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2018 Felton Road Block 3 Pinot Noir (Screwcap)

Light signs of past seepage

Removed from a temperature and humidity controlled wine cellar

Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

97James Suckling

...powerhouse of ripe red and dark-cherry aromas with striking purity of fruit, framed in sappy freshness...palate is seamless with such long, finely detailed tannin, carrying really supple and meltingly ripe red and dark cherries. A thing of wonder. This has a wildly fresh, lively fruit core that launches up and expands long on the finish. Superb!

93+ The Wine Advocate

...shows as a light, savory wine, with dried flowers and tapenade, brick dust and even saffron. The wine is so textural, the tannins so fine that once again they define the finish.

93Wine Enthusiast

Raspberry and blueberry fruit combine with potpourri spice, vanilla, chocolate and a bit of earthy, Burgundy-style reductive funk. There's a lovely texture on the palate: silky with bright fruit, chalky acidity and a well-structured line of tannins. A slightly oaky astringency that should dissipate over time creeps in on the finish.

92Wine Spectator

Supple and elegant, featuring fresh raspberry and wild strawberry flavors that reveal a thread of cream soda and spice running through. Pretty details of fresh sage, thyme and cinnamon linger on the finish.

17.5+ Jancis Robinson

Dark and rocky aroma of earthy red cherries. Greater density here than on the Cornish Point, darker, more mineral and less saline. Elegant restraint. Totally embryonic but the tannins are super-fine already.

REGION

New Zealand, Otago

Otago, also referred to as Central Otago, is one of the world’s most southern wine producing regions. Located in the interior of the southern end of New Zealand’s South Island, it includes about 5,000 vineyard acres, nearly 70% of which are planted to Pinot Noir. The remaining acres are planted to Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. Most Otago vineyards are at 1,000 feet above sea level and are exposed to wide daily temperature swings. Days are hot and nights are cold. Summers are dry but substantial snows are normal in winter. Europeans moved to the area in the 1860s during a rush to find gold, and the first grape vines were planted by a French gold miner who decided it might be lucrative to make wine. Serious commercial wine production didn’t start until the mid-20th century, however, and most expansion has come since the 1990s. In 1996 there were 11 wineries in Otago; today there are nearly 100.

TYPE

Red Wine, Pinot Noir

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.

VINTAGE

2018 Felton Road Block 3 Pinot Noir (Screwcap)