Kumeu RiverMaté’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Kumeu

Kumeu River

Maté’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Kumeu

Maté's is one of Kumeu River's 4 single vineyard Chardonnays. Maté’s vineyard is located next to an old creek, and is Kumeu River’s lowest-lying vineyard and oldest vineyard site. It has a very sheltered position and faces north to the sun. Planted solely to Mendoza clone which has grapevine leafroll, leading to extremely low yields and slower ripening but a distinct character that the winery is quite fond of. A site that consistently gives intense confectionary characters to the Chardonnay, such as caramel and candied orange rind.

Vintage Factsheets

2023 2022

In 1990, Maté Brajkovich reworked the land and planted a new vineyard of Chardonnay vines on the site of the original vineyard that he and his family purchased in March 1944. The first grapes from this vineyard were harvested in March 1993, the year following Maté’s death. The resulting wine was released in November 1994 to coincide with celebrations marking the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Brajkovich Family’s arrival at Kumeu River.

Region: Kumeu

Appellation: Kumeu

Varietal Composition: Chardonnay

Aging: 14 to 16 months in stainless steel vats with, if necessary, some time spent in French oak barrels.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Maté's Chardonnay always shows density, concentration and length. Although still somewhat shy on the nose in it's youth, with bottle age the full palette of complex aromas and bouquet of this wonderful wine will be gradually and seductively revealed.