New Zealand En Primeur

Citrus blossom, elderflower and wet stones set the scene for this subtle yet beguiling Chardonnay. Comfortable, at ease with itself, not a single component vying for attention; just the Felton Road style at the fore. Deeply fruited with hazelnut notes through the mid, combined with characteristic fresh acidity, leads to a harmonious and sustained finish. A seamless Bannockburn blend from our Calvert, Cornish Point and The Elms vineyards.

A potpourri of dark petals and Indian spices dominate the inviting bouquet. Dark and deep fruit on the palate is amply supported by complexing savoury and earthy notes. It's not just fruit, there's so much more contributing. This is our diverse four vineyards coming together to superbly express the classic character of Bannockburn: black cherry fruit notes and silky, chocolate laden tannins.

The 2024 Calvert really shines. Deeply fruity, with lots of lush dark fruits with lighter sweet reds and a pretty floral quality. This feels concentrated and firm in parts with great mineral presence and it fans out beautifully.

Red cherry, plum and a hint of dried herbs open the nose in a delightfully fragrant manner. The aromatics deftly define the knife edge ripeness that's critical for great Pinot Noir; dialled in with ease in the exceptional 2024 vintage. Cardamom, mace and cranberry make an appearance, followed by a finely poised mouthfeel. The silky tannins are luscious and sweet, providing backbone and length. A typically expressive Cornish Point.

A little shy on first reveal, but then the deeply bound fruit and complexing aromatics begin to unfold. Powerful, deep and saturating - what we have come to expect from MacMuir. The unmistakeable Felton Road winemaking hand contains the package allowing it to gradually deliver, exposing layer upon layer. The site is special - a hedonistic wine that?s brooding, formidable and unique.

This vineyard was purchased by Kumeu in 2017 and is seeing dramatic improvements as the new Chardonnay plantings on top quality clones come into play. The soil here is limestone, as opposed to the clay of Auckland, which brings a great zesty character, ideal for Chardonnay. The 2024 wine is richer than previous vintages with white and yellow fruit wonderfully balanced with saline, mineral acidity. Maturation is all in old oak barrels.

Made from selected grapes, sourced from six sites in the Kumeu Region which are either owned or leased by Kumeu River this is a superbly balanced wine with the rich stone fruit complemented by round oak, 20 % of which is new. Pure and complex with lovely acidity this fully lives up to the Estate's billing of 'the best Estate Chardonnay? in the past ten years

Very fine, very pure and very long, Hunting Hill has made a wonderful wine in 2024. More restrained than Coddington, it will need a bit more time to open out but has great purity and density with wonderful minerality. This vineyard was replanted in 2001 so is really hitting its stride now, fermentation is in oak from François Frères in Burgundy which wonderfully balances the ripe fruit.