One of the most respected Chardonnay makers in the world. Welcome's in a HB wine.

Rays Road is Kumeu River’s new vineyard site in Hawkes Bay. This limestone hillside is at 180 m altitude, with a northerly aspect. It is dry-farmed to yield high quality grapes for wine under the Rays Road name for our Kumeu River label.  This Chardonnay was hand-harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast in older French Oak barrels to give a wine that is zesty and fragrant, with mineral complexity that is very true to its site.

"The most encouraging thing about 2023 is that all of the individual vineyard terroir characters are shining through strongly, still giving that strong sense of place and vineyard character.

Everything was harvested by hand, allowing for meticulous triage so that only high quality fruit made it to the presses. We decided to use no new oak for fermentation, but having such a small vintage meant that the proportion of 1 and 2 year-old barrels was much higher than usual, and the oak feel to these wines is very similar to a normal vintage." Michael Brajkovich MW, Winemaker notes (2023 Vintage)

"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 flavourful finish. Lime undertones. Drink or hold." 94/100 James Suckling, June 2024 (2023 Vintage)