Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2023
Hawke's Bay
New Zealand, New Zealand
Regular price£133.94
/
Arriving: April 2025
| Style: White | Packaging: OCC |
| ABV: 12.5% | Closure: Screw cap |
| Organic: | Drink from: 2024 |
| Biodynamic: | Drink to: 2030 |
| Grapes: 100% Chardonnay | |
Critic scores
91 RP, 88 VM, 93 JS, 16.5+ JR
Critic reviews
"The 2023 Estate Chardonnay leads with preserved citrus, white flowers, crushed nuts and brine. In the mouth, the wine is light and lacy—hints of green apple, nectarine and a little tangerine—with taut acidity that vibrates through the ethereally weighted fruit. It's a light iteration of this wine and lovely for it. It was made with handpicked fruit, whole-bunch pressed and barrel fermented using indigenous yeasts. 12.5% alcohol's sealed under screw cap."
Erin Larkin, December 2024, RobertParker.com
"A blend of several parcels in and around Kumeu, the 2023 Chardonnay Estate is done in a lighter, skip-along style than most recent vintages. Athletic with a tight, acid-driven finish, the wine's fruit is in the cooler, citrussy spectrum. A leesy texture builds some softness through the light-bodied core. A subtle hint of nuttiness lingers on the medium-length finish."
Rebecca Gibb, September 2024, Vinous.com
"This is fresh, crunchy and clean, with mineral and spice notes and plenty of salty undertones. Sliced lemons and apples. Medium-bodied with a fresh finish. Drink now. Screw cap."
James Suckling, June 2024, JamesSuckling.com
"A blend of six different sites in Kumeu on clay with 60% owned by the Brajkoviches but all farmed by Milan B. All dry-farmed. Lots of different clones: 15, 6, 95, 54 and 1066. Hand-harvested. Whole-bunch pressed. Spontaneous fermentation in used French oak barrels (usually 20% new but not for this lighter vintage). 100% malo. 11 months’ maturation in barrel. Distinctly lemon nose and mouth-filling. Good substance on the palate and definition. Great drink for the near term! Quite a step up from the Village. Athletic. I asked about ageability and was assured by Paul Brajkovich that the 2019 is looking very good now. Neat finish."
Jancis Robinson, September 2024, JancisRobinson.com
Erin Larkin, December 2024, RobertParker.com
"A blend of several parcels in and around Kumeu, the 2023 Chardonnay Estate is done in a lighter, skip-along style than most recent vintages. Athletic with a tight, acid-driven finish, the wine's fruit is in the cooler, citrussy spectrum. A leesy texture builds some softness through the light-bodied core. A subtle hint of nuttiness lingers on the medium-length finish."
Rebecca Gibb, September 2024, Vinous.com
"This is fresh, crunchy and clean, with mineral and spice notes and plenty of salty undertones. Sliced lemons and apples. Medium-bodied with a fresh finish. Drink now. Screw cap."
James Suckling, June 2024, JamesSuckling.com
"A blend of six different sites in Kumeu on clay with 60% owned by the Brajkoviches but all farmed by Milan B. All dry-farmed. Lots of different clones: 15, 6, 95, 54 and 1066. Hand-harvested. Whole-bunch pressed. Spontaneous fermentation in used French oak barrels (usually 20% new but not for this lighter vintage). 100% malo. 11 months’ maturation in barrel. Distinctly lemon nose and mouth-filling. Good substance on the palate and definition. Great drink for the near term! Quite a step up from the Village. Athletic. I asked about ageability and was assured by Paul Brajkovich that the 2019 is looking very good now. Neat finish."
Jancis Robinson, September 2024, JancisRobinson.com
Shipping duty paid to Mainland UK is charged at a flat rate of £9.99 per consignment and POA for Northern Ireland or Islands.
Shipping under bond is dependant on location, but starts at £15 per consignment.