One of New Zealand's most renowned single vineyard wines, this vintage of Mate's doesn't disappoint. Less overtly reductive than the previous vintage, the flinty, struck match notes are certainly present, but they're beautifully balanced by bright, fleshy lemon and stone fruit, the toasty, creamy nuances adding flesh to bones. The palate combines mouthwatering acidity with a slippery texture. There's depth of fruit, drive and length. It's a delicious drop now but will age exceptionally well for well over a decade.
96 points, Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast (Mar 2025)
Kumeu River and Maté’s Vineyard have long been standard bearers for New Zealand Chardonnay. Even in a lighter vintage this is an impressively layered and harmonious wine, with subtle citrus, yellow peach, hazelnut and clover notes. Creamy and fine-textured, it has great focus and length. While enjoyable now, it would be a shame not to tuck this away for further pleasures to come.
96 points, Emma Jenkins, Decanter (Mar 2025)
More reticent than the other wines on the nose but the richness and density come through on the palate. The Mendoza clone fruit really shines this year, the small berries giving and intensity and concentration. This is the 31st vintage of Matés and Brajkovich is committed to treasure the vines, even though ever present leaf-roll virus remains. Enticing and fine boned with a surprisingly lengthy finish. Drink from 2027-2032. Tasted May 2024.
95 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (Sep 2024)
The 2023 Mate's Vineyard Chardonnay is complete; all flavor points and spice characteristics are present and accounted for, albeit restrained and even a little muted. The low-lying Maté's vineyard received plenty of rain and runoff in the 2023 rainfall, but the wine still feels fresh, vibrant and focused. There are notes of shaved fennel, white pepper, almond meal and tatami mat/straw—a decidedly white spectrum of flavor and spice. Stylistically, I usually see this wine being quite punchy, powerful and sometimes tropical. In this wet year, the wine is retrained and decidedly composed—while some may view this as being "not the Maté's style," I think it is a very good iteration of this vineyard. Time will tell, but I like it a lot. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
94 points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate (Dec 2024)
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