2011 Felton Road Chardonnay Block 2

Community Tasting Notes (10) Avg Score: 91.6 points

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  3/4/2022 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 93 Points

  This wine was a surprise - but a pleasant one! 2011 for Chardonnay was a cool, wet and unheralded vintage in Bannockburn, Central Otago. I bought some bottles of the Block 2 on release and this was my first one opened. In some ways it reminded me of a Corton-Charlemagne with its interplay of minerals and barrique ... Under screwcap. Some reduction on opening. A bouquet of creamy nectarines, pears and green apples with wet limestone, blanched cashews and spices. For a Felton Road, an unusually high volume of spicy, creamy oak. On palate, rich and full yet piercing acidity and flinty, chalky minerality. Dry and mineral, not at all overtly fruit driven. The nutty, creamy oak is again prominent - 25% new oak, I understand, higher than for a more modern Felton Road Chardonnay - but it works with the fruit and minerality. The alcohol (14% ABV) not obtrusive. Long, finishing on that minerality. Now drinking on a seeming optimal peak.

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  3/13/2020 - RN wrote: 93 Points

  V Light colour given age. Spicy. Fruit and the French oak dominates. Despite multi layers and lovely complexity still tastes new world...well NZ with the accompanying herbaceousness. Aftertaste is So looooong. Great wine with some years ahead.

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  10/31/2019 - kingkanu wrote:

  Very light colour, exuberant nose, cashew with lemon, tangerine, a little creamy, fresh and clean on the palate with a decent finish, very nice and drank this case too soon

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  3/13/2019 - DangerMouse81 Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Persistent wine. Reduced, capsicum, elote, citrus oil. Fresh palate with minerals and wild acidity. Great length and a hint of richness.

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  6/20/2017 - kingkanu wrote: 91 Points

  Cracking Chardonnay with plenty of savoury nutty flavours with citrus acidity and ripe stone fruit and some tropical fruits, nice balance, depth of flavour and a long finish, drinking well now but will be interesting to see how it develops

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View all 10 Community Tasting Notes

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