Description
The Hunting Hill site was one of the first vineyards planted at the estate and produces Chardonnays of great concentration and a lovely citrus and herb character; it would easily be of Premier Cru quality should New Zealand ever decide to categorize their vineyards as such, produced by Michael Brajkovich and his family from this legendary Kumeu River Estate that has created a worldwide cult following.
TASTING NOTE: Hunting Hill 2025 has a typically youthful, light lemon colour. On the nose: it is fragrant and intense, with lovely ripe fruit aromas. You’ll discern citrus fruits such as lime and lemon, along with juicier peach and apricot stone fruits, and some orchard fruit too. It’s always a tightly-wound, complex wine that takes some time to open. In 2025, there is masses of character to discover as you sip the wine: alongside the fruit notes, you may hints of jasmine, minerals, herb and woodsmoke. On the palate, it is concentrated and flavoursome, with apple, citrus and peach fruit following on from the nose. It is medium to full-bodied, with typically firm acidity of this vineyard lending a pure, precise feel in the wine. It is dry, intense, long on the finish and mouthwateringly good, with plenty of ageing potential ahead. 14% alcohol.
FOOD PAIRING, STORING AND SERVICE: Kumeu River suggests enjoying this with seafood, pasta, or poultry dishes. Ideas to try include roast chicken, chicken paillard or chicken and lemon orzo. Scallops, sole mornay or salmon fishcakes are all good suggestions if you are having fish. And for a vegetarian option, either asparagus risotto or spinach and ricotta pastas or gnocchi. Drink now or this will easily keep for 7-9 years in half bottle. If you are drinking the wine now, we recommend decanting it for an hour prior to serving, and not serving too cold. 10 or 11 degrees is perfect.
ABOUT: Michael Brajkovich and his family are based in an area just to the west of Auckland, New Zealand as well as owning vineyards in Hawke’s Bay, all on the North Island of New Zealand. They have been making single vineyard wines from each of their vineyards for the past seventy years, and also an estate blend from their six different sites. They have all regularly beaten top white, Burgundy wines in recent blind tastings line-ups, and in our view thoroughly deserve their title as the best white wines in New Zealand. The 2025 vintage saw a very dry harvest season. Other than 17mm of rain in the middle of February, which topped up the vine’s water reserves, it was a warm, dry, successful growing season right through to the middle of March. The wines are excellent as a result!
