Chardonnay, Maté’s Vineyard, Kumeu – 2014
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Vineyard Profile
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In 1990, Maté Brajkovich reworked the land at Kumeu River and planted a new vineyard of Chardonnay on the site of the family’s original vineyard, purchased in 1944. The first harvest from these new vines was in March 1993, the year following Maté’s death. The vineyard was named Maté’s Vineyard in his honor, and the resulting single-vineyard wine was first released in November 1994 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Brajkovich family’s arrival in Kumeu.
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Vinification
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Whole-bunch pressed
Indigenous-yeast fermentation
100% barrel fermented
100% malolactic fermentation
Aged 11 months in barrel
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
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Tasting Notes
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2014 was a spectacular vintage and the Kumeu River Chardonnays across the board are ripe, floral and delicious. This vintage sees the continuation of the “Maté’s” style of Chardonnay. Defined by the superior vineyard site, it exhibits its own nuances and shades of aroma and flavor.
Mate’s Vineyard is always set apart from the other Kumeu River Chardonnays with its lifted sweet fruit aroma that is akin to pears. On the palate we see the extra concentration, and length of flavour but the wine still seems refined and taut. Certainly a wine that will benefit from bottle age of 4-10 years.
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Images
Reviews
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Kumeu River Mate’s Vineyard Chardonnay – 2014 – James Suckling – 95 Points
Quite toasty nose with some hazelnuts and earthy funk, this is a powerful and impressively structured chardonnay that's anything but charming. Bold mineral finish. Drink or hold.
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Chardonnay, Maté’s Vineyard, Kumeu – 2014 – 96 points, Top 50 New Zealand Wines of 2016, #14 – jamessuckling.com
“… a powerful wine wound into a complex yet contained mode. It has plenty of savory hazelnut and biscuit aromas that combine with orange hints and flinty moments in the glass. … demonstrates a sense of weight as it heads to the convincing finish.”
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Chardonnay, Maté’s Vineyard, Kumeu – 2014 – 91 points – Wine Spectator Online
“Lemon curd, spice and verbena flavors are deep and detailed while still vividly crisp, the spice accents gaining momentum on the long finish.”
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Chardonnay, Maté’s Vineyard, Kumeu – 2014 – 91 points – Vinous
“… Sexy spices and perfumed yellow stone fruits, apple and pear on the nose … showing superb energy and tactile lift … firm and persistent on the aftertaste.”