2022 Felton Road Block 2 Chardonnay

One of Central Otago's most elite Chardonnays from perhaps the region's greatest producers.

Price:
Sale price$80.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship, only 2 units left

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Description

While Pinot Noir gets the bulk of the limelight in Central Otago, the region can pull off exceptional Chardonnay wines also.

The Felton Road Block 2 is one such example.

It's a flinty, tightly wound Chardonnay that shows inward concentration and rapier-like acidity. A touch of salty minerality through the palate and a long, flashy finish - this is top level Chardonnay from a regional icon.

Tasting Note:
Citrus blossom, lemon zest and hallmark
elderflower aromas that are typical from the
lower lying, sheltered and east sloping Block
2. The palate introduces delicate white peach
and melon, leading to a very pure and
restrained mid-palate. It’s fine, elegant and
transparent: the schist soils making their
mark. Indigenous yeast and malolactic, not
fined or filtered, minimal influence of oak (all
as usual), makes for a very precise and site
expressive Chardonnay.

Introduction:
Commencing 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 (BioGro
and Demeter certified) ensures that our fruit arrives at
the winery as pure as it can be, while our entire estate
comes as close to true sustainability as is possible. A
commitment to hands off winemaking: gravity flow,
indigenous yeasts and malolactic, an avoidance of
fining and filtration all help preserve the wine's
expression of its terroir. The result is Riesling,
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir which accurately express
the authenticity and complexity of our unique
vineyards.
Gareth King; Viticulturist, Blair Walter; Winemaker,
Nigel Greening; Proprietor.

Vineyard & Viticulture:
Felton Road farms four properties totaling 34 ha in
the Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago. Block
2 was planted in 1992 and is positioned on a gentle
east facing slope of deep angular schist soils
immediately north of Block 3 on The Elms vineyard.
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.

Vintage:
Regular rainfall throughout spring and early summer
was higher than normal, and along with warmer soil
temperatures, resulted in solid early season growth.
Flowering commenced early in warm and ideal
conditions with a cool spell and rain at the end,
which had a minor effect on fruit set, but mainly
confined to Riesling. A warm and dry January
continued to advance development with veraison
starting early and proceeding rapidly. Early February
rain replenished drying soils and a cooler month was
welcomed to arrest the advanced development. A
return to warm and dry weather from early March
meant grapes ripened quickly during the final stages.
The Chardonnay harvest commenced early on
March 16 and was completed by March 24.

Vinification:
Mendoza clone Chardonnay from Block 2 was whole
bunch pressed, settled overnight and flowed by gravity
to barrel in the underground cellar. Fermentation with
indigenous yeasts in seasoned French oak (only 4%
new) was followed by a long and complete malolactic
over the spring and summer. After 16 months in
barrel (11 months on gross lees), the wine was
carefully racked to tank for bottling in earlySeptember, 2023. The wine was not fined or filtered.

96 Points - "Yellow apple, apricot and acacia followed by baking spices, marzipan and stony minerality with a touch of cheese rind. Medium-bodied with a good backbone of acidity which balances out the wine well. Beautiful harmony and drinkability. Mendoza clone (Wente) on own roots. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap" - James Suckling

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