"Michael Brajkovich MW - Winemaker
Careful selection in 2023 was crucial in maintaining the quality and high standard of the Estate Chardonnay that we have set ourselves for over 35 years. Due to the lighter vintage the alcohol is a moderate 12.5% and no new oak was used in the vinification of this wine. There was a high proportion of 1 & 2 year old barrels and this has provided a beautiful balance to the Chardonnay which is a little more citrus in 2023 rather than peachy. The wine begins with a fragrant lemon aroma with hint of white peach. The palate silky and balanced with a lovely citrus finish. Delicious now but, as always, benefits from bottle age of 4-6 years.
93/100 James Suckling
This is fresh, crunchy and clean, with mineral and spice notes and plenty of salty undertones. Sliced lemons and apples. Medium-bodied with a fresh finish. Drink now."
Kumeu River Wines encompasses 30 hectares of vineyards, which are predominantly clay soils overlying a sandstone base. These soil types retain sufficient water at depth, even during the summer months, to ensure the deep vine roots continue to hydrate the vine without excessive vigour. Therefore, the vineyard doesn’t require irrigation, a factor that is critical to the quality of Kumeu River’s grapes. The vineyards are trained on a ‘Lyre’ trellis to help optimise exposure to light and increase grape maturity and quality. One of the distinguishing factors of Kumeu River’s wines is all of the grapes are harvested by hand. This allows the opportunity to remove sub-standard grapes by hand; the result is a net yield of purely high-quality grapes.
Just as the Brajkovich family has grown, so too has the winery itself. Extensions and additions mark the milestones that have seen business adapt and expand over the years. Today, the winery produces around 250,000 bottles annually from 30 hectares of its own vineyards in Kumeu, and another 10 hectares from local growers.
The Chardonnay wines of Kumeu River have gained a strong foothold within the international market, receiving outstanding accolades. The vineyard has gone on to become the globally recognised benchmark for non-Burgundy produced Chardonnay.
Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay is made from only the very best grapes grown in six different vineyard sites in the Kumeu Region near Auckland.
