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Kumeu River 'Estate' Chardonnay 2020
Grape Type Pronunciation: "shar-don-ay"
Primary flavours
Lemon Curd
Pink Grapefruit
White Nectarine
Crushed Rocks
Toasted Bread
Woodsmoke
Details
Super appealing this - a great mix of peach, nectarine, grapefruit and lemon. This harmonious fruit is offset by woodsmoke, crushed rock and almond brittle. There's oak in there for sure, but it is clean and balanced, very well-constructed. This is a great wine, no mistake about it.

The Brajkovich family and their estate Kumeu River Wines have a story that parallels the New Zealand wine industry. From the pioneering days to the establishment of the New Zealand wine industry to today, the Brajkovich family have been internationally recognised as producing world class wine. Starting in 1937, Mick and Katé Brajkovich arrive in New Zealand from Croatia, and purchase a plot of land north of Auckland. Mick's son Maté made wine, and had four children. Today, those 4 children live and work on the same plot of land, and craft some of New Zealand's greatest wines. In all of this, it is worth noting that the modern New Zealand wine industry really only got going in the 1970s...so Kumeu River is truly something special. The estate itself encompasses 30 hectares of vineyards, which are managed sensitively, and are planted to a mix of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and of course Chardonnay, which they are best known for. The vines are unirrigated, mature and well looked after, and produce fruit that in turn produces wines that are balanced, harmonious and complex. This is a wonderful place producing wonderful wine.
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Taste Profile
This wine’s tasting notes.
Sweetness
lowmediumhigh
Body
lightmediumfull
Fruitiness
nonesomelots
Tannins
lowmediumhigh
Acidity
lowmediumhigh
Oak
nonesomelots
Alcohol
low (under 12%)medium (12-14%)high (14%+)
Taste Summary
This wine’s tasting notes are leaning towards medium bodied, low sweetness, with high acidity, some fruitiness, low tannins, medium alcohol and some oak.
Specs
Region
Auckland
country
New Zealand
Grape type
Chardonnay
Wine Maker
Kumeu River
Alcohol
13.5%
Vintage
2020
Cellar period
5-10 years
Production method
Sustainably Made
Pairing guide
Kumeu River have done a fantastic job with this Chardonnay, which beautifully treads the line between comforting tradition and racy modernity. It’s going to be delicious with avocado dishes and smoky eggplant dips - anything with that irresistible vegetal buttery character will work brilliantly! Smoked salmon, crab cakes, and seafood pasta are also superb options, and it’s also going to be irresistible served alongside chicken, leek, and mushroom combos in a creamy sauce. Asian-style pork belly dishes will hit the spot, too!
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Food
Slow Cooked Pork
Roast Chicken
Cheese
Tastes
Rich
Moods
You'll know when
Seasons
Winter
Recipe Matches
Wine region
Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland’s wine region is one of New Zealand’s oldest, going back to the 1900s. Geographically diverse, with three distinctive sub-regions Waiheke, West Auckland, and north to Matakana. Waiheke is known for intense reds, mainly Syrah and Chardonnay International acclaim. Auckland’s wine regions avoid temperature extremes with its moderating maritime climate; vineyards sit atop diverse volcanic soils rich in clay. Waiheke’s warmer maritime climate promotes intense reds; the region is famous for Cabernet blends, but more recently, Montepulciano, Petit Verdot and Syrah West Auckland. West Auckland produces world-class Chardonnay and Merlot from its old vines. Matakana is an hour norther of Auckland. Careful site selection among the rolling hills ensures wines retain good acidity without becoming overripe in this balmy climate – Pinot Gris, Syrah, and Cabernet blends perform well here.
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