TN: 2012 Felton Road Pinot Noir Block 3 (New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago)

WINE TALK
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  • 2012 Felton Road Pinot Noir Block 3 - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago (10/11/2015)
    Chanced upon a lone bottle in a retail shop in Torquay of all places and had to go for it. First Felton Road bottling for moi. Aerated in the glass for about an hour before dinner. Darker ruby. Nose of red raspberry, cinnamon, fecund earth, underbrush, strong floral notes. Dense yet quite poised on the tongue, revealing red and black raspberry, red plum, iodine, and brambles. Driving acidity and powerful but fine tannins. Long, harmonized finish of mulberry fruit laced with grip and earth. Very much made for the long haul yet quite intense and enjoyable even now. (93 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Nice note Doug. It’s quite unusual to find a bottle of Block 3 in a wine shop.

I know that Blair Walter, the winemaker, really rates the vintage, ahead of the 2013, which is more heralded in NZ.

Your impressions were similar to mine a year or so back:

Cheers, Howard

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Howard

Good to know this. I had passed on Felton Road many years ago when it was briefly available in Seattle, and have been kicking myself ever since. Now that I am thoroughly enamored of NZ pinot this was all the more satisfying. Interesting thoughts on the vintage.

Cheers,
Doug