Felton Road Pinot Noir 2005

One of Felton Road’s earlier vintages (in the first ten years) and not an easy year for the vineyards – yields were low but high quality. An opaque dark ruby colour in the glass, with a sensational perfume – a bouquet of black plum, raspberry and red cherry with plenty of savoury notes of tobacco, soy, nori, mushroom and autumn leaves. A broad brush of tertiary flavours now to the palate – vinous and elegant, with supple tannin, muted cedary oak tones and a delicacy that rewards taking time over. Spice lingers through the layers of fruit and minerality – a harmonic whole with a seamless grace. The finish has good persistence. Doubtful I’ll try a better example than this for quite some time. 96pts