Kumeu River Rays Road Chardonnay 2024
Founded in 1944 by Mick Brajkovich, wife Katé and son Maté, Kumeu River was one of the early pioneers in Auckland, New Zealand, that helped to establish its reputation as a world-class wine region. Still family owned and run, Kumeu River continues to pioneer new frontiers: winemaker Michael Brajkovich became New Zealand’s first member of the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine, London, and has been testing and championing screw cap closures for close to 20 years.
With new clonal plantings of Chardonnay in their fourth year of production, we were able to blend some extra ripeness and richness with the fresh limestone vibrancy of the existing vines. The result is an exciting Rays Road Chardonnay showing white flowers and lemon on the nose, with rich texture and vibrant acidity on the palate.
Hand harvested
Whole-bunch pressed
Indigenous-yeast fermentation
French oak barrels, 25% new oak
100% barrel fermentation
100% malolactic fermentation
11 months maturation in barrel
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Appellation | Hawk's Bay |
| Vineyard | Rays Road Vineyard |
| Alcohol | 13.50% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Country of Origin | NEW ZEALAND |
| State of Origin | N/A |
| Artificially Carbonated | No |
| Sparkling Wine | No |
94 Points, Jasper Morris:
"Higher toned than Kumeu River’s Auckland wines, with green apple, crisp pear and oyster shell. Barrel fermented in 2024, but only the tiniest touch of new oak and sweet biscuit on display. More open and opulent than previous vintages but still retains the hallmark chalky, biscotti characters." (JS)
Rays Road is Kumeu River’s vineyard site in Hawkes Bay that was purchased in 2017. This limestone hillside is at 180 m altitude, with a northerly aspect. It is dry-farmed to yield high quality grapes for wine under the Rays Road name for the Kumeu River label. This Chardonnay was hand-harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast in older French Oak barrels to give a wine that is zesty and fragrant, with mineral complexity that is very true to its site.
Location: Hawkes Bay, North Island
Cultivation: Sustainable
Size: 19 acres
Vine Age: 4-13 years
Clones: 95, 15, 548
Soil: Limestone
Elevation: 180 meters
