The Brajkovich family have carved out a reputation second to none for Chardonnay and every new release adds to that reputation.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
"If you can taste history, duty, and family pride in a glass, it’s there in the Kumeu River Chardonnays… now producing some of New Zealand’s greatest Chardonnays, not to mention the world’s."
Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"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."
Michael Brajkovich MW, Vintage notes (2023 Vintage)
"2023 rewarded our commitment and attention to detail with hand harvesting and triage in the vineyard. The result? All of the 2023 Single Vineyard wines have now been bottled, and are excellent examples of their respective and distinctive terroirs."
95/100 Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, August 2023 (2023 Vintage)
"White flowers, mint, white peach, lemon and lime, almond biscotti, and spice. It’s an understated wine, though it has something about it which really gets me in, and maybe that’s the cool and ‘mineral’ feel it offers, or the light crunch of acidity combined with classic and delicate Chardonnay flavour. It has perfume and precision, and the length is excellent. It’s classy and high-toned, floral and nutty, flinty, and delicious. It’s water-coloured, yes, yet it’s a beautiful wine."
Reviews for the 2022 vintage below…
Rated Outstanding & 97/100 Cameron Douglas MS, July 2023 (2022 Vintage)
"Complex and alluring bouquet, layers of spice and mineral, core white fleshed fruits and lees mineral complexities. As the wine opens out in glass and warms a little, the mouthfeel, fruit and floral tones blossom and expand. Fantastic texture and length, persistent mouthfeel, a cashew nut butter note, barrel spice moments and synergies from the collection of attributes and inputs. rewrite CD. lengthy, taut and complex. A wine for the cellar still. Best from 2025 through 2035+."
94/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, July 2023 (2022 Vintage)
"Fragrant, aromatic chardonnay with slightly green tree fruit flavours, citrus/lime and a backbone of nicely integrated and pleasantly vibrant acidity that helps drive a lengthy finish. A smattering of nutty yeast lees adds extra interest."