Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay 2019

The peach-inflected 2019 Hunting Hill Chardonnay is considerably plusher and more generous than the Coddington. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel is welcoming and silky, the flavors ranging from yellow peach and grilled pineapple to toasted hazelnuts and even a touch of honey, balanced on the lengthy finish by bright citrus notes.

• Ventana de Consumo: 2021 - 2030
• Nombre del Crítico: Joe Czerwinski
• Fecha de Reseña: junio 2021

This wine manages to walk the tightrope of richness and finesse, and it does it with swagger. It's no surprise that this powerful, highly concentrated Chardonnay was fermented in new oak barrels after a hiatus in 2018 – it certainly has the stuffing to take it. Hunting Hill is Kumeu's most reductive Chardonnay but its influence remains subtle, bringing the merest flint note and added tension to the nectarine and lemon peel flavors. Poised and well judged.

• Ventana de Consumo: 2020 - 2026
• Nombre del Crítico: Rebecca Gibb
• Fecha de Reseña: noviembre 2020

High-toned, tight and very sophisticated. The sort of wine that demands comparison with fine white burgundy. Real integrity and depth. Dry (not sweet) and with light grip on the palate. You could drink this now but you shouldn't; it will so clearly improve, deepen in flavour while retaining its admirable structure and vitality. Much more 'mineral' than the Coddington. Real tingle here. I'm sure Michael Brajkovich won't thank me for the comparison but it does rather remind me in structure of one of Rafael Palacios's finest Valdeorras single-vineyard bottlings. (And those are the wines that remind me of a great Puligny …).

• Ventana de Consumo: 2020 - 2034
• Fecha de Reseña: agosto 2020

This has attractively creamy aromas with white peach and vanilla, as well as sliced mango and honey. The palate serves up fleshy and mouth-filling peach and mango flavors that wrap together so well on the finish. Love the fruit purity here. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

• Fecha de Reseña: noviembre 2020