Wine Advisor
Kumeu River, Estate Chardonnay 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Rebecca Gibb MW
The 2021 Chardonnay Estate is an open, flowing white. It has a rich fragrance speaking of its time in the cellar - oak-derived nutty notes and vanilla meet sweet pastry characters often found when wines are left on their lees. The lightly cooked apple fruit in this young wine sits underneath. Gentle acidity leaves a tender rather than taut finish.
About the Producer
The winery has 30 hectares of existing vineyards and will purchase 10 hectares of grapes from other local growers. Soil-wise, the top layer is clay soil and the bottom layer is sandstone, a soil type that locks in moisture and allows the vines to extend their roots as far down as possible without the need for irrigation. These terroirs are closely related to the quality of the Combe River Winery wines. The vineyards are close to the Tasman Sea, so the climate is relatively cool, with summer temperatures consistently below 30 degrees Celsius, which helps to enhance the aroma and flavour of early varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Vineyards are distributed in a "lyre" pattern, which is conducive to increasing the ripeness and quality of the grapes. The winery harvests grapes by hand, and each grape is carefully selected to ensure the quality of the wine. Since its inception, the winery has produced many wines of outstanding quality, with released wines including Kumeu River Chardonnay and Kumeu River Pinot Gris. River Pinot Gris), etc., are deeply loved by consumers.
