Kumeu River Hunting Hill Pinot Noir 2021

In 1994 the New Zealand winery Kumeu River in Hawke’s Bay (to the west of the North Island’s east coast) planted new Pinot Noir vineyards to produce a red wine as good as its Chardonnay. If the clay soils on a sandstone base had been perfect for these white wines, why shouldn’t they be perfect for a red wine? Only the best Burgundy vines were chosen, planted on very vigorous rootstocks to limit production and grow grapes with greater concentration. This is how Kumeu River Hunting Hill Pinot Noir was born. For two decades now, this red has only been getting better. Bottles of Kumeu River Hunting Hill Pinot Noir only see the light of day in the best vintages (2016 and 2018 were spent making whites), when the grapes and the harvest are at their best. In total the Brajkovich family owns about 30 hectares of vineyards which are ideal for growing grapes. The soils’ ability to retain water, even during the summer months, allows the vines to remain turgid, able to stay in good condition