Description
The richest and most opulent of the Kumeu River single vineyard Chardonnays. Tim and Angela Coddington's fruit contributed to the Estate blend from 1998 until 2006, when Kumeu River decided the vineyard's plush, generous character was too distinctive to keep hidden. These vines are now over three decades old.
The 2025 harvest was exceptionally dry across Kumeu, with clean, concentrated fruit coming in through February and March. Handpicked and whole-bunch pressed, wild fermented in French oak, 100% through malo, eleven months on lees. Classic Kumeu River process, but the vineyard's personality comes through clearly.
Oyster shell, stone fruit, aniseed and honey nougat on the nose, then smooth and luxurious on the palate with a softness and creaminess that's Coddington's calling card. Fine acidity and a gentle chalkiness keep it balanced and long, with biscuit spice through the finish.
Delicious now, but give it four to six years and it'll hit another gear.
95 points
"This is a smooth and luxurious glass of Chardonnay with a softness and creaminess to it, but also has fine acidity, a gentle chalkiness to texture and excellent length... Lovely stuff."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
| Price Bracket | $51 to $100 |
| Type | White |
| Body | Full Bodied |
| Variety | Chardonnay |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Kumeu |
| Feature |
High Score |
| Reviewed By |
The Wine Front |
| Critic Score |
95 |
| Alcohol | 14% |
| Size | 750ml |
| Vintage | 2025 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
Kumeu River
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Common Questions
Delivery is free on orders of $199 or more.
For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.
We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.
Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.
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We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.
To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you.
If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.
Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.
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No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.
No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.
Most wine retailers list at a single-bottle price and then discount 10–15% when you buy six or twelve. We've taken the opposite approach. Since the overwhelming majority of our orders are already 6 bottles or more, our list price is set for the case buyer from the start. There's no inflated single-bottle price to discount down from.
What that means for you:
- One price, same for everyone — no minimum to hit to unlock the best rate
- No mixed-six gymnastics to qualify for a discount
- Our single-bottle price is typically at or below a traditional retailer's by-the-dozen rate
Put simply: the box discount is already baked into the price.
**And if you find it cheaper elsewhere?** Let us know. If the same wine is available at a lower price at another retailer (including at their mixed-six or by-the-dozen rate) we're happy to match it.
If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.
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