Kumeu River is considered one of the best producers of Chardonnay in New Zealand.
Rays Road is one of the latest additions to the Kumeu Rives vineyard sites, and oh boy, what a Chardonnay gold mine!
Rays Road is Kumeu River’s new vineyard in Hawkes Bay, situated on a limestone hillside at 180 meters altitude with a northerly aspect. Dry-farmed to produce high-quality grapes, it contributes to the Kumeu River label under the Rays Road name. This Chardonnay is crafted from hand-harvested grapes, whole-bunch pressed, and fermented with wild yeast in older French oak barrels. The result is a wine that is zesty, fragrant, and showcases a distinctive mineral complexity, reflecting the unique character of its site.
Kumeu River Rays Road Chardonnay 2024 Vintage:
The 2024 vintage in Hawke’s Bay was outstanding, despite yields being just half of the usual. Since acquiring the vineyard in 2017, quality has improved dramatically each year, and 2024 marks a new high point. The warm, even ripening produced a Rays Road Chardonnay with greater depth and texture than ever before; an evolution from the already impressive 2023 vintage. The aromas lean more toward ripe peach this year, while the hallmark flinty, zesty limestone character remains distinct. On the palate, it shows increased density and concentration, confirming its potential as an exceptional Chardonnay site. This vintage truly feels like one that will benefit from bottle age.
Food pairing suggestion: Classic roast chicken, or a creamy monkfish stew.
Did you know? The owner of Kumeu estates, Michael Brajkovic, was the first New Zealander to become a Master of Wine. When taken over the property from his father, Michael has significantly improved the wine-growing and winemaking processes, that resulted in production of some of the best Chardonnays in the world.
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