2016 Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Estate Chardonnay has a touch more fatness on the nose than the 2017, though not quite the same degree of delineation. There is a subtle waxy/resin like note here, along with a hint of orange blossom and orange pith. The palate is well balanced with the same twist of sour lemon that marks the follow-up vintage, offering good weight in the mouth and a lovely peppery flourish on the persistent finish. Very fine, although I suspect the 2017 will have the edge in the long term. Tasted at the Kumeu River Chardonnay vertical in London.
Critic scores
Average Score
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Pale straw. Slightly teenage reticence on the nose. Flinty character on the nose and some breadth on the palate. Then it tightens up – almost dries – at the end. (JR)
Smoky. Gun flint. Green apricots tucked into smoky oats. Angular and very very young. Not quite formed yet. Tarragon and salty and green apples. (TC)
Still a Kiwi classic, Kumeu River's 2016 Estate Chardonnay features toasted grain aromas, ripe peach and nectarine flavors and a long, citrus-inflected finish. It's medium-bodied, with a plump, silky texture and up to a decade of aging potential.