2010 New Zealand

The original William Murdoch’s grandson, Brett W Murdoch is the current owner of this estate. Located in the middle of the famous Gimblett Gravels wine district in Hawkes Bay, the vineyards are farmed organically while the wines are made by Hayden Penny under the watchful eye of Jenny Dobson, consultant winemaker.

This is cool-climate Syrah, very much along the lines of a Northern Rhône red. Aromas of black cherries are followed by crunchy bramble fruit and black pepper on the palate. The wine is fresh and herbaceous with a gravel minerality, a reflection of its origins in the premium sub-region of Gimblett Gravels in Hawkes Bay. Crisp and elegant, this is a fine example of a subtle, restrained New Zealand Syrah.

The original William Murdoch, grandfather of current owner Brett W Murdoch, served in the Coldstream Guards, hence the name of this flagship bottling in homage. Located in the middle of the famous Gimblett Gravels wine district in Hawkes Bay, the vineyards are farmed organically while the wines are made by Hayden Penny under the watchful eye of Jenny Dobson, consultant winemaker.

A rich vibrant and complex Bordeaux blend, albeit predominantly cabernet sauvignon, full of smooth supple gracious fruit with charming, ripe blackcurrant flavours. It is a big wine with plenty of muscle, but Jenny Dobson’s Bordeaux background shows in the strength of the backbone – she’s not looking for exuberant fruit. Drink 2015-2020.

Felton Road Block 5 Pinot Noir - Dense rich purple colour. Heady, violet scented fruit, full of grace. Utterly gorgeous even in youth, this will surely develop complexity with age. The texture is already there and the fruit acid balance is just right. Impressive (once again!).
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)

Felton Road Chardonnay Bannockburn Central Otago - This bottling is blended together from several Bannockburn vineyards. Pale mid yellow. Reductive, complex notes, not aiming for immediate gratification. The quality shows with the density of fruit at the back of the palate. Exceptionally persistent. 
(Jasper Morris MW, BBR Buyer)

Our friends at surveyor Thompson have produced a first rate wine in 2010 after a fine warm summer and early autumn. It displays an attractive medium deep colour, some lovely spice here, with thyme and rosemary notes. Juicy fruit in the middle, some savoury elements adding texture to the back, long and concentrated.


The grapes were hand picked into six very distinct lots and fermented separately.35% whole bunch on average for texture and extraction of more tannin. Indigenous yeast was used to ferment the wines to dryness the wines were hand plunged three times a day. The wines spent a total of 29 days on skins on average, to extract structure, colour, aromatics and finesse. Maturation took place in 225 litre French oak barriques of which around 35% were new 3 year air dried French oak and the remainder one and two years older.