Chardonnay Rays Road, Kumeu River 2021

Mangoes, lemon curd, baked apples, hazelnuts, custard and some salted caramel. Ripe and creamy with a full body. Tropical fruit and buttery layers balanced by bright acidity. Drink now. Screw cap.

This is served after the Village because Village includes some fruit from Rays Road. Clone 95 was planted there in 2010. They ripped out some of the Sauvignon Blanc to plant clones 548 and 15 and will plant Mendoza. Whole-bunch pressed all spontaneously fermented in old oak. Malo in barrel, 11 months on yeast lees and then fine lees in tank and bottled in May. 2,000 cases.Quite rich and broad on the nose. The crisp acidity comes in on the finish but it seems less sleek than the Kumeu wines. 2022 - 2030

The 2021 Chardonnay Rays Road is bright, refreshing and almost salty. I'm even tempted to say mineral; it's certainly not a fruity Chardonnay. The finish is lightly savory with fresh white pear and floral notes. There's a sense of pithiness and citrus line followed up with an almost chalky texture.