About This Wine
Felton Road Calvert Pinot Noir is produced from the biodynamic Calvert Vineyard in Bannockburn, Central Otago. The 2024 vintage reflects the estateās commitment to organic farming, meticulous parcel selection and a minimal-intervention winemaking approach designed to preserve vineyard character. The wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts, partially whole-cluster, and matured in French oak using gravity-flow handling and no fining or filtration. It is a structurally defined and estate-pure expression of Bannockburn Pinot Noir.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Lifted red fruits together with florals, spice and subtle savoury notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied fruit purity supported by chalky tannin texture and balanced acidity. The Calvert signature is present in the fine structure, clarity of fruit and subtle mineral undertones. Oak influence remains understated, allowing vineyard expression to lead.
Vineyard Notes
Calvert Vineyard has been farmed organically and biodynamically since 2002, receiving full Demeter certification in 2010 and BioGro certification in 2020. Pruning focuses on controlled yields and open, light-penetrating canopies. Irrigation is applied only when required during dry summer periods. All grapes are hand-picked, with parcels kept separate according to clonal variation, rootstock differences and viticultural trials.
Winemaking
25% whole clusters were retained, with the remainder gently destemmed by gravity. Fermentation occurred with indigenous yeasts after an extended cold soak of 8ā10 days. Hand punch-downs were performed up to three times daily, with total time on skins of 21ā23 days. The wine was pressed and filled to barrel by gravity.
Ageing
Matured for 17 months in French oak barrels, of which 35% were new. No fining or filtration. Two rackings performed before bottling.
About the Producer
Felton Roadās estate philosophy is based on complete control from vineyard to bottle. All vineyards are organic and biodynamic, fully certified, and the winery follows a low-intervention approach: gravity-flow handling, wild fermentation, wild malolactic fermentation, and no fining or filtration. The estateās 100% estate fruit policy ensures purity and precise vineyard expression.
Specifications
- ABV: 13.8%
- Sweetness: Dry
- Maturation: French Oak
- Fermentation: Indigenous
- Unfined & Unfiltered
- Closure: Screwcap
- Winemaker: Blair Walter
- Ownership: Nigel Greening
