Felton Road Block 5 Classics

I have been collecting Felton Road wines from the early days, and have therefore access to everything. Generally, I have a love/hate relationship with Central Otago Pinot Noir. There is so much fruit upfront, and the follow through is often disappointing. However, Felton Road usually delivers.

I was curious to see how their flagship wine holds up after 10 years. So I opened a 2001 and a 2002 Felton Road Block 5 Pinot Noir. The 2001 still displays concentrated black cherry fruit on the front palate, and it moves seamlessly to forest floor characteristics on the back palate. Overall the wine displays an attractive moorish character. The flavours last, and the wine finishes with silky tannins.

This is a rare, but good example of the benefit of cellaring Pinot Noir for quite some time. It now delivers the complexity built in, not just upfront fruit. I am convinced this wine will still drink well in five years.

Score: 95/++

The 2002 Block 5 is a bit lighter and not as gritty as the 2001. It still shows silky tannins and has a lasting finish.

Score: 94/++