Kumeu River Chardonnay Village 2009 : product name

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88 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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"The 2009 Village Chardonnay gives delicate aromas of fresh peaches, baking bread and orange blossom with a hint of crushed stones. Medium bodied with a good amount of ripe apple and yeasty flavors, it has refreshing acidity, a gentle creaminess to the texture and a long finish." ~(Wine Advocate)

"Winemaking has been a part of the Brajkovich family history for more than half a century. It began in their small Croatian village where they farmed and tended small plots of vines. In 1937 they moved to New Zealand and worked in the local orchards and vineyards. They saved enough money to purchase a Kumeu property with a small vineyard. It was in 1986 that they took on a new focus and began producing Burgundy-influenced Chardonnay. Kumeu River is one of the best, if not the best, Chardonnay producers in New Zealand. They have been dedicated to Chardonnay for three decades and they have been given international awards and accolades. They make a stunning array of Chardonnays that redefines what can be done with that varietal in the New World. They have three levels of Chardonnay that they have modeled on the Burgundy hierarchy of village wine, premier cru and grand cru. This one, their least expensive, comes from vineyards in the Auckland area. Kumeu River takes care to be sure that this wine, their least prestigious one, still has grace and balance. An important part of the winemaking process is barrel fermentation is a blend of new and old French oak barrels. The Village wine is 1/3 barrel fermented. This process draws out the flavor nuances that are so crucial to these fine wine styles. Only indigenous wild yeasts are used to further enhance the texture and complexity. The result is subtle oak influences--a hint of creaminess--that harmonize with the delicate apple, peach and melon flavors with a hint of hazelnut. Great acidity holds it all together and invigorates the palate. Itâ€™s a great $20 Chardonnay."~(Monica McCall)