Felton Road, Calvert Pinot Noir, Central Otago

Brodie WT: Also, beautiful and in a great window.

2013 vintage

Had with the 2021 Burn Cottage Pinot Noir Sauvage Vineyard and 2023 Prophets Rock Pinot Noir Olearia… low extraction with lightest depth of color. aromatically very red fruited, cranberry, red cherry, intensely floral, stoney minerallity, subtle oak spice. on the palate perfection really, loads of fresh acids transition seamlessly to a lush pinot mid palate which transitions seamlessly into a low amount of perfectly integrated, very fine tannins and low to moderate alcohol. Wow. My 1/3 drink or hold. Focus …

2022 vintage

This is the experience I wanted with the recent 2009 Felton Road Block 3 I opened. Under screwcap, the Calvert was evolved and fully mature while very much alive and enjoyable. This bottle in refrigerated storage since purchase on release. Around 2009 was when I started to recognise the growing quality of the Felton Road Calvert vineyard, so now I see it as on the same quality level as the Block 3 and 5 vineyards, just with its own unique …

2009 vintage

Under screwcap. In refrigerated storage since purchase on release. Still drinkable - and better with food - but not drinking as an older Block 3 should. I don’t know whether this is a bottle-specific issue or more general, but that would be surprising given the recent positive reviews on CellarTracker.

2009 vintage

Briney but also deep, dark fruits, unctuous, cinnamon, ginger... in the mouth, deep red and dark fruits, nice medium tannins balanced with the acid and fruits... some jammy, cinnamon and red berry flavours... so good. Just delicious, well balanced CO pinot... easily another 5-10 years. Will be interesting in 5 years.

2022 vintage

2022 Felton Road Chardonnays and Pinots with Winemaker Blair Walter (K&L Wines, San Francisco) : Same color as the Bannockburn. Baked fruit aromas. Medium weight. Sappy ripe red fruit with a hint of citrus. Beautiful soil/fruit balance and excellent acidity. Some stems show up late and are not yet full interwoven. Give it another 3 to 5 years, although the fruit is pretty succulent at present.

2022 vintage

Pinot of the world blind tasting! 5 Pinot noir wines from different regions all tasted blind. I was hoping to add a Pinot from South Africa but it didn't arrive in time. The way they came out in the tasting was: Wine 1: Dujac Morey St.Denis 2021 Wine 2: Farrside by Farr 2019 Wine 3: Cristom Louise Vineyard 2021 Wine 4: Felton Road Calvert 2022 Wine 5: Vincent Pinard Charlouise 2019 Here are the notes for the Felton Road: 2nd …

2022 vintage

Superb expression of Central Otago Pinot. Refined, savoury, beautifully balanced fruit, which is ripe but not at all candied. Long, modulated finish. While still young and primary, the edges have moderated into a supple wine that is absolute approachable now.

2022 vintage

On the darker side. The house spice mixed with lush fruit. Strawberries on the nose and finish. My style of pinot noir, and to me, this is Felton Road’s finest offering yet. Thanks, Blair and the team!

2022 vintage

Blind Pinot Noir Tasting and Lunch (San Francisco) : Light ruby. Mellow, complex nose. Medium- weight. Supple, fluid, wonderful fruit/soil balance, bright orange peel acidity, and moderate remaining tannins. Also delicious-I love the verve and harmony. Should continue at this outstanding level for another decade.

2009 vintage

Second wine from Felton - really enjoyed bannockburn prev - the Calvert is much heavier in comparison - medium to full body, strong fruits, spice and herbs/floral. I can taste strawberry and theres a very distinct taste that I have never tasted in other wines before, maybe pomegranate? Tannins is present but not overpowering. Overall a good wine that will likely taste much better in a couple more years (with resolved tannins).

2022 vintage

New Zealand Trip; 2/10/2024-2/24/2024 : Lighter color. More floral nose with some soil. Lighter bodied, prominent herb and earth in the mouth. The fruit is more red berry than cherry, and it gains sneaky sweetness as it opens. Tangy, a twist of citrus, grippy tannins, and clinging soil finale. Not a big wine but very subtle, refined, and well constructed for significant aging. Love the finesse here.

2022 vintage

A meaty base of dried meat, herbal dimension of menthol, sour cherry fruit. Pretty intense with cool minerality, but unfortunately also a tad of heat - albeit at elevated room temperature. On the palate lots of fresh acidity with hardly perceptible tannin. Decent and great to drink, but so far I would still prefer the more recent vintages like 2018 and 2020.

