Rays Road is Kumeu River’s vineyard site located in Hawke’s Bay. This limestone hillside is at 180 m altitude, with a northerly aspect.
Hand-harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast in older French Oak barrels. This wine is zesty and fragrant, with a mineral complexity that is very true to its site.
With the 2021 vintage, Rays Road produced very concentrated and rich fruit from this unique site. With new clonal plantings of Chardonnay in their second year of production, they were able to blend some extra ripeness and richness with the fresh limestone vibrancy of the existing vines. The result is an exciting Rays Road Chardonnay showing white flowers and lemon on the nose, with rich texture and vibrant acidity on the palate.
“Mangoes, lemon curd, baked apples, hazelnuts, custard and some salted caramel. Ripe and creamy with a full body. Tropical fruit and buttery layers balanced by bright acidity.”
93 Points
James Suckling
“Nectarine, nougat, a little cinnamon and freshly cut fennel. It’s smooth and flavoursome, oatmeal and almond, juicy grapefruit acidity, a lightly chalky texture, and fruity but tight finish of excellent length. Delightful.”
94 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front
“Tangy, refreshing wine with white peach, apple, lime/citrus, ginger/yeast lees and subtle spicy oak flavours with a thread of oyster shell/saline characters. Stylish wine from a favourable vintage.”
94 Points
Bob Campbell – The Real Review