2017
Hunting Hill Chardonnay
2017
Hunting Hill Chardonnay
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 Maté’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.
Winemaker's Notes
The 2017 vintage was cool and windy and the hallmark of the Chardonnays is fragrance. This is particularly present in Hunting Hill with its typical lemon/lime blossom aromas on the nose. Hunting Hill was harvested before any weather episodes of 2017 and the fruit was clean with beautiful flavours. This has come through in the finished wine with a supple texture and lingering finish. As with previous vintages of Hunting Hill we expect this to drink well for 6 – 8 years.
Vinification
Hand harvested
Whole-bunch pressed
Indigenous yeast fermentation
100% barrel fermentation
100% malo-lactic fermentation
11 months maturation in barrel
Drink with
- Seafood
- Pasta
- Chicken
- Risotto
Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay
"The voluminous yet weightless 2016 Hunting Hill Chardonnay continues this bottling's successful run of vintages. Hints of roasted cashew accent tropical fruit, but thanks to a zesty line of citrusy acids, the wine powers forward without ever seeming overly broad or heavy. It simply coats the mouth with a stunning array of complex flavors, lingering gently on the finish."
- Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
