Kumeu River Coddington Chardonnay 2023

Drink now or cellar for up to 12 years. Serve chilled. Known for their astounding Burgundy-style Chardonnays, Kumeu River is a family-run winery located just to the north of Auckland. The estate’s evocative story began back in 1937 when founders Mick and Katé Brajkovich moved half-way across the world from their native Croatia to New Zealand. They brought with them a deep love and knowledge of winemaking which drove them to work long hours for local wine producers until they were finally able to afford to buy their own winery. Today Kumeu River is in the capable hands of the third generation of Brajkovichs who focus on making exquisite Chardonnays that display the elegance, finesse and ageing capabilities typically associated with white Burgundy. This single vineyard bottling takes its name from the Coddington family who supply the grapes for this wine. Tim and Angela Coddington have been working with the Brajkovich family since 1998 and carefully hand harvest all of the grapes destined for this Chardonnay. Following the harvest the wine is fermented in the barrel and then matured in oak for 11 months. This creates a rich, creamy Chardonnay with deliciously fragrant and citrusy aromas which lead on to ripe peach, pineapple and hints of vanilla on the palate. Ideal to drink now alongside fish or chicken dishes, the Coddington Chardonnay will continue to age and develop in the bottle if cellared over the next decade or so.

Price: £42.37 from 8wines UK