Kumeu River
Hunting Hill Chardonnay, Kumeu
Hunting Hill is one of Kumeu River's 4 single vineyard Chardonnays. Named after the hillside farmland where founder, Maté Brajkovich, used to hunt rabbits and pheasants for the home kitchen. Originally planted in 1982, and replanted in 2001. Soils are heavy clay over sandstone. The site also has an iron pan about 12 inches below the surface, which none of the other vineyards have and imparts a unique minerality to the wine.
Vintage Factsheets
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 Mate’s Vineyard, it has always contributed lovely ripe and rich fruit to the Estate Chardonnay and select barrels are set aside for the Hunting Hill Single Vineyard bottling. Hunting Hill was replanted in 2001 and is now even better than before, giving beautifully ripe fruit with a distinctive mealy minerality. Soils are heavy clay over sandstone. The site also has an iron pan about 12 inches below the surface, which none of the other vineyards have and imparts a unique minerality to the wine.
- Region
- Kumeu
- Appellation
- Kumeu
- Varietal Composition
- Chardonnay
- Aging
- 11 months in French oak.
- Alcohol
- 14%
Hunting Hill is very distinctive in its terroir typicity, with piercing lemon/lime fruit lift and florality on the nose, richness and volume in the mouth followed by lingering acidity and minerality on the finish. This is an absolute classic example of how great the Chardonnay grape can be: A beautifully powerful, yet elegant and complex wine with long term aging ability.
Wine Advocate
95 Points
“The peach-inflected, 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.”
— Joe Czerwinski, 2021
Wine Enthusiast
93 Points
“This wine opens with delicate melon, peach and citrus notes, backed by honeysuckle and fresh oats. The palate shows the restraint and poise for which this label is known. It crackles with acidity and a talc-like texture, the pure fruit backed by brioche oak characteristics. Harmonious, varietal and expressive of place, this is a polished bottling for drinking now.”
— Christina Pickard, 2021
Kumeu River
Chardonnay Hunting Hill Kumeu
Introducing Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay
