April 19, 2024 - So good. Mental note to buy some more.
August 14, 2023 - Youthful probably because of the screw-cap. Burgundian nose but lean palate. Enjoyable.
March 18, 2022 - From 75cl screwcap. Fully mature, light golden colour. Struck match, caramel and new oak (toasted, buttery) scent; medium-bodied, unctuous, concentrated entry with citrus high notes; unexpectedly tropical-fruity mid-palate (pineapple, maracuja, papaya); pleasant rounded finish. As technically perfect as this wine may be (and as delighted as I am to open a 10 year-old Burgundy-lookalaike without premox or other faults... spoiler alert: the secret just could be the screwcap closure) its blockish, non-resonant, dumb, sullen structure, lacking mineral architecture, depth or high points... leaves me entirely unmoved. 90P
February 24, 2022 - "Running" Club Nouveau et Ancien Monde; 2/24/2022-2/25/2022 (La Trompette): So nice. Slightly green colour. On the nose - slightest hint of burnt rubber, a whiff of candied lemon. This seemed tighter and more composed than the last time I tasted it, certainly passing for "burgundian". A real treat.
December 22, 2021 - From 75cl screwcap, opened but not decanted 1 hour. Struck match and sharp citrus scent; thin citric entry opens up on mid-palate showing chalky minerality and bright acidity (not quite as burning as the same producer's Hunting Hill, but quite enough to cut through fried salmon and leave our tooth enamel jangling and squeaky-raw this evening). I decided some time ago to stick with the KR Estate bottling, saving my money for additional investment in such Puligny, Meursault etc. as I can find bottled with non-contaminating closures, and of course the likes of Au Bon Climat and Ramey—where the additional cost seems more likely to deliver more pleasure, rather than principally more citric acid. 90P
September 22, 2021 - This was singing . No hurry to drink up but mature
September 21, 2021 - BWC X1 Dinner - Hawksmoor: Falls between two stools for me - too plush to be a burgundian, tingly chardonnay, and not technicolor enough to be a full on new world one. I suspect though that Maté's suffers from the high expectations I have placed upon it - certainly very much enjoying the other Kumeu River wines I have at home...
September 20, 2019 - Not good value, imho. Over-sold by vendor.
December 21, 2018 - Rich yellow in appearance. Peaches, melon and some toast on the nose. Melon, acacia and spice on the palate with lots of lifted acidity which will integrate as this develops further. Classy stuff that is not at peak yet.
August 7, 2016 - A fairly deep yellow colour; quite full on the palate, with ripe peach and hazelnut flavours, fresh acidity and good length. Attractively mature, but no hurry to drink. An excellent Chardonnay.