2024 Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay
Grape
Chardonnay
Its Origins
In 1938 Maté Brajkovich arrived in New Zealand with his parents, who settled in Kumeu and in 1944 bought a small vineyard which would later become Kumeu River wines. For a few decades Maté mostly made simple fortified and sparkling wines. It wasn't until 1982 however, when Matés son Michael took over, that the wines would really start to turn heads. Michael and his siblings began to transform the vineyard and vinification practices to more considered, traditional ways, with hand harvesting, improved drainage, judicious use of oak and only using the wild yeast present in the vineyard to bring a sharper definition of terroir into the wines. Matés vineyard is the original land bought in 1944, re-planted by Maté just before his death with low-yielding Mendoza clone Chardonnay in 1990.
What The Critics Say
93-95/100 Parker's Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin
"The 2024 Hunting Hill Chardonnay is the ripest in alcohol of the 2024 releases, and it feels powerfully layered and driven on the palate. This is rich, almost thunderous in its positioning, with salted citrus and exotic spices (star anise/fennel/scraped vanilla pod). The oak here is polished and elegant, smoothing down any stray, loose hairs. The barrels have been air dried for three years and lightly toasted. The finish is tight and focused. This was tasted as a tank sample prior to filtration and bottling." Drink 2025 - 2039
96/100 Halliday's Wine Companion, Jane Faulkner (2023 vintage)
"Of all the single-site chardonnays from ‘23, this just has the edge, and while it will last some distance, gee it’s irresistible now. Super savoury with a briny, almost oyster-shell character alongside citrus and crushed coriander seeds. Moreish and mouth-watering with fine acidity, off-set by equally fine texture. It’s tightly wound, given its youth, yet this is also composed, complete and delicious."
| Variety | Chardonnay |
|---|---|
| Region | Auckland & Waiheke Island |
| Closure | Cap |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Maturity | 2025 - 2039 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
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