Kumeu River Mate's Chardonnay 2019

This has a very complex array of fruit, from lemon and grapefruit through white and yellow peach and nectarine, then into mango notes. There’s a little honey and nougat, as well as a minerally edge. The palate has intense flavors that follow the aromas and aligns them in a textural masterpiece of elegant length and discreet power. Smart wine. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Scents of hazelnut, mocha and lime-custard crème brûlée appear on the nose of the 2019 Mate's Vineyard Chardonnay. Complex and compelling, it's undoubtedly one of Kumeu River's top recent efforts. Medium to full-bodied, plump and generous on the palate, yet marked by zesty acids and a bright, citrusy finish, it's wonderfully balanced and drinkable now, yet it should age effortlessly for at least a decade.