Product Description:
Chardonnay with altitude and intent. Hunting Hill sits high above Maté’s Vineyard, catching the light and coastal breezes that help shape one of Kumeu River’s most distinctive single-site wines. First planted in 1982 and replanted in 2000, it delivers Chardonnay of precision and mineral drive, its mealy edge and citrus line becoming more refined with each passing vintage.
In 2024, yields were low, and the resulting fruit carried both power and purity. Fermented with wild yeast in French oak, full malolactic, and aged 11 months on lees, this release is tightly wound yet layered, lemon-lime blossom and flinty notes on the nose, salted citrus and exotic spice unfolding across the palate. The finish is long, focused, and just beginning to hint at the complexity time will bring.
Hunting Hill remains one of the most cellar-worthy wines in the Kumeu River portfolio, equally thrilling now for its energy and in a decade for its depth.
The Maker
The Brajkovichs are focused on and internationally recognised as producing world class Chardonnay. In 1937, the first generation of the Brajkovich family arrive in New Zealand The story of Kumeu River Wines began to unfold more than half a century ago with the first generation of the Brajkovich family to arrive in New Zealand. In their small Croatian village of Živogošće, Mick and Katé Brajkovich had also farmed small plots of land, and had experience tending vines and making their own wine. After a few years of working in the gum fields, the family moved to Henderson in West Auckland, where Mick, Katé, and son Maté worked in local vineyards and orchards. By 1944, they had saved enough money to purchase a Kumeu property with a small vineyard.
The winery was steadily growing its reputation in the industry, it was not until the late 1970s and early 1980s that saw a marked evolution in the style and direction of the winery. In 1979, the winery moved away from the hybrids used for the production of fortified and basic red and white wines to varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. All popular and commonly known varieties today, these wines were relatively unheard of at that stage, at the time it was a bold and risky maneuverer. One that eventually paid off. Fast forward to 2014, after receiving numerous accolades (including Melba Brajkovich becoming a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the wine industry and community), we arrive at Kumeu River's watershed moment - A landmark blind tasting. Kumeu River's London based distributer Stephen Browett and his company Farr Vintners organise a blind tasting with the best palates, critics and wine writers in the world. Kumeu's Maté's, Coddington, Hunting Hill and Estate Chardonnay's are placed against a range of Premier Cru and Village Burgundies from the best producers. Kumeu triumphed over top white Burgundies in every flight apart from one, where it came first equal!
Just as the Brajkovich family has grown, so too has the winery itself. Extensions and additions mark the milestones that have seen business adapt and expand over the years. Today, the winery produces around 250,000 bottles annually from 30 hectares of its own vineyards in Kumeu, and another 10 hectares from local growers. The Chardonnay wines of Kumeu River have gained a strong foothold within the international market, receiving outstanding accolades. The vineyard has gone on to become the globally recognised benchmark for non-Burgundy produced Chardonnay.
Philosophy
Kumeu River Wines is a benchmark New Zealand producer, internationally recognised for its exceptional Chardonnay and commitment to quality winemaking. Owned and operated by the Brajkovich family since 1944, the estate has built its reputation through a focus on traditional techniques, minimal intervention, and a deep understanding of site. All grapes are hand-harvested, with wild fermentation, malolactic fermentation, and extended lees ageing employed to craft wines of precision, texture, and age-worthiness.
The estate’s 30 hectares of vineyards sit on clay soils over sandstone—an ideal combination that retains water naturally, allowing dry-farming without irrigation. Vines are trained on a Lyre trellis system to maximise light exposure and fruit ripeness. This meticulous vineyard management, combined with low yields and sustainable practices, produces fruit of exceptional quality. Kumeu River’s Chardonnays consistently receive global acclaim, often outperforming top white Burgundies in blind tastings, and remain a standout example of what New World Chardonnay can achieve.
Tasting Notes
NOSE
– Floral & flinty
Lemon-lime blossom with a fine mineral edge.
PALATE
– Concentrated & spiced
Salted citrus, star anise, and lightly toasted vanilla pod.
FINISH
– Focused & persistent
Tight, mineral length with subtle exotic spice.
Reviews & Accolades
"The 2024 Hunting Hill Chardonnay is the ripest in alcohol of the 2024 releases, and it feels powerfully layered and driven on the palate. This is rich, almost thunderous in its positioning, with salted citrus and exotic spices (star anise/fennel/scraped vanilla pod). The oak here is polished and elegant, smoothing down any stray, loose hairs. The barrels have been air-dried for three years and lightly toasted. The finish is tight and focused. This was tasted as a tank sample prior to filtration and bottling." – Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, 93–95 points
Finer Details:
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - New Zealand
Region - Kumeu
Vintage - 2024
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14%
Closure - Screw Cap
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