Kumeu River Coddington Chardonnay 2022 (750ML)

97 JS / 95 WE / 95 WA / 94 WS / 17 JR

Sliced apple, apple, sea shell and crushed stone aromas follow through to a full body yet it’s tight and structured with an impressive fruit, acidic and phenolic balance giving it focus and intensity. Drinkable but better in a few years. Screw cap.-James Suckling

This is a quiet Coddington compared with past vintages, but its delicacy brings a certain charm. Toast, cream, rocks and seashells all weave between peach pit, melon, pineapple rind and ginger. The palate is wonderfully structured, tight and focused but with concentration, freshness and balance. Still young, it could age for many years but has an approachability now, too.-Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast

The 2022 Coddington Chardonnay leads with lemon balm/oil, green-olive brine, crème brûlée top (a.k.a. scorched brown sugar), peach fuzz, and an abundance of orchard fruit. In the mouth, kiwi fruit acidity (a.k.a. juicy, sweet, tart) defines the perimeters of the flavors and beckons you in for another, closer look. It's very, very good, a distinct wine, pure, all aspects delineated and deliberate. I like this. It feels orderly and mathematical. If the wine had a sound, it would be a straight-pace bowl at the wickets, one flying out of stumps (name a better sound, I'll wait). It's not that immediately obvious, though; it builds and takes a while to assert itself, and I like that too. Very good. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.-Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate

A stunning expression of intense fruit flavors, with notes of lemon sherbet, lemon curd and peach flavors at the core, with fresh, vibrant acidity and details of toasted, salted hazelnut, orange blossoms and lemon verbena that linger on the long finish. Drink now. 1,400 cases made, 224 cases imported.-MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator

They have a lease for three more years on this vineyard which changed hands recently and they’re now managing the vines themselves to good effect. 25% new oak.
Very pale straw. Rich and quite intense. With some savour and vibrancy. Lots of grip. Very bright fruit with good appeal and perhaps a bit less obviously sweet than in the past.-Jancis Robinson