Chardonnay
75cl * 13.5% ABV * Auckland, New Zealand
In 1990, Maté Brajkovich reworked the land and planted a new vineyard of Chardonnay vines on the site of the original vineyard that he and his family purchased in March 1944. The first grapes from this vineyard were harvested in March 1993, the year following Maté’s death. The resulting wine was released in November 1994 to coincide with celebrations marking the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Brajkovich Family’s arrival at Kumeu River.
'Winemaker Michael Brajkovich, MW, does it again with the 2024 Chardonnay Maté's Vineyard. It is super young and not ready for the grand reveal, but you can’t mistake class, no matter its age. Aromatically, the 2024 is hardly expressive, but this is Chardonnay, so calm your jets—beeswax and honeydew melon for now. The palate is compact and firm, yet it holds a wealth of density at its core. The vintage was a small crop due to poor flowering, so there’s a whole lot of intensity to this. In some years, Hunting Hill challenges Maté’s for top spot, but this year, Maté’s steps up the seriousness level. It leaves you saying, “Now we’re talking.” This is not a wine about fruit, it’s about power and sapidity, grip and karate kicks. It has everything: silken texture and succulence, but it’s nicely pared back. Supremely balanced. 2026-2044' 98pts, Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous.com (Feb 2026).
'The complexity and subtlety are most impressive, with honeysuckle, white flower, ripe pear, flint and vanilla bean aromas. Medium-bodied with a tight and phenolic texture and a long, tight finish. Lots of layered mouthfeel and complexity. Fantastic finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.' 98pts, James Suckling (June 2025).
'The 2024 Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay is mouthfilling and full, easily the biggest and most powerful of the single-vineyard Chardonnays in this 2024 release. "In terms of quality, 2024 is up there with the best of them: 2022, 2020, 2014..." This feels perhaps as statuesque and thrilling as the best of the Maté's so far, with intensity that explodes in every direction on the palate—length and width—with spicy top notes and a thunderous base of yellow fruit. The acidity, as usual, coils and weaves its way across the palate, lacing together the fruit and phenolics with seamless intensity. This is very good.' 95-6pts, Erin Larkin for RobertParker.com (June 2025).
'Full screwcapped bottle 1,349 g. From the Brajkovichs' Maté’s vineyard of 2.49 ha planted in 1990 but Maté died in 1992. Hand-harvested, whole-bunch pressed before 100% spontaneous fermentation in French oak barrels with 100% malo (30% new French oak: Mercurey and Séguin Moreau). 11 months' ageing in barrel. Virused. Their only Mendoza clone (though they are planting some virus-free Mendoza – which is still hen and chicken! – in Hawke's Bay). Deepest straw colour. A bit more restrained on the nose and then big and rich on the palate. Lots of chew on the palate, too! Still youthful and without the refinement of Hunting Hill. Big and bold on the finish. Exuberant and quite chewy after that great whack of fruit. Drink 2026-2036.' 17pts, Jancis Robinson MW (September 2025).
'Maté Brajkovich’s family purchased this vineyard in 1944, and he reworked the land in 1990 (planting the Mendoza clone). The first grapes were harvested in 1993. As one might expect, knowing the legend of this wine, it is indeed super-closed, tense and introverted. The mid-palate is chewier and denser, yet it also exhibits more floral ripeness. Add to these beguiling ingredients stunning definition and great potential, and you have a benchmark Maté’s vintage.' 19+pts, Matthew Jukes (September 2025).