2015 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté's Vineyard, New Zealand, Wine Review

Wow. Even better than the spectacular Hunting Hill! Still quite young, but with some air, this is wonderful. Light golden in color. The nose has lemons, slight citrus, a hint of mineral and tons of minerality. Full bodied. On the palate, this is big and rich, but then it has so much zing that cuts right thru it. Layers of complexity. Grapefruit and lemons over minerals. Slight green apple on the finish. This should continue to develop for another five to ten and then drink well for another ten to twelve after that. It drinks great on its own but will work well with sea food or even fowl.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2015

Current Price:

$54.00USD

2015 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$50.00USD

What a superb Chardonnay. This is still a bit on the younger side, but drinking very well. Light golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is clean and delightful. Minerals with lemons and just a hint of Meyer lemon and an herbal note. Medium bodied. On the palate, this is crisp with excellent acidity. Minerals galore. Layers of complexity unwind in the glass. A bit of lemon pith especially on the finish. This is great now on its own and will work with all sorts of food. Baked seafood would be a great choice. It should continue to improve for the next seven to ten years and be

2015 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$50.00USD

Another from this top producer of Chardonnay. Light golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is great with lemon curd, slight pineapple and minerality. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, this is crisp and energetic. The lemon curd comes thru but also some lemon candy with underlying minerality. Long finish. This is delicious but also the kind of wine that makes one take notice. Still young with a great vibrancy, this easily should continue maturing for the next dozer or so years. Great on its own, this will work well with lighter foods and even heavier sea food or fowl dishes

2018 Kumeu River Chardonnay Estate, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$30.00USD

This is the middle level bottling from this superb winery in New Zealand. Although New Zealand is not normally known for Chardonnay this wine makes spectacular bottlings especially their single vineyard offerings. Pale silvery/gold in color, clear and bright. The nose is great with nice minerality and slight grapefruit. On the palate, this is clean and very lively.

2016 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$54.00USD

One of the great Chardonnay's anywhere! Screw capped. Light gold/green in color. Great nose with minerality, lemons, slight vanilla and a hint of pears. Medium to full bodied. Crisp and clean. Refreshing and delicious. This took maybe 30 minutes to open and then kept opening all night long. The palate had lemons, lots of minerality and a sort of "poached pears in vanilla sauce only crisper quality". Lots of depth. Long finish. This bottle is still on the young side but drinking great. It will continue to do so for another ten to twelve years. Drinks great on its own, this worke

2017 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté's Vineyard, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A+

Another wonderful Chardonnay from this producer in New Zealand. These are world class Chardonnays. Golden in color, clear and bright. Enticing nose of char/smoke with grapefruit and great minerality. Medium to full bodied. Sleek but muscular texture. On the palate, this is very concentrated, but unwinds in the glass. Citrus; yellow grapefruits with some lemon/lime notes but also great underlying minerality. Perfect balance. Long finish. While this could certainly use a few more years of cellaring, it is delicious now. Drink over the next twenty years. Great on its own, this will

2015 Kumeu River Chardonnay Maté's Vineyard, New Zealand, Wine Review

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