Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay, Kumeu River 2025

The 2025 Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay is powerful and nutty, with ripe orchard fruit. There are also notes of white pepper, pressed linen, green apple, chamomile and salted cashews. The palate is predictably powerful and unbelievably concentrated, with depth and length that feels interminable. This is an exceptional release of Maté's, one you should make every effort to taste. These wines age so well; don't acquire them with the expectation that they must be consumed soon. They have a decades-long future ahead, if only you have the patience. 13.7% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. 2026 - 2045

Very aromatic with sliced lime, pear skin, chardonnay skin, white pepper and lilacs that follow through to a medium- to full-bodied wine with density in the center palate and a long finish of sliced apple and pear, salt and light nuts. Lightly flinty at the end. It is very open already but subtle. Drink now. Screw cap.

35-year-old 100% Mendoza vines replanted in 1993, named after the late Maté Brajkovich, father of winemaker Michael and viticulturist Milan. Always the last to be picked because of virus.Rich and pineapple on the nose. Big and bold in a Kumeu context with a little bitterness on the end. A conundrum in that the nose is so exhibitionist yet it’s not that potent. This has traditionally been the most expensive Kumeu River Chardonnay but that convention dates from a time when big, bold wines were more fashionable than they are today. 2026-2036.