2015 vintage

Wow, this was great from the start, very much like a top Vosne Premier Cru with cured meat, spices, farmyard fund and red fruit. Great freshness, palate presence and long finish. Excellent showing.

2015 vintage

No Proper note as drunk with friends over dinner but very good with plenty of time left

2013 vintage

Side by side tasting of the Calvert 2020 vs 2015. The 2020 (rated 95tps) is miles ahead of the 2015 (90 pts). Intense, expressive, layered with a superb purity and bright red fruit along some earthy minerality and stems embedded in a very fine structure with the right amount of velvety tannins and texture and a good acidic backbone. The 2015 on the other hand, shows simpler, without any red berries but a less well-defined darker fruit potpourri and more …

2015 vintage

Als always from Felton Road, excellent Pinot here, fragrant, with red fruit and spice, elegant palate, polished tannins. Good but I found this one a little more diluted vs. other plots I had from this estate.

2015 vintage

Excellent , on a level with Burgundies 10x price; lovely nose and fruit, excellent balance; subtle sweetness , but not overwhelming.

2015 vintage

Under screwcap. Brilliant wine, slowly entering maturity; deep, dark fruit, mixed with fresh strawberries, good spice, hints of sous bois, world class Pinot.

2013 vintage

Deep colour. Sweet red berries and soft gamey notes. Black and red berries, forest floor complexity, Otago sweetness and fruit intensity, big boned structure, acidity and tannins are present but not disjointed. Feels like it has quite a few years ahead. Just the right amount of earth for me at this point.

2009 vintage

Phenomenal. Stunning nose and incredible depth. Drink now. "I would only like to drink this Pinot Noir from now on" - KB.

2015 vintage

Fantastic today, warm, spicy and mature!

2009 vintage

Compare to block 5, Calvert has more floral and herbals notes, with some wet earth. Still dense fruity core, smooth tannins, medium body, a classic Central Otago! Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 5+3/10 Total 93/100

2015 vintage

Dep cherry red, light rim. Black and red fruits, cherry pip zest, very lightly earthy. Black cherry, and cherry stone sour zest, slightly coarse tannins, plenty of acidity. Some nice aged complexity of figs, undergrowth, damson sweetness. Dark edged, fruitsweet, very Otago, tasty stuff.

2009 vintage

Excellent Pinot noir. Floral and herbal notes. Cherry and strawberry fruit as well. Slight forest/pine flavours as well. Left it to breathe for about an hour and improved significantly. Very soft tannins and moderately light body but flavours are still rich.

2015 vintage

Wonderful floral perfume, with a hint of savory earth / herb. Beautifully balanced, great purity and length. Very enjoyable. Tasted alongside 2014 Two Paddocks Fusilier, which seemed too reductive and heavy & lethargic in comparison.

2015 vintage

Bought £65.00 Lay and Wheeler UK online 2018. Decanted 6 hrs before tasted at home, kitchen temp. 14.5% alc Calvert vineyard is a "no chemicals" vineyard. Food : had with roast duck C....looked med+ body N...alc and attractive spices, decent fruit T.....wonderfully intense flavours but with elegance and balance, impressive length with powerful end, warm alc; a little tar, a little baccy; very classy PN, fresh cleansing acid at 7 yrs old. Soft easy floury tannins, plenty of charm. Not …

2013 vintage

Single vineyard - Calvert 25% whole bunch and matured for 16 months in French oak. as are all Felton Road Pinots 13.5% alc Colour deep ruby - garnet , translucent, dark red /black hues pink to clear edges 15/15 Nose med intensity Perfumed florals of violets and dried herbs - thyme , with red and dark cherry fruit notes, ripe strawberry, meaty cedar and vanilla spice and savoury around mas Fabulous complexity and balance 28/30 Palate med+ bodied , the …

2015 vintage

Magnum format. Not bad for new world Pinot Noir but certainly still has the cherry cola, sweet red fruits on both nose and palate. Need time for oak to further integrate.

2009 vintage

From a magnum. Citrus, cherry cola, raspberries and orange peel on the nose. Palate had a balanced ripeness for a new world pinot but the oak was too dominant at this age. Hopefully the wood will integrate.

2009 vintage

Sweet fruit. Clearly New World pinot. Dusty and earthy. Savory. Smooth texture. Fairly opulent and generous.

