TN: Kumeu River Vertical Chardonnay Tasting

Richard_Presser · September 5, 2019, 11:57am

KUMEU RIVER VERTICAL CHARDONNAY TASTING - Bellota Wine Bar (Prince Wine Store) (4/09/2019)

Hosted by Michael Bajkovich (MW), winemaker and Myles Thomson of PWS
Estate Chardonnay

2017 Kumeu River Chardonnay Estate - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Rich, leesy. Breathed off to show long, med. weight flavours. Will develop nicely. (88 pts.)

2018 Kumeu River Chardonnay Estate - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Lighter than the 2017. Used no new oak due to the lighter year. Michael said the lighter years develop very well with time, as the 201 Matés Vineyard later demonstrated. (87 pts.)

Coddington Chardonnay

2015 Kumeu River Chardonnay Coddington - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Clean, fine. Long fine acid structure. On the lighter side. Not one for my cellar.

2016 Kumeu River Chardonnay Coddington - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Clean, fine. Long fine acid structure. On the lighter side. Not one for my cellar.

2017 Kumeu River Chardonnay Coddington - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Clean, fine. Long fine acid structure. On the lighter side. Not one for my cellar.

2018 Kumeu River Chardonnay Coddington - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Clean, fine. Long fine acid structure. On the lighter side. Not one for my cellar.

Hunting Hill Chardonnay

2012 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Developing very well. Fine, long lemony flavours. Lovely acid. (90 pts.)

2016 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Rich, full flavours, still with fine, long lemony flavours. Lovely acid. (91 pts.)

2017 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Restrained, undeveloped nose. Palate showing some richness. Fine, long lemony flavours. Lovely acid. (90 pts.)

2018 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Delicate. Very well structured. Again, long, lemony flavour. (90 pts.)

Maté’s Vineyard Chardonnay

2010 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté’s Vineyard - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Fine, beginning to show some devt. Michael Brajkovich said it was a light vintage. It will continue to develop for many years. (92 pts.)

2016 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté’s Vineyard - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Fine, long. Needs time. Lovely wine. 2025+ (92 pts.)

2017 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté’s Vineyard - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Beautiful, fine, some Malo characters. Lovely wine. 2025+ (93 pts.)

2018 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté’s Vineyard - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu
Finer, lighter than 2016 & 2017. Needs a decade at least. (90 pts.)

The overall pristine quality and finesse stood out across the range, along with the fine acid length. The Matés Vineyard was the highlight for me, I suspect due to the clone (Argentinian via California and similar to or the same as the WA Gingin clone) and also the oldest vineyard. Richer flavours. Second for me was Hunting Hill, which was fine, lemony and long, fine acid flavours. The older wines (2010 & 2012) were still youthful and will improve further with time. A wonderful lineup.
Posted from CellarTracker

Mark_Henderson · September 8, 2019, 9:38am

Looking at the bottle shot and that’s a good price on the Mate’s Richard. It is generally around the $75 mark here in NZ so that is very competitive. They are now doing a Hawke’s Bay Vineyard Chardonnay (Ray’s Vineyard, with a Pinot Noir as well) which I’m eager to try.

I attended a tasting with Michael a few years back where we looked at the '14’s across the range. The Mate’s was stunning, and like you I preferred the Hunting Hill over the Coddington, but the Estate was also very smart. I have a soft spot for the Village Chardonnay: a great option by the glass when I spot it on a restaurant list.