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.

2019 is the twin to the 2020, and for a while Michael thought it would be the finest year we had ever made, until the 2020 came along. Both were poured in London in September 2026, when Paul took every vintage of Hunting Hill to Farr Vintners for Jancis Robinson, Oz Clarke, Jamie Goode and Julie Shepherd.

Seven years on it is rounder and more open than the 2020. Honeyed lemon fruit and generous wood spice meet riper orchard fruit, with a piercing acidity keeping everything vibrant. Silky, intense and complete, and drinking at the peak of its powers now.

A small parcel from our cellar.