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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 86.8 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 31 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by DFBW on 1/1/2021 & rated 89 points: Quite a pleasant surprise. This was my last bottle and I've hung onto it for a few years to see if some age improved the wine and balanced out the fruit and acidity which was previously off-kilter. And it had - well, in this bottle at least. Seemed to have more depth and a better flavour profile with a little bottle age. Very nice drop and perhaps the way forward with the entry level young KR wines? (953 views) | | | Tasted by cwjames on 8/29/2020 & rated 75 points: I left this one too long. It was just about drinkable but I didn't bother. The wine was tired and rather unpleasant. (935 views) | | | Tasted by empire80 on 3/23/2018 & rated 88 points: Slightly reductive, flinty style, but avoiding excessive sulphur and gun smoke. Good value (1812 views) | | | Tasted by Heynetty on 11/25/2017 & rated 88 points: Tasted Blind
A: Clear, pale, lemon green
N: Lot of primaries here. Passion fruit, pear, grapefruit, lime, medium intensity, vanilla, JTH gets additional yeast, banana and mango. Just primaries and secondaries here. Youthful
P: Tastes same as aromas but with more smoke. Dry, high acidity, medium body, medium alcohol, medium (+) intensity and long finish.
C: BLIC? All ticked except complexity. Its largely high acid tropical fruit with a smattering of pomacious fruit. Drink now. Very good quality wine. (1967 views) | | | Tasted by tadams66 on 9/9/2017 & rated 89 points: Crisp but balanced with slight wood. Nice chablis like qualities of acidity and mineralality. Nice finish (2005 views) | | | Tasted by RajivAyyangar on 8/21/2017 & rated 86 points: MNB: Grab Bag (Home (Noe st)): 25% in used French oak, full malo.
Medium yellow color, hint of gold.
Diminished aromatics of slight wood - maybe 10% new or mostly used. Yellow apples. Some development - faded apples, some savory apple butter. Slight reduction (struck match, crushed rocks).
On the palate, dry, medium body, medium plus - feels 13.5%, high acid - long with a hint of sour green apple - malic? (this is a bit confusing because I believe this went through full malo). No phenolic bitterness, but a bit of bitterness from oak. More yellow apple and ripe lemon on the finish. Medium plus finish.
Good length. Shows some development. Acid is a bit harsh. (2001 views) | | | Tasted by DFBW on 8/17/2017 & rated 86 points: Pretty average offering this. Too much acidity to get enough Chardonnay fruit. Stick to the higher level Chardonnays from KR - much better.. (1484 views) | | | Tasted by Yorgos on 6/14/2017 & rated 84 points: Medium yellow with a reductive nose, some strange savoury notes, citrus and stewed apples. Dry with rather thin mid palate some CO2, not much fruit here and a very bittery finish which reminds me citric acid powder. (988 views) | | | Tasted by kostaslonis on 6/14/2017 & rated 88 points: Kiwi Chardonnay Tasting (Oinoscent): Med to high intensity, quite nutty profile, a bit of reduction too, a few ripe stone hints, coffee notes.
The acidity is quite high ig not aggressive, reduction again, crispy, citrus, med body, long finish, it feels very fresh and young.
Nees to come together (1124 views) | | | Tasted by honest bob on 5/14/2017 & rated 89 points: From 75cl screwcap. I've recently found the more expensive Kumeu Chardonnays a distinct challenge (a bit like a lime-eating competition). The entry-level wine bears the distinctive footprint of its producer: High-acid, zingy, linear, slender, very concentrated – light years away from Sonoma, Stellenbosch or indeed South of Beaune. A great introduction to the Kumeu style, and excellent value. 89P (1349 views) | | | Tasted by gweavil on 4/5/2017 & rated 85 points: Not bad. Bit like a Chablis (1147 views) | | | Tasted by Heynetty on 3/21/2017 & rated 89 points: WSL3 WK2.5
A: Pale lemon-green
N: Pronounced for me (instructor says medium +)
Primary_flinty (instructor says this was actually 'smoke' and therefore a secondary oak aroma), grapefruit, peach
Youthful
P: Dry. High acid, medium alcohol (13.5%), medium body, medium intensity
Same as aromas on the nose but with a little lemon
I got a medium + finish (instructor says long)
Very good, drink now , will not improve with age. Very good quality and in a style that i like.
