Kumeu River Mate's Vineyard Chardonnay 2013
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The Mate’s Vineyard is usually the most reserved and unyielding when young, and this is even more so with the 2013 vintage. The nose is very closed, just giving hints of the golden queen peach and mineral notes expected from Mate’s Vineyard. On the palate, however, the flavor is very concentrated and distinctly richer than the other 2013 wines, while still maintaining a perfect balance and freshness that sets this wine apart and makes it wonderful. This is a wine of immense concentration that will be very long-lived.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Only just beginning to really open up, this is staggeringly concentrated, cool-climate chardonnay with great lemon and mineral freshness. The very long, powerful finish leaves you in no doubt of the world-class originality of this wine. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Still hanging on to some of its youthful floral, lime-blossom aromas, the 2013 Mate's Vineyard Chardonnay is another fine effort. It's medium to full-bodied, with hints of white peach and nectarine that buffer its considerable acid drive and focused length. It should go another decade or more.
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Wine Enthusiast
Choosing favorites among Kumeu River's Chardonnays is always difficult. The 2013 Maté's is potentially the longest lived of this year's releases, showcasing tight, crisp citrus fruit garnished with hints of butter, tropical fruit and mocha-like oak. Drink 2018–2025.Cellar Selection
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Wine Spectator
Focused, offering intense pineapple accents to the melon and lime flavors, crunchy, mouthwatering acidity and herb highlights. Offers a firm finish, with cedary elements fanning out.
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Founded in 1944 by Mick Brajkovich, wife Katé and son Maté, Kumeu River was one of the early pioneers in Auckland, New Zealand, that helped to establish its reputation as a world-class wine region. Still family owned and run, Kumeu River continues to pioneer new frontiers: winemaker Michael Brajkovich became New Zealand’s first member of the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine, London, they have been testing and championing screw cap closures for close to 20 years and the winery has gone on to become the globally recognized benchmark for non-Burgundy produced Chardonnay. All Kumeu River wines are hand-harvested, whole bunch pressed and demonstrate exclusive use of indigenous yeast fermentation.
The Chardonnays of Kumeu River have gained a strong foothold within the international market, continuously and consistently receiving outstanding accolades. The winery is a globally recognized benchmark for age-worthy Chardonnay outside of Burgundy.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Grape-growers in the local subregions of Clevedon, Matakana and Waiheke Island, focusing on vineyard techniques to maximize quality, are producing very fine Bordeaux Blends from local grapes. Auckland is also an industrial area where winemakers can produce quality wines based on sourced grapes from neighboring regions.