“One of most revered New World Chardonnay’s produced”

Our latest shipment of 2014 Kumeu River Maté’s Chardonnay has landed! This wine is a royal when it comes to new world Chardonnay and routinely challenges the great wines of Burgundy in blind tastings!

In high demand, there’s an extremely limited supply of Maté’s (we have less than 20 cases!) that enters the UK market.

Kumeu River Maté’s Vineyard Chardonnay is renowned for its complexity, ageability and credibility, it ages with elegance and poise. If there was one white wine you should purchase let it be this one.

Maté’s Vineyard was planted in 1990 and the single vineyard 2014 Maté’s Chardonnay was barrel matured for 10 months in French oak, of which 30% was new. It was then aged a further 6 months in stainless steel tanks.

A slightly deeper colour than the other 2014 Kumeu Chardonnays but it still bright. A big, plush, intense nose of ripe Chardonnay fruit combined with subtle, smoky French oak, spice and minerality. Packed with intensity. Exotic and creamy.

2014 NEW ZEALAND VINTAGE REPORT

The 2014 vintage is considered a very strong vintage throughout New Zealand – But particularly in the North Island for the early ripening varieties such as Chardonnay. The spring was wet but fruitful and the conditions leading up to the ripening period in the summer were hot (but not extreme). The grower degree days were record highs, even out performing 2013 and 2009 which were both strong vintages.

Chardonnay was the standout variety for 2014, particularly in Auckland (Kumeu River) with a score of 10/10.

*Bob Campbell scored each of the New Zealand wine regions with the above points out of 10.

KUMEU RIVER SPOTLIGHT

The Brajkovich family – Mick, Katé and son Maté moved to the west Auckland hills of Kumeu from Croatia in 1937. However, It wasn’t until son Maté’s children and his wife Melba got involved in the estate in the 1980’s that the winery started it’s journey of consistently producing some of the best Chardonnay’s in the New World (and the old!). Since then Kumeu River has been compared to some of the greatest white Burgundian wines and has come out on top on more than one blind tasting. Jancis Robinson covered one of the blind tastings in her Top Kiwi Vs White Burgundy article here.

NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST MASTER OF WINE

Michael Brajkovich is New Zealand’s first Master of Wine (MW) and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Oenology from Roseworthy college in South Australia, where he graduated top of his class. One of the defining characteristics of Kumeu River’s Chardonnay is that they are produced in old world classic french style under Michael’s guidance.

“The taste you should experience with my Chardonnay is light, elegant, and flinty. It will not be a big, bold, buttery oak bash. In the European tradition, I’ve designed my wines to be enjoyed at the table and to be accompanied with food of your choice.”