Bannockburn Pinot Noir, Felton Road 2021

Alluringly scented pinot noir with a heady mix of floral and cassis aromas. Intense wine with a medley of cherry/berry characters that gradually unfold as the wine sits in the glass. The seamless texture impresses as does the balance between fruit sweetness and fine-grained tannin. Deliciously approachable, but no rush. This wine just keeps getting better and better.

Very attractive hibiscus with sliced strawberries and orange peel aromas that follow through to a medium body with very fine tannins and a fresh and clean wine. Tangy and succulent fruit. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

The 2021 Bannockburn Pinot Noir is densely packed and powerful on the nose, with a cavalcade of red fruits, exotic spice (moving towards sumac) and peppercorns. In the mouth, the wine is spicy, exciting and full, with ripe fruit through the finish and a lick of raw cocoa. Supple and satisfying, this is a very good, consistent wine. Verging on lusty, it does show some restraint. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

I tasted through a swag of Felton Road wines yesterday with affable winemaker, Blair Walter, all present and correct. There’s a purity and restraint to all the 2021 vintage wines that I find very appealing, and I might even suggest that it’s my favourite release of these wines to date?

Bright, raspberry, spiced strawberry and cherry, but all the red fruits here, a little savoury umami/mushroom thing, and a rosy perfume. Medium-bodied, soft but correct acidity, and a whole lot of charm here, a light fine chew to tannin adds to it all, and the finish is good and long. It’s a pretty wine, and so lovely to drink. I reckon it will show even better in a year or two.

Another fantastic effort, the 2021 Bannockburn offers so much at this price point. Bright ruby in the glass, the nose has an ethereal, lifted quality to elevate it above the typically dark-fruited wines of Central Otago. Offering scented cherry blossom, strawberry, rosemary and sage, this is layered and complex already. The palate has a great sense of finesse, the tannins ever-present but soft, ripe and measured. They melt into the wine, allowing the fruit and spice to shine. There is real oomph, an intensity of red fruit, dried herbs and peppery spice, with an almost saline quality to give just enough tension. Approachable now, the lipsmacking freshness and long finish suggest it will drink well for over a decade.