2025 Kumeu Village 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
16.5/20 Jancis Robinson MW
"Pale greenish straw. Real grip and zest and very much house style. Zesty citrus and mouth-filling even if not complex. Bone-dry finish. (JR)." Drink 2025 - 2027
Winemaker notes on current 2025 vintage
"This is a wine where we always have a bottle in the fridge. The perfect aperitif Chardonnay, it's a wine that pairs very well with all types of seafood. Produced from grapes grown in Kumeu 42% and Hawkes Bay 58% this wine was fermented 38% in old French oak barrels, and 62% in stainless steel tanks. The barrel fermentation provides some richness but very little oak influence. Combined with the tank fermentation this allows the vibrant fruit to show through beautifully with lively lime and lemon aromas and a flinty, mineral palate with hints of fig and white peach. The 2025 Vintage gave us outstanding quality, both in Kumeu and Hawkes Bay, with beautiful fruit aroma, flavour and concentration. Our own Rays Road vineyard in Hawkes Bay made up 32% of the final blend, which gives the wine a distinctive limestone edginess. The moderate alcohol level of 13.3% gives freshness with a lovely flinty texture. The citrus elements of Chardonnay shine through with a refreshingly crisp acid finish. This wine is delightful as an aperitif, and even better to drink with seafood."
93/100 Bob Campbell MW (2019 vintage)
"This is the best Kumeu Village Chardonnay that I can recall tasting, thanks to an excellent vintage and perhaps the Hawke's Bay component. It's an ethereal chardonnay with appealing citrus, stone fruit and struck flint flavours. The wine has a pour-me-another-glass texture. Great value at this price 27/4/2020."
| Variety | Chardonnay |
|---|---|
| Region | Auckland & Waiheke Island |
| Closure | Cap |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Alcohol | 13.30% |
| Maturity | 2025 - 2027 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
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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.