Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay 2024

James Suckling, 96/100 punten
"The aromas of apple pie, citrus, cream, and crushed stones are compelling. Full-bodied with a focused and phenolic center palate that gives form and energy to this young chardonnay. Flavorful but tense in the finish. Drink or hold."

Huon Hooke, 96/100 punten
"Fresh but elusive aromas of nougat, nuts and vanilla, the palate very intense, concentrated fruit and beautifully harmonised oak and artifact characters. A classy and complex chardonnay nose. Precise and focused with good tension and linearity, the finish extending very long and harmoniously. Superb wine."

Wine Front, 96/100 punten
"Hunting Hill was planted in 1982, then replanted in 2000. It overlooks Maté’s Vineyard. Scotch Finger biscuits, hazelnut, aniseed, red apple, pear, spice and white flowers. It’s glossy, savoury and saline, oatmeal and toasted hazelnut, mellifluous and spicy, balanced acidity, a chalky and grainy grip to texture, with a salted nut finish of superb length and shape. A complete wine. Yes."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93-95/100 punten
"The 2024 Hunting Hill Chardonnay is the ripest in alcohol of the 2024 releases, and it feels powerfully layered and driven on the palate. This is rich, almost thunderous in its positioning, with salted citrus and exotic spices (star anise/fennel/scraped vanilla pod). The oak here is polished and elegant, smoothing down any stray, loose hairs. The barrels have been air dried for three years and lightly toasted. The finish is tight and focused. This was tasted as a tank sample prior to filtration and bottling."

Jancis Robinson MW, 17,5/20 punten
"From a 3.37-ha vineyard planted in 2001. Hand-harvested, whole-bunch pressed before 100% spontaneous barrel ferment in French oak with 100% malo (25% new French oak, all François Frères and tight grained). 11 months’ ageing in barrel. Virus-free, so it’s always the earliest to be picked. They pulled out their Hunting Hill Pinot because it had leafroll virus and they were afraid it would spread. Harvest from end February to mid March for Coddington or Matés. Doesn’t face due north like the others and has an iron pan one foot below the surface. Lees contain spray residue so if you don’t rack you will accentuate reduction – struck match – according to Michael B. They retain just 1% lees. 250–300 NTU turbidity cf 450 at other producers. Bright mid-straw colour. Really flirtatious, really lean and fresh. Just a joy already! Real concentration and raciness. Sophisticated. Accessible but will obviously be long-lived. Super-clean. Neat and persistent. Super!"