2018 Felton Road Pinot Noir Block 5
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Block 5 Pinot Noir is today seven years from harvest, and it's the same color in the glass as the 2023 beside it—vibrant, translucent ruby. Aromatically, the wine shows deli meat and clove, cocoa and aniseed, with star anise and pomegranate molasses. On the palate, the wine is fresh and spiced, with saline acidity and dried flowers through the finish. It's a powerful, statuesque Pinot Noir with attractive clarity and detail. Felton Road has been Demeter certified since 2009. The tannins are the highlight here, chalky and powdery in texture. This has barely begun to show tertiary notes, hinting at the long age in front of it. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Organic and biodynamic. A little bit smoky on the nose. Dark-red fruit and pretty closed at the moment. Closed like a rocky cave. Gorgeously dry texture, such fine tannins but bone dry. A very long-term wine but beautifully in balance even now. (JH)
This is a showy edition of Block 5 with so much on offer aromatically, from fine florals in the rose spectrum, rose hips, plenty of spice, citrus peel and sweet red cherries in abundance. The palate has such elegant, long and firm tannin with intensity and depth and it does have the compactness that defines this parcel. Thereâs such succulent resolve at the finish. This 2018 has bold fleshiness that really is stunning already. Thereâs more immediate pleasure than youâd expect from a young Block 5. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.