Kumeu River, Ray's Road Pinot Noir, 2020 CHAMPCT0612 and the well-regarded vintage gives

and the well-regarded vintage gives reason for optimism

"Trias" is the Triassic geology beneath the vineyards but also the trio in the bottle: a Chardonnay-led blend with Petit Manseng and Incrocio Manzoni

and this estate sits high on a plateau to catch the full benefit of that balance

The nose is beautifully perfumed and layered

The wine opens with a burst of juicy blackberries

Kumeu River, Ray's Road Pinot Noir, 2020 CHAMPCT0612 and the well-regarded vintage givesKumeu River is famous for benchmark New Zealand Chardonnay, but the Brajkovich family had bigger ideas when they bought the Ray's Road vineyard in Hawke's Bay outright in 2017. This is their only single vineyard Pinot Noir, off a limestone rich site originally planted as a joint venture that included a Sancerre grower. The result is bright and fragrant, with ripe cherry, a dry leaf savory edge, and a distinctive limestone cut running underneath. It's