Mate’s Vineyard is Kumeu River’s “Grand Cru” equivalent and produces their finest Chardonnay each vintage. The vineyard is 2.5 hectares in size and was planted in 1990. The grapes are hand-picked, barrel-fermented using wild yeasts, then matured for a further 11 months in barrel on its lees. The wine usually needs at least 2-3 years to reach the start of its drinking window and is taut and crisp in its youth. As it develops, gentle tropical fruit and fine vanilla oak flavours open up, and its vibrant, lively acidity gives it a long drinking window.
“The 2024 Maté’s Vineyard Chardonnay is mouthfilling and full, easily the biggest and most powerful of the single-vineyard Chardonnays in this 2024 release. “In terms of quality, 2024 is up there with the best of them: 2022, 2020, 2014…” This feels perhaps as statuesque and thrilling as the best of the Maté’s so far, with intensity that explodes in every direction on the palate—length and width—with spicy top notes and a thunderous base of yellow fruit. The acidity, as usual, coils and weaves its way across the palate, lacing together the fruit and phenolics with seamless intensity. This is very good.” 95-97/100pts Wine Advocate
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