| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | New Zealand > Hawkes Bay |
| Colour | White |
| Type | Still |
A tight, focused and dense white. Sliced cooked apples, minerals and stone, with hints of dried mangoes. It’s medium-bodied and focused with a flavorful finish. Lime undertones. Drink or hold.
The Ray's Road vineyard is in Hawke's Bay, southeast of Auckland, on a north-facing slope at 180 meters above sea level. It is planted on limestone and dry-grown. The 2023 Rays Road Chardonnay is reductive, nutty and saline, with green inflections that highlight the solids in the wine. This is the most complex of the wines in this release, with curry leaf and saffron, sugar snap peas, green apple and caper brine in profusion, yet I feel it is also the most angular and the most obvious. Those seeking intensity of flavor will be attracted to this cuvée the most, for its intensity and depth, however it lacks the quiet focus of the other wines. 12.8% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
Rays Road continues to grow into itself year in, year out, identifying more with the Kumeu range whilst keeping a separate character. Supple stone fruits and lemon rind meet citrus curd on the nose, which is lightly creamy and has the sparkling brightness of a pristine New World wine. The fruit on the palate has some cereally, savoury depth but remains ultra-fine and clean, lined with notes of lemon juice and succulent white pears. Lightly smoky with well-integrated wood on the finish, you can drink this now or over the coming decade.
Taut and lean, there is a subtle, yet noticeable layer of new oak, a feature that I haven’t seen in previous vintages. Brajkovich explained he chose to introduce some new oak in 2023, with part of the blend aged in the barrels from the tonnellerie favoured by Dauvissat. Oyster shell and yellow grapefruit with a strong acid spine.The chalky texture is very attractive. Drink from 2025 - 2030. Tasted: 5/5/2024.
