Kumeu River Hunting Hill 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.

Hunting Hill is a vineyard that was first planted in 1982 and became a significant part of the original Kumeu River Chardonnay blend. Occupying the slope overlooking Maté’s Vineyard, it has always contributed lovely ripe and rich fruit to the Estate Chardonnay. Hunting Hill was replanted in 2000 and is now even better than before, giving beautifully ripe fruit with a distinctive, mealy minerality.

Hunting Hill is the steely, driven and mineral wine of the three and as such draws comparisons to Puligny Montrachet. These wines need a little more bottle age or decanting than the others, but are magnificent and elegantly powerful. The vines, planted in 2000, reached 20 years old in 2020 and the added depth in recent vintages is a testament to that vine age. It is more often than not Farr Vintners’ favourite wine in the range, and that is the case again in 2020. It displays all the hallmarks of a great Hunting Hill – limey fruit, cutting acidity and mineral drive. There is a pithy, grippy texture to showcase the ageing potential, and with time in the glass it unfurls into a magnificently complex wine. A stunning example that would rival many Premier and even Grand Crus from the Côte de Beaune. Thomas Parker MW - Farr Vintners 97 points