Kumeu River, Estate Chardonnay, Kumeu

Drinking surprisingly well for its age. From memory, lemon curd and tangerine nose. Medium to full bodied. Plenty of well integrated acidity on the finish. No sign of oxidation.

2008 vintage

Thought it was from burgundy. These wines age very well.

2007 vintage

golden, lots of clarity, silvery hue Nose: pear, green apple, white pepper, minerals, wax, chalk, musk, oak Pal: pear, green apple, white pepper, lime, minerals, wax, vanilla, wet stone, chalk, musk, silver, oak Feel: medium, full, savory, acidic Finish: long T9

2007 vintage

Colour: slight cordial light yellow clear. Nose: lots of lemon citrus and freshness. Palate: nice smooth lemony fresh with lemon rind slight bitterness afterwards (only very slight) but still very nice fresh. Not so much of oaked buttery though.

2008 vintage

Last bottle we have of this Chardonnay from New Zealand. Never would have guessed its 12 year age. Pale yellow color with zero brown tint. Lifting aromas of flowers and citrus, with no butterscotch. Bright acidity with vivid lemon lime fruit and a touch of vanilla and kiwi. Well textured and mouth coating. Peak drinking now but could just well have kept it years longer.

2007 vintage

This is still going, but on its way out. The extra age has left it very soft and rounded, but there is still enough acidity to make it exciting.

2007 vintage

Still a light silver gold colour that looks way younger than its 10 years age. Nose is really lovely freshness of high-toned lime juice, lightly toasted hazelnuts....you just wouldn't think this is 10 years old. Palate is saliva-inducing freshness, lots of lemon juice freshness and freshly grated lemon rind. Decent oak but seems toned down compared to other vintages. Some moderate length but this wine is all about the freshness....which suggests it is maybe a 3rd year vintage. A half-glass …

2008 vintage

This is one of the best wines in it's price range in Australia, if not the world. Fragrant with scents of white stone fruit, florals, vanilla. Age brought some nice aromas and flavours of pineapple, honey and marmalade. Soooo balanced, the acidity and minerality deftly in balance with alcohol and the myriad of flavours. Elegant, but at the same time provides so much pleasure! Not sure how this bottle has been stored, but it seems to have reached maturity and …

2008 vintage

Dinner at Tonny's (Tonny Restaurant, Geylang Lor 3, Singapore) : This was very good - a strong showing for the wine tonight. It had complex, but very focused nose, with a beam of chalk, cream and smoke, alongside notes of white fruit and some burnt butter. A very intriguing bouquet. The palate was round and fleshy, showing some power and ripeness in its notes of cream and white fruit and lemon zest; nut it was also very balanced and focused, …

2007 vintage

This wine is a cracker! Nine years in, and still fresh, crisp, and flavoursome. A medium lemon colour, with some tropical fruits on the nose. Still enough acid to sparkle, the flavours of lychee, limes, and a touch of butterscotch. A perfect example of NZ North Island Chardonnay.

2008 vintage

Agree with recent posts, has more time left. Still a fresh-tasting chard, with a definite acidity that should be paired with appropriate food.

2007 vintage

Quite a treat considering the original price paid ($15US)!

2008 vintage

Drinking well now without obvious signs of decline -- perhaps even a touch smoother! Aromas of oak but the flavors are more mineral. Long, long finish.

2007 vintage

This wine is a terrific ringer for a high quality French White Burgundy. Pale yellow color, with an effusive nose of meadow flowers and lemon zest. The sip enters the mouth with a rich and caressing texture and vivid lemon fruit. The swallow features a spiky tightrope acidity. Overall, delicious, complex, lively, and concentrated. And this is just the introductory Chardonnay that uses only estate grapes - there are three higher level Chardonnays above this, making Kumeu River one of …

2007 vintage

Still holding really well. The color is beautiful gold and the nose is full of Bosc pear and pineapple. Palate is rich with nectarine with a long finish. Just excellent.

2007 vintage

Clear and bright golden yellow with a green hue. Aromas of apricot, pear and mineral that also make its way onto the palate with honey and banana. Great structure with a creamy texture and nice use of oak. Maybe a little more oak used than with their Hunting Hill Chardonnay.

2007 vintage

Carbonic.

2007 vintage

Green yellow in color. Smells and taste just like a white Chassagne burgundy. Ripe green melons, grapefruits, lemon rind and white florals. Fine acidity with a slightly oily texture. Medium weight with well integrated oak. This is a perfect marriage with roasted chicken with lemon leaves.

2007 vintage

amazing for price; Puligny type roundness, ripe pineapple and some butterscotch; minerals balance the fruit; no sense that this fading any at 8 years

2008 vintage

Nice nose of pear and pineapple, the palate was pear, melon, pineapple and a touch of wet stones, not overly oaked. A nice smooth finish. Very enjoyable.

2007 vintage

I really like this wine. A great mix of ripe, fresh new world fruit and Burgundian polish and style. Apricot laced with vanilla and hazelnut on the nose, full and fresh on the palate with refreshing acidity. Perhaps just a hair to the acidic. Better on the second day of being open (and in the fridge) leading me to think its still a bit young.

2007 vintage

Very nice. I agree with the recent reviewers.

2008 vintage

Didn't blow me away as much as I was hoping. Still drank very fresh and young. I'll wait a few more years to drink my final bottle.

2007 vintage

Still holding strong and drinking far more youthful than one would guess. Tropical notes; pineapple.

2007 vintage

What a wine for $15. Medium yellow gold. Tons of acid. Minerals. Not shy on oak. Lemon. Grapefruit. Acid acid acid. Doesn't have to be drunk anytime soon. Next time buy more.

2008 vintage

Quite tasty!

