Kumeu River Chardonnay 'Rays Road' 2020
Regular price $62.00
Unit price per
- TASTING NOTE: "This is a fuller style from Hawke’s Bay and quite different from the rest of the Kumeu range of chardonnays. Bold, ripe peaches dominate the nose and palate. The texture is impressively silky and smooth. Very fleshy and complete. Impressive." 95 Points - JamesSuckling.com
- ABOUT THE WINE: Rays Road is Kumeu River’s new vineyard site in Hawkes Bay. This limestone hillside is at 180 m altitude, with a northerly aspect and is dry farmed. This Chardonnay was hand-harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast in older French Oak barrels to give a wine that is zesty and fragrant, with mineral complexity that is very true to its site.
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ABOUT THE PRODUCER: The Brajkovich family (Mick, Kate and son Mate) settled in New Zealand in 1937 and in 1944 purchased a Kumeu property (north of Auckland) with a small vineyard which became known as San Marino Vineyards. Mick passed away in 1949, but Kate and Mate continued to work the land and produce wine to sell. Mate met his wife Melba in the late 50's and in the 1960's they welcomed children Michael, Marijana, Milan, and Paul. For the children, being brought up around the winery established a strong foundation of industry knowledge and skill that would take the winery to a new level of success in the years to come. Although the winery and Maté were steadily gaining a reputation within the industry, it was the late 1970s and early 1980s that saw a marked evolution in the style and direction of the winery. In 1979, the winery moved away from the hybrids used for the production of fortified and basic red and white wines to varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. All popular and commonly known varieties today, these wines were relatively unheard of at that stage, posing a bold and somewhat risky move for the winery. During the 1980s, Michael, Milan, and Paul became more involved in the business and the winery took on a new focus: quality and reputation. The winery changed its name to Kumeu River Wines and began producing a Burgundy-influenced style of Chardonnay that featured indigenous yeasts, extended lees ageing, and malo-lactic fermentation. In the years since, the Chardonnays of Kumeu River have steadily gained international awards and accolades. In 2014 Kumeu River's London based distributer Stephen Browett and his company Farr Vintners organise a blind tasting with the best palates, critics and wine writers in the world. Kumeu's Maté's, Coddington, Hunting Hill and Estate Chardonnay's are placed against a range of Premier Cru and Village Burgundies from the best producers. Kumeu triumphed over top white Burgundies in every flight apart from one, where it came first equal.
- COUNTRY: New Zealand
- REGION: Hawkes Bay
- VARIETAL: Chardonnay
- WINE STYLE: White Wine
- WINEMAKER: Michael Brajkovich
- CLASSIFICATION: Sustainable Farming
- CLOSURE: Screwcap
- ABV%: 13.5%
- SIZE: 750ml
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FAQ
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