Hunting Hill Chardonnay, Kumeu River 2021

This has aromas of flint, toast, jasmine, dried pineapples, lemons and sea shells. Some cardamom and salted butter. Classy and driven, with a medium to full body and tight, sleek layers. Perfumed and bright. Everything in balance. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

‘In the last few years this has really been blooming’, said Paul. All clone 15, facing south-west so it gets the prevailing maritime breezes. Clay over an iron pan. 25% new barrels, all François Frères. 1,600 cases.
Pale straw. Strong lemon aroma with light smokiness and real lift. Lovely balance and great youth and extremely long. Raciness. This is just a treasure that deserves to be cellared awhile to take full advantage of its potential for complex development. It has the same steeliness but more obvious fruit than in typical fine Australian Chardonnays. Tight finish for the moment. 2025 - 2036

Flowering took place well ahead of normal. Yields were about 35% down overall in 2021 but less so at the Hunting Hill vineyard where there was no frost. The maximum temperature all summer was 29.2 degrees on the 9th of December which meant that 2021 was a long, cool, dry and sunny vintage which allowed for slow grape maturation, and the development of excellent fruit aromas and flavours. Harvest was completed on March 9th - about 3 weeks ahead of usual. Maturation was all in oak barrels with 25% new oak from Francois Freres. Very pale lemon colour. The nose here is full of lime, piercing in its focus and layered with flinty reduction. There is a touch of savoury wood smoke, harmonious with the intense fruit. The palate is very tightly coiled, as this site often is in youth. Limes and laser like acidity bring precision and focus. Steely, with a struck match richness through the mid palate, this is very youthful and needs time. The drive and intensity are unmatched, this powerful and wonderfully delineated wine should be a great Hunting Hill. Very long on the finish. Give it at least two years before approaching.