Kumeu River Mate's Vineyard Chardonnay 2015
-
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spirits
Wine &
Product Details
Your Rating
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 2015 vintage. The nose is extremely closed, just giving hints of the golden queen peach and mineral notes that they expect from Mate’s Vineyard. On the palate however, the flavor is very concentrated and distinctly richer than the other 2015 wines, but 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
-
James Suckling
Really seductive nose of candied lemons, honeysuckle and vanilla, then stunning concentration and elegance on the medium to full palate, the finish very ripe and polished. Delicious now, but with a great future ahead of it. Screw cap.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Yields were down in 2015, but intensity is up, giving this medium-bodied, silky wine the potential to drink well through at least 2025. Hickory smoke outlines white peach before ending in a long flurry of lime zest.
Cellar Selection -
Wine & Spirits
Michael Brajkovich, MW, makes this from his family’s original vineyard north of Auckland, which his father, Maté, replanted in 1990. The mix of clay over sandstone retains enough moisture that he doesn’t need to irrigate the vines. He ferments the wine in barrels without added yeasts, and, while oak dominates the flavors at this early moment, there’s a fascinating seashell note underneath, along with broad strokes of ginger and lemon zest. It’s focused and taut, needing several years to evolve.
Other Vintages
2022-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
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.