2024 Kumeu River, Estate Chardonnay, Kumeu, New Zealand

Kumeu River began its journey in the 1940s when Maté Brajkovich purchased a modest vineyard near Auckland. By the 1980s, the winery had firmly established Chardonnay as its flagship varietal. Today, Maté’s son, Michael Brajkovich, leads the estate. As New Zealand’s first Master of Wine and one of its most esteemed viticulturists, Michael has unlocked the full potential of Kumeu River’s vineyards.

These wines are often likened to white Burgundy, and in blind tastings, even seasoned professionals struggle to tell them apart from their French counterparts, unless you’re already a devoted follower who recognises Kumeu’s unmistakable freshness and character. These are Grand Cru-level wines at village-level prices, with single-vineyard bottlings that can hold their own against Meursault, Chassagne, and Puligny-Montrachet.

The 2024 vintage is celebrated as one of the best ever at the estate. Despite poor flowering at the start of the season, the remainder of the growing season was excellent, with dry, warm conditions and lower yields contributing to some of the most concentrated Chardonnay grapes ever produced at the estate.