New Zealand

Rating

92

Release Price

NA

Drink Date

2017 - 2030

Reviewed by

 Joe Czerwinski

Issue Date

27th Nov 2019

Source

End of November 2019, The Wine Advocate

Struck flint and crushed stone, hints of pencil shavings and lime appear on the nose of the 2013 Coddington Chardonnay. Racy and lean on the palate, it shows less of the warm, "Coddington" character than most vintages.

Last May, Kumeu River's U.S. distributor, Wilson Daniels, hosted a vertical tasting of the winery's four different Chardonnays that extended from 2017 back to 2006 (48 wines in total). It was a remarkable event, with the wines notable for their consistency and ageability. Winemaker Michael Brajkovich, MW, was an early adopter of screwcaps, so all of these wines were under that closure, which no doubt contributed to the freshness and lack of variation you might expect in a tasting like this. Rather than repeat reviews of recent vintages, I've focused on the wines from 2013 and earlier, plus supplemented my notes on the vertical tasting with a first look at the 2018 vintage bottlings. As vintages go, it doesn't appear to be especially strong, yet the wines are still excellent. Quantities are down, as is the use of new oak—to better marry with the lighter style of the vintage.

Rating

96

Release Price

NA

Drink Date

2017 - 2030

Reviewed by

 Joe Czerwinski

Issue Date

27th Nov 2019

Source

End of November 2019, The Wine Advocate

Dense and rich for a Hunting Hill, the 2013 Hunting Hill Chardonnay shows remarkable concentration, allied to considerable elegance and finesse. Peach and melon notes flesh out the medium to full-bodied palate, while vibrant citrus provides drive and length.

Last May, Kumeu River's U.S. distributor, Wilson Daniels, hosted a vertical tasting of the winery's four different Chardonnays that extended from 2017 back to 2006 (48 wines in total). It was a remarkable event, with the wines notable for their consistency and ageability. Winemaker Michael Brajkovich, MW, was an early adopter of screwcaps, so all of these wines were under that closure, which no doubt contributed to the freshness and lack of variation you might expect in a tasting like this. Rather than repeat reviews of recent vintages, I've focused on the wines from 2013 and earlier, plus supplemented my notes on the vertical tasting with a first look at the 2018 vintage bottlings. As vintages go, it doesn't appear to be especially strong, yet the wines are still excellent. Quantities are down, as is the use of new oak—to better marry with the lighter style of the vintage.

Rating

94

Release Price

NA

Drink Date

2016 - 2026

Reviewed by

 Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Issue Date

31st Dec 2015

Source

222, The Wine Advocate

The 2014 Hunting Hill Chardonnay has a white peach, spiced apple and honeyed pear nose with hints of ginger, brioche and almonds. Medium-bodied, the silken textured palate gives layer upon layer of stone fruit and savoury flavors plus excellent persistence.

Rating

92

Release Price

NA

Drink Date

2019 - 2025

Reviewed by

 Joe Czerwinski

Issue Date

28th Feb 2020

Source

Issue 247 End of February 2020, The Wine Advocate

Notes of honey, toasted grain and pink grapefruit emerge on the nose of the 2016 Field Of Fire Chardonnay. It's medium to full-bodied and plump in the mouth but with vibrant citrus notes (lime, grapefruit) that grow in intensity on the lingering finish.