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Forums > Tasting Notes -- Australia/New Zealand > New Zealand TNs

Subject: 2002 Kumeu River Chardonnay

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whiner

Second star to the right, and straight on till morning

Wine Thief
Posts:2875

05/03/2004 7:41 AM
It seems no one has ever posted a TN on this wine. That amazes me... '02 Kumeu River Chardonnay. To my palate, K.R. makes the best sub $30 Chardonnay on the market. Tasted blind I might choose this as a Ramey, Kistler, or a great, new world styled Puligny-Montrachet (if I thought Kumeu River was not an option --certainly this seems to bridge the new world/old world gap). My GF guessed this wine (to the vintage, even) simply by the the nose. A great combination of new world fruit, old world style, and a buttered popcorn finish that is true butter, not that stupid vanillan that writers always call butter. This is the only $20+ dry white wine I buy 6+ at a time and every time I taste it, I'm reminded why: the is the best combination of new world and old world Chard I know of. And for $27 prior to discount, it is the least expensive Chard of any sort my fiance will drink. She isn't a snob, she just prefers her butter to be the reall melted land o lakes variety that you get on the finish here, rather than that vanilla marginire you get with other Chards. Excepting the profanely low price for certain Walter Hansel wines, this is the best Chardonnay price under the Landmark Damaris Reserve, that I know of on the market. To put this in qualty prespective, while I would usually chose otherwise, I can see choosing this wine, price no object, over a Ramey, a Peter Michael Mon Plaisir, or a Kistler Sonoma Coast. 91-91.5

I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland. -- Woody Allen

whiner

Second star to the right, and straight on till morning

Wine Thief
Posts:2875

06/19/2004 7:25 AM
Of course, it is like I'm talking to myself, but... I had this tonight. I was, perhaps, a bit too energetic in my last TN. The notes are similar: Nose of lemon, limestone, and poached apple. Similar impressions on palate but with emphasis on the fact that is is lemon zest The melted butter finish is less pronounced tonight than it has been in the past. Between the last TN and this one I've had more Walter Hansels and I've had a 2002 Aubert Ritchie. This is not in the their league. However, I still stand by my statement that I can think of no better way to drink a $27- bottle of Chard. 90.5 On a final note, Kumeu River is now in screw caps, which is a move I wholly suport, in general. This is a Chard that I always found to be best with about 2-3 years of bottle age; in the past year, this wine has hardly aged at all. I'm not certain if this is due to vintage or closure, but I hope this winds up evolving the way the '96 and '99 did. a

I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland. -- Woody Allen

Winetex

Austin, Texas

Master of Wine
Posts:10777

06/19/2004 1:14 PM
Whiner - you aren't totally talking to yourself. On this wine I would say it is an issue with availability. I can find the Kumeu River SB around here but no chard. If I see this one I will probably buy it based on your TN.

wineismylife User is Offline

Arlington, TX

Master of Wine
Posts:12246

06/20/2004 1:06 AM
WineTex, the distributor for this wine in Texas was Longhorn in Arlington but they went out of business about 3 years ago. So far nobody has picked up this particular product in Texas that I'm aware of.

Joe ----- Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone.

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