Made by a master of wine from hand harvested chardonnay grapes. Whole bunch pressed. Fermented using ambient yeasts with extended time on the lees. (1305 views) | | | Tasted by pdev on 2/14/2017 & rated 89 points: New World Chablis. Really interesting. Moderated & well integrated oak. Stony minerals. Good fruit, yet restrained. There is a hint of green to this, but overall...very well made (1081 views) | | | Tasted by Alisonprice on 12/31/2016 & rated 71 points: Citrus with a hint of stone fruits, some chalkiness. High acidity, crisp, pure. Reminiscent of a Chablis. (1217 views) | | | Tasted by macaujames on 11/26/2016 & rated 88 points: This was elegant, well balanced and fresh with white fruits, low and stylish vanilla oak. Ends mediumish. (1692 views) | | | Tasted by ronnieroots on 10/2/2016 & rated 88 points: Always great value, and this vintage is no different. Refreshing lemon and apple, with subtle oak and creamy notes. Really very enjoyable. (1409 views) | | | Tasted by Collinsb1 on 8/13/2016 & rated 90 points: White burgundy style- citrus, very light oak, fresh, smooth. Nice finish, somewhat light. Had with epoisses cheese, excellent pairing. (1156 views) | | | Tasted by Marc on 2/15/2016 & rated 88 points: The entry level Kumeu chardonnay in this vintage fills me with a lot of excitement for the entire range in 2014. This rendition of the wine shares the light oak, zingy acids and almost French stylings, alongside tropical banana and pineapple notes, finishing dry and savoury. The mid-palate is richer than normal for the wine and has slightly more presence than previous vintages, as well. A class act. (1956 views) | | | Tasted by BigJ on 1/3/2016: Young, fresh, crisp, well balanced and robust yet refind. Lemon zest, toast, burnt match and stone fruit. Nice level of spice that is well balanced. This is a damn good wine regardless of price, but for what you pay, it packs a hell of a punch, excellent value. (1393 views) | | | Tasted by henrygjeffreys on 11/26/2015: Fresh and lemony on the nose
Quite rich and full with a hint of caramel
Plenty of freshness too.
This is good. Lots to like here. (1316 views) | | | Tasted by Shrewsram on 9/18/2015 & rated 88 points: 75% of the wine is fermented/matured in tanks, 25% barrel fermented in old French oak
A racy, ‘apéritif’ style showing smoky, flinty notes on the nose ahead of some subtle yet ripe white fruit and bright citrus. Crisp and light-bodied, taught and sinewy on the attack with a savoury lime fruit quality. Rather sophisticated and mineral, and should appeal to Chablis lovers. (692 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Kumeu River Producer website
U.S. Importer (source of add'l info)
At Kumeu River wines, our winemaking philosophy can be summarised in a single word. Quality. From the vines to the wineglass, every drop of Kumeu River wine is a blend of tradition, innovation, and dedication to both the science and the art and of winemaking.
Kumeu River's Chardonnays are our most recognised wine and have received international accolades and awards. We have invested heavily in the development of our Chardonnays over the past three decades, and it is very rewarding to see them continue to gain recognition and respect from highly regarded wine judges and reviewers.
An important part of the winemaking process of our best Chardonnays is barrel fermentation in a blend of new and old French oak barrels. This process draws out the flavour nuances that are so crucial to these fine wine styles. Only indigenous wild yeasts are used to further enhance the texture and complexity and this is also the case with our tank fermented Chardonnays and Pinot Gris.
Kumeu River Chardonnay VillageThis is a wine where we always have a bottle in the fridge. The perfect aperitif Chardonnay this wine also goes very well with all types of seafood. Fermented 45% in old French oak barriques, and 55% in stainless steel tanks there is very little oak influence on either nose or palate. This has allowed the vibrant fruit to show through beautifully with lively lime and lemon aromas and a flinty, mineral edginess with hints of fig and white peach.Chardonnay The Chardonnay GrapeNew Zealand New Zealand Wine (New Zealand Winegrowers)North IslandHaving a cool factor is a great start.
When they were creating climate classifications for wine regions around the world, we weren’t exactly complaining that New Zealand’s was called ‘cool.’ Step out in the middle of the day on a classic Marlborough or Hawke’s Bay’s summer, and you may wonder if they got it right. The brightness is beautifully intense, and sunshine plentiful.
But stay about a little. Until nightfall. The shift from day to night isn’t just defined by light, but temperature too. It chills quickly. The South Pacific Ocean taking its deep breath over our two islands. For the grapes, this makes for more than a chilly night. Ripening is gradual, almost methodical. As each day edges the grape towards ripeness, each night captures its flavour.
This pattern creates one of the longest grape growing seasons on earth – and those unmistakable, remarkable zesty flavours, and fragrance that are the hallmark of our wines.

Sometimes the world really is your oyster.
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