Product Overview
Winery's Notes
"This wine is produced from a vineyard owned by Tim and Angela Coddington, whose grapes have contributed to the blend of Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay since 1998. It is a vineyard that produces very rich and unctuous Chardonnay that we have long believed could make an excellent single vineyard wine. In 2006, we decided to give Coddington single vineyard status to reflect this vineyard’s unique character."
Winemaker's Notes
"Even though 2023 was a lighter vintage the Coddington still shows the distinctive peach & nectarine richness we expect from this site. The use of oak was very careful with no new barrels but a higher proportion of 1 & 2 year old barrels that give a lovely balance with the more moderate alcohol this year of 12.6%. The easiest of the single vineyard to taste when young but will definitely benefit from bottle age of 4-6 years."
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Kumeu
Vineyard: Coddington Vineyard
Farming Practices: Sustainable
Fermentation: 100% barrel fermented in older French oak barrels
Aging: 11 months in French oak barrels, no new oak
Winemaker: Michael Brajkovich
97 Points, "Cellar Selection" - Wine Enthusiast
"A benchmark New Zealand wine that should have a place in every Chardy lover's collection, this vintage of Coddington is especially gorgeous. A tightrope walk of briny seashell and smoke characters with bright lemon and stone fruit. The palate is poised, elegant, linear, with racy, citrusy acidity that slices through the textural weight. It's a complete and utterly drinkable wine now. But it'd be a shame not to wait. This will evolve beautifully over the next 10-20 years." -CP, 3/1/25
94 Points - Wine Advocate
"The 2023 Coddington Chardonnay is sleek and polished. The fruit is on the kiwi fruit, almond meal and white peach end of the spectrum, and the fruit is lean. Tightly coiled acidity is gently embossed into the fruit; it is neatly packaged and very tight. The wine builds as it opens, and while the first sip was difficult to get a reading on, the ensuing interactions are juicier and more saliva-inducing. The restraint is attractive, and the back-palate weighting of flavor similarly makes for charming drinking. 12.6% alcohol, sealed under screw cap." -EL, 12/19/24
90 Points - Wine Spectator
"An intense style, with fresh pineapple, yuzu and salted, preserved lemon notes that are vibrant and mouthwatering. Details of lemongrass and lemon blossoms add pretty aromatic grace notes. Drink now. 100 cases imported." -MW, 3/24/25
89 Points - Vinous
"The 2023 Chardonnay Coddington provides its typical rounder shape and comforting suppleness despite being clearly lighter in concentration and richness than in recent years. At just 12.6% alcohol, it's bright and fresh, with a zestiness pervading its core. It's balanced (when isn't a Kumeu River?), but it's done in a lighter, zipper, citrus-driven style with no new oak. The lees contact is all important here in imbuing it with mid-palate texture." -RG, Sep/2024
