Mates Vineyard is considered the best of the Kumeu River Chardonnay Cuvées but to be honest they are all delicious. This has such stone fruit intensity on the palate together with ripe grapefruit and Cashew. All in balance and drinking superbly. An outstanding new world Chardonnay. A few years left in its drinking window. It will always have that superb fruit and will develop a little more complexity - have the last 2019 in a year or two. I ended up having my last bottle 76 weeks later on 30th September 2025. Not as impressive as earlier examples but still very good. Stone fruit to the fore. It might be one of those new world Chardonnays which are best drunk up to 5 years of age? 92 points.
Mates Vineyard is considered the best of the Kumeu River Chardonnay Cuvées but to be honest they are all delicious. This has such stone fruit intensity on the palate together with ripe grapefruit and Cashew. All in balance and drinking superbly. An outstanding new world Chardonnay. A few years left in its drinking window. It will always have that superb fruit and will develop a little more complexity - have the last 2019 in a year or two. I ended up having my last bottle 76 weeks later on 30th September 2025. Not as impressive as earlier examples but still very good. Stone fruit to the fore. It might be one of those new world Chardonnays which are best drunk up to 5 years of age? 92 points.
Apr 15th, 2024
I believe this was my first time with this producer and it will not be my last. Decanted for about 30 minutes to lessen the reduction. Blew off some but still somewhat intrusive. Wonderful combination of creaminess and minerals. Yes there is oak, but it is there to enhance not distract. Acidity was bright. I believe some time in the cellar will produce even greater drinking pleasure.
I believe this was my first time with this producer and it will not be my last. Decanted for about 30 minutes to lessen the reduction. Blew off some but still somewhat intrusive. Wonderful combination of creaminess and minerals. Yes there is oak, but it is there to enhance not distract. Acidity was bright. I believe some time in the cellar will produce even greater drinking pleasure.
Dec 20th, 2021
Kumeu, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
