Felton Road Bannockburn Chardonnay 2015 (12 x 750mL), Central Otago, NZ.

Beginning with meticulous site selection and vineyard design in 1991, Felton Road’s story is one of refusal to compromise. A strict 100% estate policy with fully organic and biodynamic viticulture ensures that the fruit arrives at the winery as pure as it can be, whilst the entire estate comes as close to true sustainability as is possible. A commitment to hands off winemaking: gravity flow, wild yeasts, wild malo, an avoidance of fining and filtration all help preserve the wine’s expression of its terroir. No additions or adjustments are performed unless they absolutely need to be. The result is Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir which Felton Road believe express the authenticity and complexity of their unique vineyards.

Felton Road farms three vineyard properties totalling 32 hectares in the Bannockburn sub-region of Central Otago. Meticulous summer management of a single vertical shoot positioned (VSP) canopy ensures even and early fruit maturity. Shoot thinning, shoot positioning, leaf plucking, bunch thinning and harvest are all carried out by hand to ensure optimum quality fruit. Cover crops are planted between rows to assist in vine balance and to improve soil health and general biodiversity.

Winemaker Blair Walter

Winemaker Blair Walter continues to work his magic with the recent releases from Central Otago’s most famous Estate. There’s not a wine less than excellent in the bunch, but these days it would be more of a story if there was. Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate#191 (OCT/2010)