2023 Kumeu River Rays Road Chardonnay

Brand	Kumeu River
Region	Hawkes Bay
Varietal	Chardonnay
Size	750ml
Alcohol %	12.8%
Vintage	2023
Country	New Zealand
Vegan
Vegetarian

This beautifully managed Rays Road Hawke's Bay vineyard was purchased off Trinity Hill in April 2017, and now it’s their sixth release off the block. The dry-farmed limestone hillside allows the Kumeu River team to show a different expression of Chardonnay. Fermented in seasoned French oak, showing a fruitier expression, full-bodied and a weighty expression of Chardonnay for KR, compared with their home vineyards in Kumeu, who would have thought? Ripe stone fruit in a lively, zesty mix of grapefruit, lemon, and mandarin. The seasoned oak builds texture and lets the fruit sing with lingering minerality.

Aromas of grapefruit, peaches and cream, lees, and fresh sourdough.

Subtle flavours persist on the palate, white nectarines, green melon, creamy notes with grapefruit and a mineral thread, leading to lemon and mandarin with fine French oak providing texture while allowing the fruit to shine. Subtle oak, lees stirring and wild fermentation adds complexity, all cleansed and lengthened by a fine line of acidity. Drink now, or age until 2029, with a dozen (or two) bluff oysters naturelle.