Description
Kumeu River, northwest of Auckland is without a doubt NZ’s finest chardonnay producer. Master of Wine and winemaker Michael Brajkovich has been crafting fine chardonnay at the estate since the 1980’s. Hand picked fruit and vigorous selection from the low yielding vines, whole bunch pressed, wild yeasts, 100% fermented in French oak barriques and full malolactic fermentation to soften the pristine acidity and add texture and dimension. Not surprising Michael is not shy in comparing his Chardonnays with the great White Burgundies like Domain Leflaive!
At a blind tasting in London (May 2015) of the most highly esteemed White Burgundies with a panel of experts (included leading wine writers Jancis Robinson and Neal Martin of eRobertParker.com) the Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2012 was the hightest rated wine against Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet and Anne-Claude Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet .. wines vastly more expensive! As Jancis reported .. “won hands down, costing a fraction of the wines they trounced” and added that “the Kumeu wines shone because they were better made and more sophisticated….fresh as a daisy and clearly a glorious future ahead”. Other comments from the tasting:- Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate .. “Kumeu River’s Chardonnays … some of the best in the world … a world-class estate producing world-class wines.” Mathew Jukes “…crushed the Old World stars with ease! You must find a space for these wines in your cellar …these are incredible wines. One sip is all that is needed to add Kumeu to your list of greats.”
Only the best parcels of fruit from six different vineyard sites go into the Estate Label. Hand harvested, whole-bunch pressed, indigenous yeast fermentation, 100% barrel fermentation,100% malo-lactic fermentation for 11 months.
Jancis Robinson MW “This is Kumeu River’s calling card.”
2024 release is here and we are thrilled with this following an exceptional growing season.
From the winemaker about the 2024: “The 2024 vintage gave very low yields combined with excellent summer ripening conditions. The Chardonnay it produced is rich and concentrated and up there with the best Estate Chardonnay we have seen in the past ten years. Beautifully fragrant and toasty on the nose the palate is rich and peachy with the hallmark refreshing acidity we expect in the Estate Chardonnay. Layered and complex this wine is quite delicious now but will no doubt benefit from bottle age as have its predecessors.”
94 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “Here’s a juicy pear and stone fruit wine, with a touch of aniseed and spicy oak. There’s full Chardonnay flavour with a little salt crust, cinnamon pastry, bright acidity, a general sense of richness, hazelnut and spice, with a finish of excellent length and pink grapefruit tang. So very tasty.”
94 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review “This wine, from a very low yielding vintage, is a blend of six vineyard sites in the Kumeu region. Winemaker Michael Brajkovich says it’s as right up with the best wines under this label from the past decade. This has a close family resemblance with the three outstanding single-vineyard chardonnays of 2024. Buttery croissant aromas, smoky snuffed candle, very complex and charming, the palate medium bodied with good weight and medium length, dry finish, impeccable balance. A remarkable wine at the price, detailed and engaging. “
90-92 points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate “The 2024 Estate Chardonnay is floral and tightly coiled, with a scratched lime backbone. It’s not as complex as the Ray’s Road tasted alongside, yet it’s utterly composed and restrained. It is mineral and very good indeed. This was tasted as a tank sample prior to filtration and bottling.”
Our SPECIAL Price $53.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
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