$49.00
From what Michael Brajkovich describes as an outstanding vintage, the 2025 Rays Road Chardonnay is surely the most exciting release yet. Winemaking follows the familiar Kumeu River approach: hand harvesting, whole-bunch pressing, indigenous fermentation and predominantly older French oak, supplemented by a few lightly toasted new barrels. The oak adds texture rather than flavour, leaving the vineyard’s bright acidity and limestone-derived mineral character to do the talking. Within a sensibly priced portfolio, this might be the best value of the lot.
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
Aromas of crushed stone and flint with subtle apple and transparency on the nose. Medium-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a long, tangy finish. Vibrant and vivid chardonnay. Drink now. Screw cap. 96 points
Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
The 2025 Rays Road Chardonnay comes from the Hawke’s Bay vineyard, and the nose leads with creamed cashew, white peach, citrus pith and salted caper brine. The palate is creamy and sleek, with bright acidity and talcy phenolics through the open-weave finish. There’s a lot of unspent power here—it feels raw and unbridled somehow. This is impressive and quite different from the other cuvées, though it continues to bear the hallmarks of the Kumeu River house style. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. 94 points
6 in stock