineral, almost an herbal bitterness which I didn't love as much (only a minor downside- still plenty of great fruit). Good medium-plus acidity, could even use more, but not truly necessary. The strangest part of the whole experience was the tannic texture, which showed up as a sort of creamy coating in the mouth. Really cool stuff. Day 2 showed even more present minerality and tannic structure, but I liked the intensity of the nose more on day 1.
Seems to be very ageable and I can see why they're a respected producer.
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7/16/2020 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Clear pale ruby/garnet; clean medium plus nose of ripe red cherries, soil, wood, hint of fresh strawberries and animal; dry; medium plus acidity; medium tannins; medium plus alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus flavour intensity; pfn; long finish; delicious wine - we see what the fuss is all about
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6/20/2020 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 91 Points
1st Reopening Wine Dinner Celebration @ CHL!: This is definitely young still but enjoyable already. I would keep away for 3 more years thought. Notes to come
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5/31/2020 - MartinHn wrote: 91 Points
Very nice pinot, with primary red fruits and overall a cooler and elegant feel to it.
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5/14/2020 - Barolo Raymond wrote: 90 Points
No notes taken. Cool climate Pinot Noir with fruit and savory notes. Medium body and tannin; concentrated palate. Good length layered sweet spicy finish and slight rustic character.
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4/21/2020 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Roasted, rich in a lush style, very sexy and charming with an abundance of fruit that really stays with you. Too easy to drink, too easy to love. Young, but approachable.
#test
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3/16/2020 - Sean Tay Likes this wine:
Very friendly and approachable despite its very young vintage. The wine is made to be consumed almost immediately after bottling. Mushroom, earth, red cherry, strawberries. Medium acidity and tannin. A good for everyday drinking wine.
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2/23/2020 - nihraguk Likes this wine: 90 Points
A little ripe and dense but drinkable and decent QPR
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1/10/2020 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 92 Points
The current release Felton Road Bannockburn Chardonnay and Pinot Noir: Felton Road's entry level Pinot Noir is a blend of four vineyards (Elms, MacMuir, Calvert and Cornish Point). Aged for 13 months in 27% new French oak barrels with 20% whole clusters (making a positive contribution to complexity). Under screwcap. A bottle drunk over three evenings, during which it did not change. Good bright ruby. Lifted spice and rose floral notes entwine with primary blackberry and dark cherry fruit aromas, earth, dry brushwood and garrigue. A hint of strawberries on the lovely bouquet. A savoury, brambly, lighter bodied entry to the palate. More savoury and umami flavours across the mid palate and relatively long finish. Cherries, spices, dried herbs and bonfire smoke. Silky but sappy, quite succulent. Fine grained tannins. It'd be interesting to watch this wine develop over the next 3-7 years. Elegant and ethereal. Impressive!
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1/3/2020 - Neras Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fresh and light on its feet. Easy drinker.
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12/15/2019 - Paul S wrote: 90 Points
Served at lunch during President Obama's talk in Singapore. Simple, clearly new world, but this was well made and very pleasant. The nose had a nice mix of modern dark cherry, sweet red berry fruit and floral aromas infused with a good bit of dried earth and lifted spice aromas, then just a touch of bramble and a bit of toasty oak. A touch sweet and obvious, but attractive. I liked it a touch more on the palate than on the nose. There was still a bit of candied sweetness on the attack that threw me off slightly, but otherwise the wine had a nice round sappiness to its flavours of red cherries and berries, again seasoned with a proper burst of pepper and wood spice. Mid weight, but tannins were fine, and acidity decent, giving a nice sense of juicy balance and structure, and a grippy length to the wine as it moved its way into a slightly more savoury, earth-infused finish. It is still a baby, showing very primary fruit and flavours, but I liked what this wine had - simple, but yummy, and one that should improve with 4-5 years in the bottle.
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12/1/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
During a walkabout tasting with very small pours, so only brief impressions. Consistent as always with an expressive nose of dark and red fruit, toast and sweet spices, polished palate. Continues to be one of my favorite Pinots outside of France.
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9/6/2019 - richard.presser Likes this wine: 90 Points
Spicey, clean v.well made. Medium weight, good length. Needs 5+ years
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6/29/2019 - LindsayM Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blend of the 4 estate vineyards , 20% whole bunch , 27% new French oak , 13 months in oak , unfined and unfiltered
Popped and poured
Colour deep ruby red with purple hues , pink edges translucent 15/15
Nose med intensity dark red cherry and dark red rose petals , spice, dried herbs, beautiful balance and early complexity 28/30
Palate med bodied like vely texture and silken mouthfeel , cherries ,plum, perfect balance 42/44
Overall Sensational drinking , so good now , why buy anything else 10/11
24 hours later , even more silky
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