In Bond Fine Wine. 2025 Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay NZ, New Zealand Sparkling, New Zealand. White new zealand - white in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 93/100 (EL). Drinking window: 2026+. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Kumeu River is one of New Zealand’s benchmark producers and has earned a worldwide reputation for Chardonnays that regularly draw comparisons with top white Burgundy. Founded by the Brajkovich family, the estate combines cool-climate vineyards with Burgundian inspired winemaking to produce wines of remarkable purity, freshness and longevity. Chardonnay is the star, from the superb value Village and Estate Chardonnay through to the single vineyard Coddington, Hunting Hill and much feted Maté’s Vineyard. The range also includes elegant, cool-climate Pinot Noir, with an emphasis throughout on balance, precision and expression of site. The 2024 vintage is a particular highlight - small in quantity but exceptional in quality, producing beautifully concentrated, fresh and balanced wines. It is one of Kumeu River’s finest recent vintages and further evidence of why the estate is regarded among…
James Suckling (JS) — 94/100 · JamesSuckling.com · Drink 2026+
Very aromatic, with white peaches and orchard blossom lifted by a touch of sourdough and wet clay. Medium-bodied, with brisk acidity setting the tone, subtle and delicate in feel with crisp freshness running through to a long, precise finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
Erin Larkin (EL) — 93/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com · Drink 2026 - 2035
Hailing from the exceptional 2025 growing season, the 2025 Estate Chardonnay leads initially with toasty/pencilly oak notes; however, the fruit on the palate is where the quality of the vintage is on show. Here we have yellow peach, sea salt, toasted sage leaf (even bay), quince, fig and white flowers. The acidity is prodigious, and this serves as a prop in the middle of the palate, providing rea…
Jancis Robinson MW (JR) — 17/20 · JancisRobinson.com, 2025-09-11 · Drink 2026-2032
Sourced from six Kumeu vineyard sites, not all owned but definitely managed by the family. They have lost a couple of ingredients over the last few years so volumes have slightly decreased. This is Kumeu River’s most clonally diverse Chardonnay bottling. Whole-bunch pressed and 100% barrel fermentation (20% new) with ambient yeast. Aged 11 months. Looks quite substantial, even dense! Leaner on th…