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Red dry
"MacMuir Vineyard" is located just one kilometre east of "The Elms Vineyard". This vineyard, set on a north-facing slope right beneath the hills of Bannockburn Gold Sluicings — today a historic park — captivates with its uniqueness. "Felton Road Winery" presents an impressive and already collectible new single-vineyard Pinot Noir named "MacMuir". The first Pinot Noir from this site in the past 15 years, crafted from the 2021 vintage.
On the nose, the wine reveals aromas of pomegranate, white pepper and sandalwood, with a subtle hint of smoke adding further complexity. The palate is dominated by notes of chocolate, herbs and anise. This wine boasts excellent ageing potential — its quality will remain superb through to 2038.
Serve at 14–16 °C with beef tartare, duck legs or grilled German sausages.
A rather smoky red on the nose with earthy, shiitake mushroom, lead pencil, dark cherry and strawberry aromas and flavors. Full-bodied and layered with lots of cloves and black pepper. Only the second bottling here. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Monday, Oct 23, 2023Screw cap.
Felton Road is a small, family-owned estate that has become one of the most internationally acclaimed producers of New Zealand ‘Pinot Noir’. All of the winery’s vineyards are located in the prestigious Central Otago region, within the north-facing Elms Bannockburn Vineyard. Since 2000, strict organic and biodynamic viticulture standards have been applied here, ensuring maximum terroir expression and sustainability.
Head winemaker Blair Walter honed his experience with ‘Pinot Noir’ in Oregon (USA) and Burgundy, bringing classical winemaking expertise and meticulous attention to detail to Felton Road. All grapes are harvested exclusively by hand. The winery’s unique three-level gravity-flow design, integrated into a hillside, allows all production processes to be carried out without pumps. Fermentation is done only with indigenous yeasts, and the wines are neither fined nor filtered to preserve their natural flavour and structure.
According to renowned wine critic James Suckling, “If Central Otago could be compared to Côte de Nuits, then Bannockburn would be like Vosne-Romanée, and I can confidently say that Felton Road is comparable to the legendary DRC.”
Felton Road wines stand out for their natural purity, precise structure, and exceptional expression of terroir. They are balanced, elegant, and age-worthy.
Red wine – predominantly made from ‘Pinot Noir’. Aromas are dominated by red and black berries, floral notes, and spices. On the palate, soft tannins, fresh acidity, and a long-lasting finish prevail. With age, they develop complex earthy, forest floor, and dried fruit nuances.
White wine – made from ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Riesling’. ‘Chardonnay’ offers minerality, citrus and ripe fruit aromas, and subtle oak influence. ‘Riesling’ is vibrant, fresh, and marked by balance and aromatic purity.
All Felton Road vineyards are farmed biodynamically, maintaining a natural balance between soil, plants, and the environment.
Elms Bannockburn Vineyard – the main source of ‘Pinot Noir’ and ‘Chardonnay’, renowned for its clay, gravel, and limestone soils, which give the wines elegance and structure.
Other Bannockburn parcels – add complexity to the style and provide additional aromatic nuances.
The wines are matured in oak barrels, with the proportion of new oak carefully controlled to avoid overshadowing natural fruit expression. Aging time varies by style – ‘Pinot Noir’ is typically aged for 13–18 months, and ‘Chardonnay’ for about 12 months.
Felton Road wines are delightful to drink young, but the finest ‘Pinot Noir’ examples can gracefully age for 10–15 years, retaining their balance, aromatic depth, and elegance.
