Overview
A powerful and complex Pinot Noir from Block 3 in Felton Road’s The Elms Vineyard, Bannockburn. Planted largely to vines now around 33 years old, Block 3 produces a deeply structured expression marked by dark fruit, savoury detail, fine tannin and impressive ageing potential. Cameron Douglas MS awarded the 2025 vintage 97 points.
Vineyard
Block 3 sits on a gentle north-facing slope in the heart of The Elms Vineyard in Bannockburn, Central Otago. A deep bench of silt soil is interspersed with calcareous seams. Detailed canopy management, shoot thinning, leaf plucking, bunch thinning and harvest are all carried out by hand, while cover crops between the rows support vine balance, soil health and biodiversity.
Vintage
Abundant rainfall in September and October replenished soil-water reserves before a severe katabatic frost struck the vineyards on 3 November. Because the frost occurred early, many vines were able to recover, while favourable flowering and fruit set helped compensate for losses. A prolonged dry summer with even temperatures slowed ripening and concentrated flavour. The three components of Block 3 were harvested from 3 to 13 April, with the measured finish to the season contributing breadth, harmony and finesse.
Winemaking
Fruit was gently destemmed by gravity directly into open-top fermenters without pumping, with 25% retained as whole clusters. Traditional fermentation with a moderately long maceration on skins developed colour, tannin and considerable depth of flavour.
The wine matured for 13 months in French oak barrels from Burgundian coopers, with 28% new oak. Indigenous yeast was used, and the wine was bottled without fining or filtration.
Producer Tasting Notes
“The age of the vines (mostly 33 years) contributes to the diverse and complete aromatics – led by dark fruits, hints of leather and complexing earthy notes. Flavours are similarly complex with the mouthfeel holding its power in check for the finish. The transparency of the fruit is seasoned with its textbook dried herbs, giving a lovely counterpoint before the finish roars in; a tidal wave of rich chocolate and tannin. An object lesson in ‘Peacock’s Tail’.”
Critic Reviews
97 / 100 — Cameron Douglas MS
“Elegant and complex, an urgent power and frame of red berry fruits and wild flowers, fresh and vibrant, varietal and enticing. A fantastic wine with core textures of finely polished tannin … Lengthy, taut and poised for ageing.”
Tasted August 2026
Producer
Felton Road farms four estate properties in the Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago under a strict 100% estate-grown philosophy. Its vineyards are certified organic by BioGro and biodynamic by Demeter. The winery follows a hands-off approach based on gravity flow, indigenous yeasts and minimal intervention, with an emphasis on preserving the individual character of each vineyard.
Specifications
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Vintage: 2025
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Grape: Pinot Noir
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Country: New Zealand
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Region: Central Otago
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Subregion: Bannockburn
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Vineyard: The Elms Vineyard — Block 3
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Viticulture: Certified Organic and Biodynamic; hand harvested
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Whole Cluster: 25%
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Fermentation: Open-top fermentation with indigenous yeast
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Maturation: 13 months in French oak barrels
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New Oak: 28%
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Fining / Filtration: Unfined and unfiltered
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Drinking Window: 2033–2043 (Cameron Douglas MS)
