Kumeu River Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
The Maté’s Vineyard is the undisputed crown jewel of the Kumeu River estate, a site where history and viticulture collide to produce what is arguably New Zealand’s most prestigious Chardonnay. Planted in 1990 by Maté Brajkovich on the original land purchased by the family in 1944, this vineyard is home to the Mendoza clone, famous for its "hen and chicken" berries that provide a unique intensity of flavour. The 2023 vintage tells a story of meticulous selection. Following a season of dramatic rainfall and flash flooding in Auckland, the Brajkovich family’s commitment to hand-harvesting and rigorous triage was more critical than ever. The resulting wine is a departure from the tropical punch of sunnier years, leaning instead into a steely, composed, and flinty personality. On the palate, the 2023 Maté’s Vineyard is a masterclass in tension. It displays a "millefeuille" of texture (layered and complex) with notes of Meyer lemon, ginger cream, and white peach, all bound together by a racy, mouth-watering acidity. To maintain the purity of the fruit in this lighter-framed vintage, no new oak was used, allowing the natural mineral drive and saline finish to take centre stage.
