Kumeu River Coddington Chardonnay, Kumeu, New Zealand 2022

More than three decades ago, Michael Brahjkovich had the idea to produce one truly great Chardonnay from our vineyards in Kumeu.  In 1990, following this belief, Maté led the project of replanting his original vineyard with the Mendoza clone of Chardonnay. To celebrate the 30th Vintage of Maté's Vineyard with the release of the exceptional 2022 Vintage is a special moment. We look forward to sharing our Single Vineyard wines with as many of you as possible.

This wine is produced from a vineyard owned by Tim and Angela Coddington, whose grapes have contributed to the blend of Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay since 1998. It is a vineyard that produces very rich and unctuous Chardonnay that we have long believed could make an excellent single vineyard wine. In 2006, we decided to give Coddington single vineyard status to reflect this vineyard’s unique character.

"Coddington is my pick of the two ‘Premiers Crus’ not least because it is seamless, refined and already completely integrated.  This is a sensual wine with wonderful texture and refinement.  Sometimes Coddington looks a little light and feeble, by comparison to HH and Maté’s but in 2020 it is a shimmering beauty.  In value terms, you are still only matching up to a low-level Saint-Aubin, so this wine, again, aces it against Burgundian competition.  18/20 Matthew Jukes