Good red color
Aroma of ripe fruit
Taste fruity, and a bit sweet
Finish short

Rated: 85

As a kiwi im not quite sure why felton road gets the huge status it does overseas. Here in NZ I rate them alongside a good half dozen promising Otago wineries as far as quality goes. Not the holy grail, solid yes, occassionally excellent, as with a good number of kiwi pinots.

Why is top pinot so ellusive!!!

Is there a label I can say "hey buy this its the great nz pinot label"???

No really there isnt, different vintages from various different wineries seem to glow one year, fade the next.

From 2003 in Otago I like the Carrick and its cheap $NZ30

Edward, was this Block 3 or Block 5, or was it generic Felton Road? I had the 2002 and 2003 Block V and found them to be most unusual wines, probably because of their chilly Central otago origins.

Dick

Good unusual or bad unusual?

I found them most excellent.

Dick

Based on my recent tour of the wineries in the region, '03 and '04 are vintages to avoid in Central Otago for pinot noir. 2003 produced light and fruity wines, almost like beaujolais. I do agree with kiwifan that the Carrick is the best of the '03s (maybe 89P).

2004 was plagued by frost at both bud break and harvest and terrible weather inbetween. Many are unripe and green. Do not buy from this vintage.

Look for 2002s. There may still be some on the shelves. Every winery bragged about how good their '02s were and how many medals they won with 'em.

2005 was a low yield vintage that has the producers cautiously optimisitic.

Had a 2001 Felton Road Block 3 while in Queenstown and it was by far the Wine of the Trip. (96-97P in my book). I agree with Dick, there is something special about the "Block" wines (especially the mouthfeel and the nose).

Cheers,

Otis

Nothing at all wrong with the 2003 Felton Road Pinots imo.