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.”
Ray’s Road is Kumeu River’s vineyard site in Hawke’s Bay, producing wine since 2018. This elevated (180m above sea level) inland limestone hillside vineyard, with a northerly aspect, makes Rays Road markedly cooler than much of Hawke’s Bay. The dry-farmed vineyard encourages deep roots while naturally limiting yields, and its limestone-dominated soils have prompted comparisons with Chablis.
The wines tend to be zesty, fragrant and finely structured, with bright citrus, pronounced acidity and chalky mineral complexity that sets them apart from Kumeu’s broader, clay-grown Chardonnays. Earlier plantings were largely Clone 95, but newer blocks of Clones 15 and 548 are now maturing and contributing more fruit — adding depth, nuance and texture while retaining the vineyard’s freshness and mineral drive. As the plantings mature, Rays Road is ratcheting up quality and becoming a more complete expression of cool-climate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay.
2025 – “An Outstanding Vintage” — Michael Brajkovich MW
96 points, James Suckling “Aromas of crushed stone and flint with subtle apple and transparency on the nose. Medium-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a long, tangy finish. Vibrant and vivid chardonnay. “
94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “... Peach, green melon, lime and ripe lemon, a lick of cedar and cut fennel, with something of a salty persuasion. It has some peachy flavour, but pulls savoury and saline, bright and juicy acidity, sourdough in the mix, with a tangy finish of excellent length. A very good wine, a little more bold than the estate offerings, but the point of difference is pleasing all the same.”
94 points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate “This is impressive and quite different from the other cuvées, though it continues to bear the hallmarks of the Kumeu River house style.”
RRP $63 Our Special Price $48.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
