Kumeu River Mates Vineyard Chardonnay

They’re one of NZ’s most iconic wine producers on the world stage. The family are pioneers in the NZ wine industry. They produce some of the very best Chardonnay you’ll find anywhere in Aotearoa. They’re the Brajkovich family and you’ll find them in the north Auckland suburb of Kumeu. Next to a river.

Slap the words ‘White Burgundy’ on the label and you’d be paid double and then some. Kumeu River Maté’s Vineyard Chardonnay is KR’s flagship Chardonnay and quite simply one of the best you’ll find in NZ!

Named after Maté Brajkovich who in 1990 planted a new vineyard of Chardonnay vines on the original vineyard site he and his family bought back in 1944. The first release was in 1994, a year after Maté’s death, and marked 50 years since the Brajkovichs started up in Kumeu.

Not to buck the trend this latest 2024 release has a 95-97/100 score with Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate who said “Mouthfulling and full. In terms of quality, 2024 is up with the best of
them. Statuesque and thrilling. Intensity that explodes in every direction on the palate.”

This is what winemaker and Master of Wine Michael Brajkovich had to say about this release – “The 2024 vintage for Mate’s Vineyard continues the exceptional level of quality from this 35-year-old vineyard. Mate’s Vineyard was the last vineyard we harvested in the 2024 vintage in perfect weather with the low yielding fruit in pristine condition. The resulting wine shows the density, concertation and length that we expect from a terrific Mate’s Vineyard vintage and this year we see an extra crisp lemon acidity. Although still somewhat shy on the nose, with bottle age the full palette of complex aromas and bouquet of this wonderful wine will be gradually and seductively revealed.”