2007 vintage

Stunning wine. The key here is impeccable balance. Being the most powerful of Kumeu's chardonnays the oak is noticeable on nose and palate but performs the tasks that the wood should: supporting the fruit while adding complexity and textural refinement. Such an intense wine could risk being rather brash but it carries its flavours in such an effortless fashion that I sit here finding it impossible not to describe a full bodied chardonnay as "moreish". At eight years old it …

2007 vintage

light gold, lots of clarity, silvery hue Nose: pear, musk, seaweed, white pepper, wet stones, honey, bitter greens, minerals Pal: pear, musk, apple, apricot, honey, white pepper, seaweed, wet stones, minerals, clove, some complexity Feel: medium, savory Finish: long TC9

2007 vintage

Elegant integration of fruit, a little oak, and acid. Still a good food wine at 8 years. Had with quiche and spinach.

2008 vintage

Délicieux.

2008 vintage

Nice freshness and good complexity and length.

2007 vintage

Got this for like $15 or something. Shared it with my mom. What a crazy value. Super high acid. Biting almost. Did not taste 8 years. Low alcohol. Would have thought burg but too much kiwi and citrus. I've had the higher end mate's and I'm not sure it's worth the extra dough. But both are impressive wines. And I'm sure they both will live long lives. Yum.

2007 vintage

Opulent notes of pear, golden apple, chalk, and white flowers with a hint of smoke. Good concentration; great wine.

2008 vintage

Prior bottle definitely bottle variation! This one was delish! Enticing aromas of butterscotch, fresh rainfall over dry earth, toasted almonds, honeysuckle, candied fruit peel, and something vegetal. Lovely richness to the palate, plenty of sweet dried stone fruit and citrus peel. Yet also a high acidity level which makes it taste so fresh and invigorating. Unbelievably long. Last bottle of 12. Can't wait to start on my Kumeu Hunting Hills.

2007 vintage

Tremendous chardonnay for the price. Living in Napa we could spend triple the price for this quality chard.

2007 vintage

Dinner with Sturlas (Plymouth, MN) : Opening bottle for the group, and this went down very fast -- especially by the ladies. Somewhat similar to my last tasting note, although I'm not sure I cared for it as much (perhaps due to higher expectations). Lots of mineral this time around. Good length on the finish.

2007 vintage

The last of my only two bottles. Consistent with my note from back in March - but even a slight bit better now. Fully mature, this exhibits a deep golden color in the glass. Very attractive aromas of citrus fruits, lemon grass and flowers on the nose. Full-bodied and very silky in texture, without being heavy or over-oaked. Bursting with tangy pear, apple and bright citrus fruit flavors. Wonderfully balanced, with just the right amount of acidity and only a …

2007 vintage

Much more developed now. Golden in color. Nutty, acidity is tart, fruit more bitter. Less of the creaminess. Bottle variation or downward slope.

2007 vintage

at room temperature, very nice layers of complexity--butterscotch, caramel, lemon meringue--with good finish. closes up at cooler temperatures.

2007 vintage

This was a little tight on day one, but improved on day two. Definitely needed food.

2007 vintage

Excellent

2007 vintage

Good

2008 vintage

Déjà a l'œil on remarque les 6 ans du vin, d'un jaune or pâle on est surtout sur des aromes d'agrumes, mangue avec un beau côté minéral. En bouche, on remarque aussi une petite touche épicé. Belle acidité mais l'alcool est trop présent,un meilleur équilibre aurait été souhaité. Superbe finale persistante. Bref,un très beau chardonnay j'ai bien aimé. Encore plusieurs année devant lui !

2008 vintage

The palate is primarily citrus and lime peel. This wine has a powerful minerality and new wood character underlying its fruit, that dominates the attack. Balanced acidity adds to the tension.

2007 vintage

Clear yellow in color, with citrus and stone fruit aromas as well as oak flavors. Acidity is high but well balanced. I was somewhat reluctant to purchase this wine as I lack experience in NZ Chardonnay, but I was very impressed at the price point. My wife pegged this as not California and not Burgundy, which represent the vast majority of the chardonnay we drink. This paired ok with pan fried cod.

2007 vintage

Cloudy, not a pristine bottle. Flavors a little muted, but not quite 'off'. Washed down some King Salmon just fine. Previous bottles have shown more typicity of the style, less so of the grape. 13,5% abv

2007 vintage

Pacific Pointe Wine Tasting Club - International ChardonnaySmackdown! : Pale gold color with buttered toast, honeysuckle, pear, tropical and citrus aromas. On the palate, it's between light and medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and green apple, pineapple, peach, citrus and vanilla flavors. Medium+ finish. Native yeast is used for the wine and is 100% barrel fermented and goes through 100% malolactic fermentation

2007 vintage

Don't know why I rated this lower last time, but my experience with this bottle was nothing short of outstanding. Great QPR with old world characteristics with fruit and oak and no butter present. Really enjoyable and a long finish. Will definitely buy again.

2007 vintage

Pale in color, with a very pretty nose offering attractive apricot and floral aromas. Medium-to-full bodied and very nicely balanced. Not at all over-oaked. There's wonderful depth to the apple and melon fruit flavors here. Finishes with excellent length, a lively acidity and lingering notes of citrus and mineral. If tasted blind, I would have guessed this was a very nice Pouilly-Fuisse or Saint-Veran. 50+5+12+16+8=91

2007 vintage

Flat out fantastic! Like a fine Chablis in a warm vintage in the perfect drinking window. Complex flavors, loads of mineral, a bit classic, a bit tropical, all amazing. A steal.

2007 vintage

Are you sure?

Kumeu River, Estate Chardonnay, Kumeu

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews