Kumeu River Cremant NV
Grape
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
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
94/100 Wine Orbit, Sam Kim
"As with all other Kumeu River wines, this is impeccably composed and elegantly expressed, showing nectarine, acacia, lemon peel and yeasty notes on the nose. The palate is superfine and beautifully weighted with creamy mouthfeel and elegant fruit intensity, wonderfully enhanced by subtle savoury nuances and perfectly pitched acidity. Very long and engaging, and hugely appealing. Grapes were hand harvested, whole bunch pressed, fermented using indigenous yeasts; then secondary fermentation in the bottle with 30 months on lees; disgorged by hand."
93/100 James Suckling
"A fresh and minerally sparkling wine with with sliced apple, brioche and lemon character. Medium-bodied, creamy and intense. Bread dough at the end. Tight and bright. 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir. Three years on the lees. 5 g/L residual sugar. Drink now."
93/100 Bob Campbell MW
"Rich, creamy wine with citrus, green apple, and fresh bready yeast lees characters. Mouth-wateringly dry with a tiny stab of bitterness on the finish."
| Variety | Champagne |
|---|---|
| Region | Auckland & Waiheke Island |
| Closure | Cap |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Alcohol | 13.00% |
| Maturity | 2024 - 2027 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
We deliver throughout New Zealand and to some locations overseas. Our deliveries are made by trusted third party carriers. For further details on prices and delivery options please go to DELIVERY INFORMATION section of our site.
If for any reason you are not entirely happy with your order or you suspect that they may be affected by a quality issue, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will remedy the problem straight away. Contact us on 0800 422 767.