Felton Road Riesling Central Otago Block 1 2008

Winemaker's Notes:

Felton Road wines is located in Bannockburn, Central Otago in New Zealand, the most southerly wine growing region in the World. Here, vineyards are nestled into small macroclimates totally surrounded by high mountains, many of which are snowcapped all year round. Though the location is on the edge of sustainable viticulture these macroclimates consistently combine hot days, cool nights and long dry autumns: perfect for the creation of fine Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. The latitude of 45 degrees south is similar to the Willamette Valley in Oregon and some of the finest wine regions of France. The first vineyard, Elms, was selected by Stewart Elms in 1991 and planted the following year. It is a north-facing gentle valley, one of the few in Bannockburn to escape the attentions of the gold miners who sluiced many of the Bannockburn slopes. Careful attention was given to the matching of vine varieties and rootstocks to the soil variations that are found on the site. Natural gullies have been retained which guide cold frosty air through the vineyard away from the vines. Today there are 14 hectares of vines at The Elms, about half Pinot Noir, the rest Chardonnay and Riesling. The 'Block 1 Riesling' bouquet has an arresting interplay of apricots and florals with a complexing hint of 'background noise'. This year the three Rieslings are closer in profile, with the distinction being on the body and plushness of the wine. The Block 1 displays rich stonefruits but with an extra harmonic of complexity and structure.