Kumeu River Mate's Chardonnay 2021

95 POINTS: Bob Campbell MW

"Flagship chardonnay from a leading producer of the variety. Lush, concentrated wine with peach, nectarine, sizzled butter, hazelnut and spicy oak flavours. Distinctive and impressive wine with ageing potential. Drink 2022 to 2032."
 - Bob Campbell MW

Complex, weighty and even slightly briny on the palate, with toasty flavours and clean, soft acid framing the creamy palate, this Chardonnay calls for food in its youth and reverence in its maturity. A very special wine dedicated to a very special man - sells out every year so get your six pack promptly. It is famous for cellaring particularly well too – ten years plus with ease

In 1990, Maté Brajkovich reworked the land and planted a new vineyard of Chardonnay vines on the site of the original vineyard that he and his family purchased in March 1944. The first grapes from this vineyard were harvested in March 1993, the year following Maté’s death. The resulting wine was released in November 1994 to coincide with celebrations marking the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Brajkovich Family’s arrival at Kumeu River.