WINERY Family owned and operated since 1944 by the Brajkovich family, Kumeu River was one of the early pioneers in Auckland, New Zealand and helped establish its reputation as a word-class wine region. Still family owned and run, Kumeu River continues to pioneer new frontiers: winemaker Michael Brajkovich became New Zealand’s first member of the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine, London.

WINE The Pinot Noir at Rays Road was planted by the previous owners of this site in 2008 with a variety of superior clones. We are very excited by the Pinot Noir from this limestone terroir, and the future of this vineyard is certainly very bright. We have identified a small section of this vineyard which shows distinct character and consistent high quality fruit, and dedicated it solely to the production of the Rays Road bottling.

The vineyard in Rays Road, Raukawa was established as a joint venture between Trinity Hill and Pascal Jolivet from Sancerre, France. Kumeu River purchased the vineyard in full in 2017. We are very excited about the land in this vineyard as it is predominantly based on limestone soils and significantly more elevated than most vineyards in Hawkes Bay. The Pinot Noir was planted in 2008 with a variety of superior clones. We pick the best fruit from this site for the Rays Road bottling and the remainder is blended into Kumeu River Village Pinot Noir.

With the 2020 vintage, Rays Road produced the best fruit we have seen yet from this Hawke’s Bay site.

Fruit is hand harvested, 100% destemmed and then crushed. The wine undergoes indigenous yeast fermentation and cuvaison takes 2-3 weeks. After malolactic fermentation is complete, the wine is then matured for 12 months in French oak (10% new).

Yeast: Indigenous

This wine is bright, fragrant with ripe cherry and other red-fruit aromas. There is also a distinctive dry leaf quality which contributes to the complexity. The palate is supple, deceptively concentrated with a distinctive limestone edge. It is approachable now, and we have no doubt that this complex wine will enhance further with bottle age.