{"product_id":"kumeu-river-mates-vineyard-chardonnay-2025","title":"Kumeu River Mate's Vineyard Chardonnay 2025","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1178\" data-end=\"1922\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMaté’s Vineyard is the historic Kumeu site replanted to Chardonnay by Maté Brajkovich in 1990.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Kumeu River Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay 2025 is a single-vineyard Chardonnay from Kumeu in the Auckland wine region of New Zealand. Maté Brajkovich replanted the vineyard to Chardonnay in 1990 on the original property purchased by the family in 1944, with the first crop harvested in 1993 following his death. The 2025 season was exceptionally dry, with clean, concentrated fruit harvested through February and March. This historic site produces one of Kumeu River's most powerful and structured Chardonnays, combining ripe fruit depth with strong natural acidity and mineral tension. The vintage shows a particularly complete expression of the vineyard, balancing richness with precision and freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1924\" data-end=\"2614\"\u003eThe grapes were hand harvested and whole-bunch pressed before indigenous-yeast fermentation entirely in French oak barrels. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation and matured for 11 months in barrel, developing considerable texture and complexity. White peach, ripe orchard fruit, lime and green apple are layered with almond meal, white flowers, fennel, white pepper and subtle wood smoke. The palate is concentrated and broad yet kept lively by vibrant acidity, with saline, nutty and flinty elements adding definition. Its finish is exceptionally long, structured and savoury, suggesting excellent potential for extended bottle development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"2616\" data-end=\"2633\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2616\" data-end=\"2633\"\u003eTasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2635\" data-end=\"2643\"\u003eNOSE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2643\" data-end=\"2646\"\u003e – Complex, concentrated and finely savoury\u003cbr data-start=\"2688\" data-end=\"2691\"\u003e White peach, ripe orchard fruit, lime and green apple with almond meal, white flowers, white pepper and restrained smoky oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"2818\" data-end=\"2991\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2818\" data-end=\"2828\"\u003ePALATE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2828\" data-end=\"2831\"\u003e – Powerful, textural and vibrant\u003cbr data-start=\"2863\" data-end=\"2866\"\u003e Concentrated peach and citrus are supported by vigorous acidity, creamy texture, saline minerality and fine nutty complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"2993\" data-end=\"3160\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2993\" data-end=\"3003\"\u003eFINISH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"3003\" data-end=\"3006\"\u003e – Long, structured and flinty\u003cbr data-start=\"3035\" data-end=\"3038\"\u003e Persistent citrus, salted nuts, spice and mineral notes carry through a focused, savoury and exceptionally lengthy finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3162\" data-end=\"3185\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"3162\" data-end=\"3185\"\u003eReviews \u0026amp; Accolades\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"3187\" data-end=\"3231\"\u003e\"Taut, closed, complex and very very new. Aromas and flavours of ripe white fleshed fruits with a sweet citrus pith note, fine lees and layers of gentle wood spices. A very focused and complex wine, one to visit several times over a day or two. Taut and delicious.”\u003c\/em\u003e — Cameron Douglas MS, 98 Points\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3307\" data-end=\"3429\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Almond meal, salted cinnamon-laced pastry dough, white peach and lime, cut fennel and white flowers, just a feathering of stuck match, but less than many vintages. It’s smooth and mealy, a honey gloss and nuttiness to the wine, acidity has juiciness and vigour, but it’s calm and well-settled, lime and peach carries on a saline finish of excellent length. A wine of richness and composure with a flinty exit. It’s all just so. A beautiful thing.\"\u003c\/em\u003e — Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, 96 Points\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3431\" data-end=\"3558\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"3431\" data-end=\"3476\"\u003e“The 2025 Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay is powerful and nutty, with ripe orchard fruit. There are also notes of white pepper, pressed linen, green apple, chamomile and salted cashews. The palate is predictably powerful and unbelievably concentrated, with depth and length that feels interminable. This is an exceptional release of Maté's, one you should make every effort to taste. These wines age so well; don't acquire them with the expectation that they must be consumed soon. They have a decades-long future ahead, if only you have the patience.”\u003c\/em\u003e — Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate, 97 Points\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3560\" data-end=\"3695\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"3560\" data-end=\"3606\"\u003e“Very aromatic with sliced lime, pear skin, chardonnay skin, white pepper and lilacs that follow through to a medium- to full-bodied wine with density in the center palate and a long finish of sliced apple and pear, salt and light nuts. Lightly flinty at the end. It is very open already but subtle. Drink now.”\u003c\/em\u003e — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, 97 Points\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3697\" data-end=\"3872\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"3697\" data-end=\"3715\"\u003eFiner Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"3715\" data-end=\"3718\"\u003e Brand - Kumeu River\u003cbr data-start=\"3737\" data-end=\"3740\"\u003e Style - White Wine\u003cbr data-start=\"3758\" data-end=\"3761\"\u003e Varietal - Chardonnay\u003cbr data-start=\"3782\" data-end=\"3785\"\u003e Country - New Zealand\u003cbr data-start=\"3806\" data-end=\"3809\"\u003e Region - Auckland\u003cbr data-start=\"3826\" data-end=\"3829\"\u003e Vintage - 2025\u003cbr data-start=\"3843\" data-end=\"3846\"\u003e ABV - 13.7%\u003cbr data-start=\"3857\" data-end=\"3860\"\u003e Size - 750ml\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kumeu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44386608316503,"sku":"KR-MATECH-25","price":129.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0043\/9258\/3217\/files\/bd540c78-3610-463f-b92f-263425143206.webp?v=1790823476","url":"https:\/\/kentstreetcellars.com.au\/products\/kumeu-river-mates-vineyard-chardonnay-2025","provider":"Kent Street Cellars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}