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White

2020 Kumeu River Chardonnay Rays Road

Chardonnay

  • New Zealand
  • North Island
  • Hawke's Bay
(Add Drinking Window)
CT90.5 21 reviews
2020
2020
2020
N.V.
Label borrowed from 2019
2019
Label borrowed from 2019
2019
Label borrowed from 2019
2019
Label borrowed from 2019
2019
Label borrowed from 2021
2021
Label borrowed from 2022
2022
Label borrowed from 2018
2018
Label borrowed from 2018
2018

Community Tasting Notes 19

  • Callum's Corkers Likes this wine: 92 points

    January 14, 2024 - Screw cap, tasted lightly chilled.
    Bought at the Wine Society UK for around £23.00

    N....attractive interesting Nose, creamy oak, some peach, mild intensity only.

    C.....light gold

    T.....big round wine, smooth texture, rich oak; lovely flavours of peach, nectarine, lemon drizzled onto banana. Medium-dry to dry on the scale. A little mineral streak but not as intense as the m/streak in the Sav Blanc from this single Hawke's Bay site.

    After 10 mins in the glass as the chill wore off a decent essence was apparent - emerging flavours of citrus and sone fruit. Big and round but not totally without structure.

    It feels like there's some cellar potential here, though not huge.

    VFM/QPR?.....feels worth £20.00 - £25.00 so price around £23.00 is ok. I'll buy more of this 2020.

    2 people found this helpful Comment
  • mjgkng Likes this wine: 90 points

    July 21, 2023 - Zesty and crisp. Very good!

    1 person found this helpful Comment
  • ploher wrote:

    June 9, 2023 - Drank next to the Te Mata Elston 2019. Very different style. Fresher, more mineral, more elegant, almost slightly floral in comparison. Going back to the Elston is difficult and feels oaky, buttery and broad. Beautiful delicate fruit here on the palate, sleek, with lovely reduction. Matchstick and green apples come to mind. Long, very chalky finish; great weightless mouthfeel. This is excellent, classy Chardonnay. Should evolve futher over the next 5 years. 17.5/20

    1 person found this helpful Comment
  • Marc wrote: 91 points

    June 8, 2023 - Superb showing for this wine- a dead ringer for white burgundy. Mineral oyster shell, right French oak, bright acids, tingly mouthfeel, warm and balanced finish, that featured a drying hazelnut note which is beguiling.The focus on this is really quite special, and it took me by surprise, based on last year’s note. It has certainly gainedweight in the past year, and is showing in an outstanding manner currently.

    4 people found this helpful Comment
  • Song103 Likes this wine: 89 points

    May 16, 2023 - The nose of Grapefruit, green apple, cucumber, and wet stone. The palate was initially closed and began to open up after 30 min. It is quite tart and lean with Medium+ acidity and medium intensity, with roundness from malolactic fermentation. I fully agree with the note by TWSA on 27/11/2022,

    The wine was much better on day 2 with better complexity and the palate matching that of the nose. May be 1-2 years of bottle age will help. Drink/hold 89+

    1 person found this helpful Comment
1 - 5 of 19 More notes

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JamesSuckling.com

  • By James Suckling
    7/29/2021 (link)

    (Kumeu River Chardonnay Hawkes Bay Rays Road, New Zealand) Subscribe to see review text.

JancisRobinson.com

  • By Jancis Robinson, MW
    6/9/2021 (link)

    (Kumeu River, Rays Road Chardonnay Hawke's Bay White) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

  • By Rebecca Gibb MW
    New Zealand Whites: The State of Play (Nov 2020), 11/1/2020 (link)

    (Kumeu River Chardonnay Rays Road White) Subscribe to see review text.

Wine Definition

  • Vintage 2020
  • Type White
  • Producer Kumeu River
  • Varietal Chardonnay
  • Designation n/a
  • Vineyard Rays Road
  • Country New Zealand
  • Region North Island
  • SubRegion Hawke's Bay
  • Appellation Hawke's Bay
  • UPC Code 5036418380675

Community Holdings

  • Pending Delivery 50 (9%)
  • In Cellars 336 (62%)
  • Consumed 154 (29%)

Food Pairing

Community Recommendations

grilled fish, grilled leek., Lobster, mash potatoes, sauce nage

Who Likes This Wine

100% Like It  13 votes

More About This Wine

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