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.”
Rays Road is Kumeu River’s vineyard site in Hawkes Bay that was purchased in 2017. This limestone hillside is at 180 m altitude, with a northerly aspect. It is dry-farmed to yield high quality grapes for wine under the Rays Road name for our Kumeu River label. This Chardonnay was hand-harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast in older French Oak barrels to give a wine that is zesty and fragrant, with mineral complexity that is very true to its site.
About this wine from the winemaker: The 2024 vintage in Hawkes Bay was excellent even though yields were down to 50% of usual. We have seen dramatic improvement from this vineyard each year since we bought it in 2017. The ripeness and richness from 2024 have given us a Rays Road Chardonnay with more depth and texture than we have seen over the last few years. This is another significant step up again from the 2023 Rays Road Chardonnay. The aromas are peachier this year although the distinctive flint, and zesty limestone characters are still there. The palate is showing more density and concentration than previous vintages and this is setting up to be a very fine Chardonnay vineyard. For the first time with Rays Road this feels like it needs bottle age. We are looking forward to following its development while consuming many bottles in the process!
92-94 points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate “A lovely wine, it’s weighted on the back palate and long through the finish.”
RRP $63 Our Special Price $52.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
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