2017 Kumeu River Chardonnay Mate's Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Mate's Vineyard Chardonnay shows that this wine needs time to come into its own. All the rambunctious energy and barely bridled power of the wine on release and close to it is harnessed by time. It shows a previously bucking brumby to be a purebred stallion, one made for speed and endurance. Excellent. It remains savory, the depth of complexity only deepening with time. I love this as much as I love the Hunting Hill—that wine being restrained and composed, this being a fete of power and concentration.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Much more complex and well balanced than the 2016 Maté ’ s . Exciting tension and still quite youthful. (JR)
Very rich and serious on the nose – nuts, nectarines and honeycomb. A mouth-filling vinous palate, with mouth-watering acidity and a chalky stony note. It grows in the mouth and gets fuller and fuller – but always refreshing with it. Just great concentration of fruit and such length – a joyous wine. Not often I would call a wine at this price good value, but this is for sure! GV (AC)
The 2017 Maté’s Vineyard Chardonnay has a really beautiful, quixotic bouquet of apricot blossom, white peach, minerals and dandelion scents that waft temptingly from the glass. The harmonious, lightly spiced palate is very well balanced with crisp acidity and a succinct, perfectly pitched finish that offers just the right amount of sapidity. Superb. Tasted at the Kumeu River Chardonnay vertical in London.