2025 Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 750ml

This is from 6 sites around Kumeu that are tightly controlled and carefully farmed by the Brajkovich family. I was surprised to learn that this has 20% new oak as, apart from a gentle whisp of spiced vanilla apple, the oak is well buried within the wine. It has good clean ripeness, great depth and classic Kumeu clay-soil firmness and backbone. Michael says "it's one of the very best we have made and will be in a nice window at 6 years of age" although we know it can easily hold for longer than that. This is a classic Kumeu that has pineapple, lemon, spice and a hint of peach fruit, all with good lees and barrel ageing complexity. Bring it on!