| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | New Zealand > Central Otago |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
A slightly ripe yet still wonderfully fresh, pure and cool nose features notes of red currant, plum, anise and rose petal along with an interesting hint of tangerine peel. There is a lovely mouth feel to the round, delicious and relatively generous medium-bodied flavors that possess a caressing mouth feel, all wrapped in a velvety, clean and solidly persistent finish. Like the Bannockburn this ever-so-slightly warm effort should repay mid-term cellaring and in particular to develop more depth. Drink: 2021+
A bolder wine that has a little more new oak, some swirling herbs and spices, very complex and concentrated wine here. Bright red cherries, slightly tarry almost, more savory and cryptic with less emphasis on the red fruits. There's a darker cherry thread of fruit, the spices are more evident, the tannins are more legible and they deliver a more succulent, more firmly defined finish. Great depth, balance and smoothly polished texture. Innate balance, effortless and detailed. Very composed. Drink now.
With a little more structure but none of the overt juiciness of the other two wines, Block 3 is a much more thoughtful creature. There is considerable structure here and it is quite different to the Bannockburn and Cornish Point wines in the tempo and delivery of its wares. This is potentially a great wine. It is the first release where I feel the Village, Premier Cru, Grand Cru hierarchy looming into view at Felton Road. Before I was stuck in Village, Premier, Premier Plus mode. The fruit here is noticeably grander than in the other two wines, it is also wilder and more pagan. The oak is more liberally applied and it needs this framework on which to drape its kaleidoscopic fruit. I urge you not to touch this wine for at least five years because at the moment equal and opposite forces are pulling and pushing the detailed Pinot fruit in all directions. When this maelstrom settles I feel confident that you will experience a defining wine in the history of this illustrious estate.
