“Distinctive aromas of prunes and herbs, with the prune flavor continuing, along with apricot, orange marmalade and honey accents. Bracing acidity keeps it from being cloying, lending persistence and freshness on the finish. Drink now through 2025. 25 cases made.”

“Fairly closed, spices and fruits of forest. A lovely, well-structured wine with some complexity and excellent length.”

Complex and maturing, this smells like burnished antique furniture, picking up notes of orange, spice and apricot. Its sweetness is offset by tangy acidity, keeping it all lively and driving the flavors to a lengthy conclusion. Drink now through 2012.

“Rich and creamy up front, exhibiting caramel, coconut, spice and orange flavors, then a wave of fresh acidity ushers in the refreshing finish. The aftertaste combines citrus and caramel.”

“Amazing. This tastes off-dry, so searing is the acidity of this blazing Tokaji. Combines intense caramel, orange peel, spice and mineral flavors with a gossamer structure and flavors that go on and on. Drink now through 2015.”

"Lean, tangy nose of apricot and lime. The palate has a good attack and is lean and pungent, It has a crystalline, racy character, displaying tension and vigour. The fruit is a bit subdued now, but there seems to be plenty of it. Good length with a nutty finish."

“...spicy and cool, this raspberry-scented wine is packed with energy. The fruit feels succulent and juicy, even as the tannins last with powerful braised-meat flavors and bright purple radish–like bitterness. This is fresh, vibrant and delicious"

This is firing on all cylinders, featuring blackberry, dark plum, chocolate and spice flavors allied to a solid structure. Long, if still a bit compact and square on the finish. Drink now through 2024.

Cloudy gold. Aromas of ripe lemon and clementine. Reminds me of a lemon and ginger infusion. Dry wine with a chewy texture that gives an attractive and light tannic grip to balance the intense and aromatic fruit.

A fresh, lean white with dried-pear and green-apple character, medium body and a crisp, tangy finish. Vibrant is the word. Drink now.

The 2017 Estate Chardonnay has a fresh, well-defined bouquet of citrus fruit complemented by subtle scents of brioche and almond. The palate is taut and crisp on the entry with a twist of sour lemon. Very saline in the mouth, not powerful but full of tension. The aforementioned saline tang lingers on the aftertaste. Superb - one of the best Estate releases in recent years. Tasted at the Kumeu River Chardonnay vertical in London.

Enticing and very fresh nose of sliced pears and flowers with hints of almonds and vanilla. A great combination of vibrant fruit and silky texture, this tightly wound, medium-bodied chardonnay is just beginning to unfurl its long banner. Great mineral freshness at the pristine finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Kumeu's estate Chard is a blend of six different sites. Despite a few years in bottle, it's still relatively closed, showing a restrained toasty character along with red apple, pineapple and orange rind. The palate is more generous in a satiny texture and seamless backbone of acidity, accompanied by tangy, citrusy flavors and woody undertones. Drink now–2022.

Mid crimson. Bottled. Lovely fresh lightly stemmy red fruit. A hint of white mushrooms. Tangy and deeply fruited on the palate, the roundness of the tannins accentuating the lovely fruit character, which is ripe but fresh. Chewy and generous.

From one of the Grand Cru sites in the Russian River (although it's a big, diverse site), the 2017 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard saw the standard 12 months in one-third new French oak followed by six months in stainless steel. Buttered pineapple, nectarines, honeyed flowers, almond paste, toasted bread, and honeysuckle notes all emerge from the glass, and this beauty is full-bodied on the palate and flawlessly balanced. The purity of fruit is just about off the charts, and it has good acidity as well as a great mid-palate...

Moving to the reds, the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley was all destemmed (as are all the Pinot Noirs here) and was brought up 11 months in just 20% new French oak. Its ruby/plum and translucent hue is followed by a savory nose of mulled black cherry and currant fruits interwoven with lots of spice, forest floor, earth, and bouquet garni. Textured and medium-bodied, with good acidity and great balance, I suspect it's going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age and should have a decade or more of overall longevity.

This is very exciting with cassis-bush and plum character and very pretty rose-stem and leaf undertones. Full-bodied, layered and focused. Solid. Try after 2021.

Tangy and full of floral, creamy peach and hazelnut flavors, shaded by vanilla and toasty oak notes. Racy and mouthwatering on the bracing finish, with alluring aromas and subtle length. Drink now through 2028. 600 cases made, 85 cases imported.

This sleek white exhibits fine intensity, with a honey note adding interest to the peach, lemon tart and mineral flavors. Balanced, verging on creamy in texture, offering a long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2024. 3,500 cases made, 500 cases imported.

This is rich, evoking lemon cake, green apple and pastry flavors. Backed by vibrant acidity, this leaves a cleansing impression on the long finish. Drink now through 2024. 625 cases made, 20 cases imported.