Felton Road Block 3 and Block 5 Pinot Noir

Felton Road's Block 3 and Block 5 sit within Bannockburn, one of five distinct microclimates in Central Otago and one of the subregion's warmest areas. Vineyards are planted at elevations ranging from 220 to 370 metres, with a semi-continental climate defined by hot days, cool nights, and long dry autumns. These conditions extend the growing season and support the development of complex, structured Pinot Noir. Harvest typically runs from mid-March to early April.

• Bannockburn is one of five distinct microclimates within Central Otago
• Elevations range from 220 to 370 metres above sea level
• Semi-continental climate with strong diurnal temperature variation
• Harvest window: mid-March to early April

Block 3 and Block 5 sit on contrasting soil types that directly shape their individual characters. Block 3 is planted on Waenga soils, a schist-derived fine sandy loam that contributes to the wine's finesse and mineral precision. Block 5 features loam, clay, and gravel, which support riper fruit expression and a pronounced mineral backbone. Both blocks fall within the Central Otago Geographical Indication.

• Block 3: Waenga schist-derived fine sandy loam
• Block 5: loam, clay, and gravel mix
• Schist bedrock is a defining characteristic of Central Otago viticulture
• Different soil profiles produce distinctly different wine expressions from adjacent blocks

Felton Road holds Demeter biodynamic certification, and both blocks are farmed entirely organically and biodynamically. In the winery, the philosophy is one of minimal intervention. Fermentations rely on wild yeasts, malolactic fermentation proceeds naturally, and no fining or filtration is applied before bottling. The estate produces 12,000 cases annually, all from estate-grown fruit.

• Demeter-certified biodynamic and organic viticulture
• Wild yeast fermentation and wild malolactic fermentation
• No fining or filtration applied
• All fruit is 100% estate grown across the 12,000-case annual production

Block 3 and Block 5 are the estate's flagship single-vineyard expressions, and each speaks clearly to its distinct terroir. Block 3 offers dark cherry, mulberry, and blackcurrant with white pepper spice and fine-grained tannins, reflecting the precision of its sandy loam schist soils. Block 5 shows riper, darker fruit including plum and dark cherry, with pronounced minerality and silky tannins. Both wines share an elegant structure and complex, mineral-driven character.

• Block 3: dark cherry, mulberry, blackcurrant, white pepper, fine-grained tannins
• Block 5: plum, dark cherry, pronounced minerality, silky tannins
• Both wines are mineral-driven with elegant structure
• Soil type is the primary driver of stylistic differences between the two blocks

Block 3 was originally planted in 1991 by Stuart Elms and replanted in 2006 with the Abel clone on rootstock 3309. Nigel Greening acquired Felton Road in 2000, and the estate was the first winery established in Bannockburn. The debut 1997 Pinot Noirs drew immediate international attention; Robert Parker wrote that they could be inserted as a ringer in a blind tasting of Grand Cru red Burgundy. The 2024 Block 3 received a score of 98 from James Suckling.

• Block 3 first planted 1991 by Stuart Elms; replanted 2006 with Abel clone on rootstock 3309
• Felton Road was the first winery established in Bannockburn
• Nigel Greening acquired the estate in 2000
• Robert Parker compared the 1997 debut wines to Grand Cru red Burgundy