2009 vintage

Initially very tart, but came around after an hour or so to dense plush cherry - well balanced with some stems still showing good - but wish i had decanted for an hour

2009 vintage

Drinking beautifully right now. Totally integrated flavours. Dominant plum thread that morphs into a long pepper finish which I’ve never encountered in a Pinot before. Has the weight and bearing of an elegant cool climate Shiraz.

2013 vintage

Opened yesterday. Garnet with good legs. Beautifully expressive nose on this, with red fruits in abundance. Black cherries. Richly fruited in the mouth as well. Good presence and persistence. 5-13-16-9: 93/100.

2015 vintage

Shy nose, but massive palate - red fruit intertwined with baking spices. Fuller in the mouth and quite a surprise for me since all the wines that I’ve tried from FR were more on the elegant, silky side of the page. Definitely a food wine and a heavy duty one at that.

2015 vintage

Very nice pinot that has a fragrant fruit driven nose, silky texture and beautifully balanced finish. Decent complexity with black tea notes accenting the black cherry and purplish fruit.

2009 vintage

Memory is a bit hazy (no notes). But I seem to remember this is a well made PN with red fruit, vanillin, baking spices, and a touch of thyme. Some sappy notes. Somewhat fruit forward for me, but others seemed to enjoy without reservations.

2015 vintage

Clear, perfect mauve with a light pink rim, but cannot see the legs/tears due to improper vessel. Clean, med+ intensity, cooked blueberries, merino cherries, violets, red licorice, and coffee grinds. Dry, med- body, med- acidity, med- tannins, med- alcohol, with further tastes of dark figs, cranberries, a whiff of rhubarb, cooked tomatoes and elegant dark chocolate. Perfect balance and a wonderful finish. Elegant, feminine and nicely softened.

2009 vintage

The most balanced of the six NZ Pinots on the night for me, albeit just a touch on the sweet side.

2009 vintage

Deep garnet. Intense bouquet with a very sweet tone after 1-2 hours. Strong fruits and high in alcohol. Low in acidity. Short finish. Very NZ. Well-made anyway but can't see any further improvement.

2009 vintage

Dark cherry colour. Rich nose of raspberry, dark cherries, black plums, dark chocolate, allspice and game. The palate is concentrated yet with very good line and grip provided a lovely touch of lightness and transparency that has appeared with age. Very well balanced and interesting on the finish. A lovely Central Otago pinot.

2009 vintage

Calvert Vineyard is a mix of 3 Pinot Clones B667, B777, B115 Colour quite dark garnet edges pink to bricking 15/15 Nose good intensity of aromas dark fruit end of the spectrum dark cherry , dark chocolate savoury at the same time 28/30 Palate fruit flavours of plums , dark cherry , forest floor mushrooms ,savoury, rich still a tannic /acid. kick there as well 41:44 Overall masculine style at its peak now , suit dark red meats ie venison …

2009 vintage

light medium red, lots of clarity, silvery hue Nose: raspberry, strawberry, clove, earth, chocolate, vanilla, green herbs Pal: raspberry, strawberry, earth, clove, chocolate, vanilla, silver, green herbs, oak Feel: medium, savory, round Finish: medium T7

2015 vintage

Taste of New Zealand - 2017 : Toasty oak, stalk, blackcurrant, plum, cherry and roses on the nose. The palate is quite ripe in style but it also has very good structure and as a result seems to have good balance. Seems to be really well put together, not yet complex but I think it'll get there.

2009 vintage

Prominent cherry cola flavors. A bit lacking in complexity, drink up.

2009 vintage

Medium bodied. Cherry cola and pomegranate flavors with thin tannins on finish. Ok, but disappointing given its $70 price point.

2009 vintage

Neutral; great nose but, not remarkable taste.

2013 vintage

Medium red color; aromatic, strawberry, raspberry, light toast, floral nose; delicious, delicate, strawberry, raspberry, light toast, floral palate with good balancing acidity; could use 1-2 years; medium-plus finish (14% alcohol)

2015 vintage

New Zealand London Annual Trade Tasting (Lindley Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls) : Spicier, caramel, cinnamon, clean red fruit with some toasty notes sitting in the back. The palate is again quite lovely, showing red fruit, spices, nice acidity, round and attractive, nicely balanced and structured, med body and med to long finish

2015 vintage

Delicious, better than a year ago, acid has calmed a bit but is still present. Quite a weighty Pinot.

2013 vintage

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Felton Road, Calvert Pinot Noir, Central Otago

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