Felton Road Pinot Noir Cornish Point 2023

Felton Road is a biodynamic benchmark in Central Otago, with winemaker Blair Walter vinifying block by block to show each site's character. Cornish Point is a 7.6-hectare vineyard sitting just metres from the glacial river on windblown loess over alluvial gravel, with very high calcium content in the soils. The river moderates temperatures, and the soils soften the acidity and fruit expression, so it makes the softest, fruitiest and most inviting of the single-block Pinots. The fruit is certified biodynamic (Demeter), the winery is gravity-flow so grapes are gently destemmed without pumping, and there is no fining or filtering.

The result is elegant and stylish, a lighter-on-its-feet wine than its stablemates. Dried lavender, sandalwood, cherry, raspberry and cocoa lead, with balsamic, spice and dried strawberry, and the palate is silky and savoury, with fine, polished tannins, a salty note and a lengthy finish.