Kumeu River Rays Road Chardonnay 2023
Hawke's Bay
New Zealand, New Zealand
Regular price£138.74
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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
92 RP, 88 VM, 94 JS, 17 JR
Critic reviews
"The Ray's Road vineyard is in Hawke's Bay, southeast of Auckland, on a north-facing slope at 180 meters above sea level. It is planted on limestone and dry-grown. The 2023 Rays Road Chardonnay is reductive, nutty and saline, with green inflections that highlight the solids in the wine. This is the most complex of the wines in this release, with curry leaf and saffron, sugar snap peas, green apple and caper brine in profusion, yet I feel it is also the most angular and the most obvious. Those seeking intensity of flavor will be attracted to this cuvée the most, for its intensity and depth, however it lacks the quiet focus of the other wines. 12.8% alcohol, sealed under screw cap."
Erin Larkin, December 2024, RobertParker.com
"It's amazing that a 2023 Chardonnay Rays Road was even made, considering Cyclone Gabrielle left many homes and vineyards underwater or even washed them away. At 180m, the vineyard at Rays Road escaped flooding but not the rain. It's a tight, spritely wine with a freshly squeezed lemon on papaya and nectarine flavor. The crisp yet ripe fruit is followed up with bracing acidity that pierces its core and pushes it through. No new oak here, leaving the fruit to shine. Moderate length."
Rebecca Gibb, September 2024, Vinous.com
"A tight, focused and dense white. Sliced cooked apples, minerals and stone, with hints of dried mangoes. It’s medium-bodied and focused with a flavorful finish. Lime undertones. Drink or hold."
James Suckling, June 2024, JamesSuckling.com
"Hand-harvested in this Raukawa vineyard acquired in late 2017 from Trinity Hill as a joint project with Pascal Jolivet of the Loire. Whole-bunch pressed Spontaneous fermentation and 100% barrel-fermentation in used French oak. 100% malo and 11 months’ maturation in barrel. The first Kumeu River vintage was 2018 but they reckon this is the best so far. Since acquiring the vineyard in 2018 they have been systematically replacing the Sauvignon Blanc vines, whose fruit is sold off, with Chardonnay. (Trinity Hill’s clone 95 Chardonnay planted in early 2005 is reckoned a bit too austere for the Rays Road bottling so goes into the Village bottling.) They may eventually release single-block Chardonnays. Quite intense, bright fruit. Excellently aromatic. Almost pungent with a hint of putty. Lots of punchy fruit. Very complete with an appetising dry finish."
Jancis Robinson, September 2024, JancisRobinson.com
Erin Larkin, December 2024, RobertParker.com
"It's amazing that a 2023 Chardonnay Rays Road was even made, considering Cyclone Gabrielle left many homes and vineyards underwater or even washed them away. At 180m, the vineyard at Rays Road escaped flooding but not the rain. It's a tight, spritely wine with a freshly squeezed lemon on papaya and nectarine flavor. The crisp yet ripe fruit is followed up with bracing acidity that pierces its core and pushes it through. No new oak here, leaving the fruit to shine. Moderate length."
Rebecca Gibb, September 2024, Vinous.com
"A tight, focused and dense white. Sliced cooked apples, minerals and stone, with hints of dried mangoes. It’s medium-bodied and focused with a flavorful finish. Lime undertones. Drink or hold."
James Suckling, June 2024, JamesSuckling.com
"Hand-harvested in this Raukawa vineyard acquired in late 2017 from Trinity Hill as a joint project with Pascal Jolivet of the Loire. Whole-bunch pressed Spontaneous fermentation and 100% barrel-fermentation in used French oak. 100% malo and 11 months’ maturation in barrel. The first Kumeu River vintage was 2018 but they reckon this is the best so far. Since acquiring the vineyard in 2018 they have been systematically replacing the Sauvignon Blanc vines, whose fruit is sold off, with Chardonnay. (Trinity Hill’s clone 95 Chardonnay planted in early 2005 is reckoned a bit too austere for the Rays Road bottling so goes into the Village bottling.) They may eventually release single-block Chardonnays. Quite intense, bright fruit. Excellently aromatic. Almost pungent with a hint of putty. Lots of punchy fruit. Very complete with an appetising dry finish."
Jancis Robinson, September 2024, JancisRobinson.com
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