Description
"Rays Road is Kumeu River’s new vineyard site in Hawkes Bay. 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 our 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." - Winemaker Notes
"Here’s a juicy and flavoursome expression of Chardonnay. Lots of peach, ripe lime, honey biscuits. aniseed and spice. It fairly bursts with peach and lime, though the acidity is tight and balanced, and it feels quite flinty, has some glycerol richness and finishes zesty and fruity with excellent length and a chalky flourish. Very tasty. Needs a year or so to calm its farm, though there’s no problem enjoying its flavour-packed charm now either." - 93+ Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
"The 2024 Rays Road Chardonnay leads with a spicy, almost exotic nose, while the palate strides in smooth, sleek movements. This is creamy and a little nutty, and there are wet limestone notes in the mouth, alongside yellow citrus and layers of dried herbs, cracked fennel seeds, ginger root and fruit flavors. A lovely wine, it's weighted on the back palate and long through the finish." - 92-94 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
