
2019 KUMEU 'VILLAGE' Chardonnay Kumeu River
North Island New Zealand
White
Chardonnay.
Wow. Huge impact of class and depth. This 'opener' from the Brajkovich family is intense and impressive. Good savoury middle with notes of hard cheese at play with quite firm apple bite. Quite tight. Great balance and length but the charm and the easy feel will need more time to come out....(read more)
L&S
2018 KUMEU RIVER 'ESTATE' Chardonnay
North Island New Zealand
White
Chardonnay.
Michael Brajkovich conjures up superb chardonnay. This is one of Kumeu’s best-value examples — bright and richly textured, with nuttiness, indications of grapefruit and taut acidity on the finish.
Will Lyons, The Sunday Times
2017 KUMEU RIVER Chardonnay Coddington
North Island New Zealand
13.5%
White
Chardonnay.
Vegetarian
Wow. As ever the Coddington stands out for being riper, richer and more showy than the other releases. And in 2017 it still has the trademark is a luscious peach note. But for now this is perhaps less exuberant than in recent years. Yes there is more weight and a richer feel - but plenty o...(read more)
L&S
2018 KUMEU RIVER Coddington Chardonnay
North Island New Zealand
13%
White
Chardonnay.
From a site that faces directly north and gets more of a tropical fruit character than the citrus and so “Can take heavier oak,” according to Michael Brajkovich. Just a touch of hazelnut and light toast, a pure line of lime fruit again, fabulous acidity, but touching on peach and nectarine...(read more)
Tom Cannavan, www.wine-pages.com
2018 KUMEU RIVER Hunting Hill Chardonnay
North Island New Zealand
13%
White
Chardonnay.
From a slope above the Maté's vineyard replanted in 2000, this is flecked with green in colour, a little touch of fig, but lots of lime blossom finesse. The palate has such a blast of salinity, sheer and flowing, such gorgeous clarity and that blast of mineral salts. Outstanding.
Tom Cannavan, www.wine-pages.com
2018 KUMEU RIVER Mate's Vineyard Chardonnay
North Island New Zealand
13%
White
Chardonnay.
Maté Barjkovich's name lives on in this vineyard immediately opposite the winery and family home, all planted with the Mendoza clone. Gorgeous nose, quite opulent and pear and peach, so much vibrant, brilliant fruit and acid, moves into nougat, etched by beautiful acidity, the opule...(read more)
Tom Cannavan, www.wine-pages.com
2017 KUMEU RIVER Chardonnay Coddington
North Island New Zealand
13.5%
White
Chardonnay.
Vegetarian
Magnums
Wow. As ever the Coddington stands out for being riper, richer and more showy than the other releases. And in 2017 it still has the trademark is a luscious peach note. But for now this is perhaps less exuberant than in recent years. Yes there is more weight and a richer feel - but plenty o...(read more)
L&S
2017 KUMEU RIVER Chardonnay Hunting Hill
North Island New Zealand
14%
White
Chardonnay.
Vegetarian
Magnums
The Hunting Hill vineyard always produces wines that are more taught and mineral. And here the nose does not disappoint, focused and with powdery floral notes. White and pithy citrus notes follow to the pallet. There is great energy and fresh cut here. Smart, restrained oak notes come in l...(read more)
L&S