Didn’t want  to waste some fine white Burgundy samples that I opened, so headed over to brother-in-law Beavington’s house for some Sunday lunch today en famille. More on the Burgundies later, but for now I wanted to write about two wines he opened.

The first is Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay 2010 Auckland, New Zealand. Beavington saw my glowing write-up on a recent visit to Kumeu, and so bought three cases (the Estate, Coddington and Hunting Hill, all 2010) from the Wine Society. This did very well in the exalted company of top white Burgundy. It is taut, a bit reductive (in that nice matchstick way) and mineral with subtle pithy notes as well as laser-sharp lemony fruit. Intense and complex with subtle toasty richness in the background. A really fine expression of Chardonnay. 95/100

The second was an older Sauternes.

Chateau Raymond Lafon Sauternes 1996 Bordeaux
Lovely intense apricot and cream nose with some wax and lanolin notes. The palate is textured, sweet and broad with pear, peach, apricot and lanolin notes. Real complexity here, and lovely purity. 94/100

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