Kumeu River`s 2017 Coddington Chardonnay was barrel-fermented and aged in 25% new oak. Marginally tighter and more structured than the estate bottling, it offers hints of struck flint on the nose, followed by notes of wet stone, nectarine and pineapple. Medium to full-bodied, it`s loud, lush and long, with hints of pencil shavings on the finish. 93 points

The 2017 Coddington Chardonnay has a fresh, well-defined bouquet with fine mineralité and hints of white flowers. This is backward and clearly needs more time. The palate is taut and fresh with a killer line of acidity, plenty of citrus fruit and orange zest and flint-like notes toward the persistent, razor-sharp finish. This is a top-notch Coddington, but be patient. Tasted at the Kumeu River Chardonnay vertical in London. 92 points