Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2024

The Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2024 stands as the purest expression of Felton Road’s four estate vineyards—Cornish Point, Calvert, MacMuir, and The Elms—each contributing layers of fruit, texture, and structure to a seamless whole. It captures the essence of Bannockburn’s schist-based soils and cool alpine climate: poised, perfumed, and deeply complex.

Founded in 1991, Felton Road has become synonymous with precision viticulture and biodynamic integrity, holding BioGro, Demeter, and B Corp certifications, as well as membership in the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA). Every step—from cover cropping to hand-picking—is designed to maintain balance and biodiversity. In the winery, gravity flow, wild fermentation, wild malo, and avoidance of fining or filtration preserve the integrity of the vineyard voice.

The 2024 growing season was warm and dry, with a successful flowering and even fruit set. Dry conditions persisted through January and February, yielding small berries of high concentration and tannin density. The harvest (19 March–9 April) was defined by cool night temperatures, preserving acidity and purity.

Tasting Note
A potpourri of dark petals and Indian spice lifts from the glass, followed by layers of black cherry, plum, and forest floor. The palate is deep and concentrated, balanced by savoury and earthy complexity, and finishing long with silky, chocolate-laden tannins. The four vineyards unite to deliver the classic Bannockburn profile: ripe fruit energy, structure, and sensual texture.

Small-Batch Detail

• Region: Bannockburn, Central Otago

• Vineyards: Cornish Point, Calvert, MacMuir, The Elms

• Viticulture: Certified Organic & Biodynamic (BioGro & Demeter)

• Fermentation: Indigenous yeast, gravity-fed open-top fermenters

• Whole Cluster: 20%

• Maceration: Moderately long, gentle extraction

• Oak Maturation: 13 months in French oak (20% new)

• Fining/Filtration: None

• Alcohol: 13.5%

• Harvest Dates: 19 March – 9 April 2024

• Cellaring: Drink 2025–2038

Expert Reviews
⭐ 96 Points – Bob Campbell MW

“This wine makes my heart beat faster. Delicate yet powerful, ethereal but harmonious. A beautifully nuanced array of flavours displayed like the colours on a peacock’s tail, lingering long after the last sip.”

⭐ 95 Points – James Suckling

“Pure aromas of strawberries, orange peel, sandalwood, and potpourri. Medium-bodied with firm yet fine tannins and a crisp, delicious finish. So attractive now, with just the right amount of tension. From organically grown grapes.”

Fine Pinot Note
A benchmark Bannockburn Pinot Noir—complex, elegant, and deeply satisfying. The 2024 Felton Road shows both grace and depth, balancing dark cherry fruit with exotic spice and mineral tension. A world-class expression of Central Otago Pinot, best paired with duck, venison, or mushroom risotto.

Central Otago, New Zealand

(Image source from Misha's vineyard, Central Otago)

Central Otago has quickly established itself as ground zero for Pinot Noir in New Zealand-in the words of Jancis Robinson, "many believe this is where the Pinot grail is to be found".