2020 Felton Road Calvert Pinot Noir

Felton Road is located in Bannockburn, Central Otago, New Zealand, the most Southern wine growing region in the world. This region is synonymous with 'Winemaking on the edge'. The fact is that a cat and mouse game is regularly played with the monarch. The fragmented vineyards nestle in small microclimates on slopes surrounded and protected by high mountains, many of which remain capped with snow all year round. Since the domain's inception in 1991, the Felton Road wines have enjoyed overwhelming success. The cellar door on the sympathetic small domain is closed for more than half of the year due to 'sold out'. Together with Ata Rangi from Martinborough, Felton Road was awarded 'grand cru' status at the Pinot Noir Conference in Wellington in January 2010. Remarkably, the title 'grand cru' was chosen by wine professionals. Great class, wines with a lot of refinement and great Burgundy style to the fullest. Nigel Greening of Felton Road is a passionate winemaker with a clear philosophy: 'A winemaker has a thousand ways to make a wine 'better'. But better than who or what? "It has taken us more than a decade to gradually harmonize grape, terroir and our winemaking way." The Pinot Noir of Felton Road is a symbol of the most beautiful and pure that can be obtained from New Zealand. Complex, graceful layering, completely biodynamic. Scarce and limited available!

The Pinot Noir grape bunches are very selectively picked by hand for optimal ripeness. In the vinification cellar, 75% of the grapes are destemmed and crushed, after which they, together with the other bunches, first undergo a cold soak for 5 days in order to get more color and aroma extraction. This is followed by a 2-week spontaneous alcoholic fermentation with wild (grape-specific) yeasts in stainless steel tanks. This is followed by pressing of the grape must and the crossing of the young wine on French oak barriques (30% new) to undergo malolactic fermentation and mature. After 13 months, the wine is bottled without fining or filtering. This entire process follows strict biodynamic rules and regulations.

In the glass, the Felton Road Calvert Pinot Noir has a clear, light ruby red color. In the nose aromas of black cherries, berries, pomegranate, forest floor and pencil sharpening. In the taste palette pure notes of ripe black-red fruit, sage, thyme and something of toast and vanilla, which are accompanied by a long finish with beautiful tannins and lively acids. The Calvert Pinot Noir is floral and spicy on the front, with clear rose petals and thyme aromas. Red berries take the lead on the palate, although there is a resinous spicy note from start to finish.