Hunting Hill Chardonnay, Kumeu River 2012

The 2012 Hunting Hill Chardonnay fights through some reduction on the nose but never quite shrugs it off. The palate is well balanced with a sense of precision that partly compensates for the reductive nose. A hint of toffee apple comes through on the finish. Drink now and over the next decade. Tasted at the Kumeu River Chardonnay vertical in London.

The 2012 Hunting Hill has an explosive nose - a citrus bomb - with tons of tropical and stone fruit layers plus nuances of crushed stones, nuts and baker's yeast. it gives tons of flavor layers in the medium-bodied mouth, although very tightly knit, with a gorgeous satiny texture and an incredibly long finish. Simply a stunning wine, this will greatly reward a further 2-6+ years of cellaring. Drink 2014 - 2024.

Herbaceous spicy the nose is fresh the palate light at the start but there is the mid sweetness of tropical fruits. Tight on the back palate the citrus and mineral refresh the finish is light fresh directional. 2018-24

Bright lemon in the glass. This wine has a smoky, flinty nose with lots of zesty lemon and white peach on the nose. The palate has an excellent creamy texture that is pierced by refreshing acidity. There is a steely, struck flint note that complements the ripe lemon and stone fruit notes. Fantastic intensity and great length, which combines ripe fruit and some spice and toast from new oak well. 1000 cases made.

Very fine and expressive with a lime-tinged nose and amazing finesse on the palate. Linear and direct with some smoky minerality under the lemony fruit and hints of white peach. Thrilling and nervous.

Sultry and pungent. Lots to like here though it is quite evolved. Great savoury stuff with quite a bit in reserve.
Drink 2016-2028

Cool but rather funky nose from reduction, this powerful, highly structured wine lacks some charm at this point, but has many years of life ahead of it. Bold but monolithic finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.