Felton Road Cornish Point Pinot Noir 2023

Felton Road Cornish Point, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2023

Grape: Single Vineyard 100% Pinot Noir. All vineyard work is done by hand. Natural yeast fermentation using 25% whole cluster bunches. Unfined and unfiltered. Aged for 13 months in 25% new French oak barrels from artisan Burgundian coopers. Certified organic and biodynamic.

This wine is from Cornish Point vineyard where the close proximity to Lake Dunstan (surrounded on three sides) creates a unique mesoclimate. Heavy silt soils overlie alluvial gravels interspersed with calcareous seams. 

Winemaker's Tasting Note:

The vivacious fruit and spices are present as always, but are perhaps lighter in tone and more exotic. The palate has a savoury tone, which sits surprisingly well with the usual Cornish Point indulgences: luxurious fruit and exotic woods like Sandalwood, even Lebanon Cedar. The tannins are beautifully balanced and integrated, ever present, but never interfering; just contributing to the overall stature.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"A fabulous bouquet of wild red flowers and ripe dark red berry fruits of raspberry and new season Otago cherries. There’s layers of earth and mineral from sand to white clay then spices from barrel and fruit. A complex an engaging wine on the palate with core flavours of spice and berries, forest flowers and a distinctive mineral earthy complexity. Fine and delicious, taut, and youthful with a fine squeeze and tension. A wine that will stand the test of time in your cellar, look after it. Best drinking from 2030 through 2040"

96/100 points (Outstanding), Cameron Douglas MS, November 2024

"Layered, heady perfume of roses, wild berries and cinnamon bloom on this complex, arrestingly aromatic pinot. Densely concentrated and compact flavours of blackberry coulis and baking spice soak the entire palate in vibrant primary fruit. Submerged cocoa-tinged tannins make an appearance after a fashion. Impressive and intense yet effortless, this is very young, and already so delicious right now, but it will be vastly better with a bit of time in the cellar to gain more complexity"

96/100 points, Stephen Wong, The Real Review, October 2024

Also rated 94/100 points, The Wine Front, October 2024

Pair this wonderful Pinot Noir with roasted duck.