In Bond Fine Wine. 2025 Kumeu River Mate's Vineyard Chardonnay, Kumeu, New Zealand. White new zealand - white in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 97/100 (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…
Jancis Robinson MW (JR) — 17/20 · JancisRobinson.com, 2026-09-11 · Drink 2026-2036
35-year-old 100% Mendoza vines replanted in 1993, named after the late Maté Brajkovich, father of winemaker Michael and viticulturist Milan. Always the last to be picked because of virus. Rich and pineapple on the nose. Big and bold in a Kumeu context with a little bitterness on the end. A conundrum in that the nose is so exhibitionist yet it’s not that potent. This has traditionally been the mos…
Erin Larkin (EL) — 97/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 2026-09-10 · Drink 2026 - 2045
The 2025 Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay is powerful and nutty, with ripe orchard fruit. There are also notes of white pepper, pressed linen, green apple, chamomile and salted cashews. The palate is predictably powerful and unbelievably concentrated, with depth and length that feels interminable. This is an exceptional release of Maté's, one you should make every effort to taste. These wines age so we…
James Suckling (JS) — 97/100 · JamesSuckling.com, 2026-08-20 · Drink 2026+
Very aromatic with sliced lime, pear skin, chardonnay skin, white pepper and lilacs that follow through to a medium- to full-bodied wine with density in the center palate and a long finish of sliced apple and pear, salt and light nuts. Lightly flinty at the end. It is very open already but subtle. Drink now. Screw cap.