Chardonnay, Hunting Hill, Kumeu – 2018
-
Vineyard Profile
-
Hunting Hill is a vineyard that was first planted in 1982 and became a significant part of the original Kumeu River Chardonnay blend. Occupying the slope overlooking Mate’s Vineyard, it has always contributed lovely ripe and rich fruit to the Estate Chardonnay. Hunting Hill was replanted in 2000 and is now even better than before, giving beautifully ripe fruit with a distinctive mealy minerality.
- Location: Hunting Hill, Kumeu, Auckland
- Cultivation: Sustainable
- Size: 3.37 hectares (8 acres)
- Vine Age: Planted 2001
- Clones: 15
- Soil: Clay loam
- Elevation: 100 meters (328 feet)
- Exposure: North facing but sloping slightly to Southwest
- Training: Lyre
-
-
Vintage Report
- Harvest Date(s): March 14–15, 2016
- Yields: 3 tons/acre
- Brix: 23°
-
Vinification
-
Hand harvested
Whole-bunch pressed
Indigenous-yeast fermentation
100% barrel fermentation
100% malolactic fermentation
11 months maturation in barrel
-
-
Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
-
Tasting Notes
-
Recent Video
-
Images
Reviews
-
Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay
Almost always the most opulent of the Kumeu Chards, the 2018 Hunting Hill Chardonnay fits that description perfectly. Loaded with white peach, pineapple and even melon-like fruit, those notes are sculpted by faint suggestions of pencilly oak in a generous but focused package. It's medium to full-bodied, with a creamy mid-palate and a vibrant finish.
-
Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay – 2018 – James Suckling – 93 Points
This has plenty of rich, stone-fruit aromas with a fresh and quite crisp palate that has good focus and a sleek, gentle, pastry-like finish. Plenty to offer now, but is quite taut and linear. Drink or hold. Screw cap.