Kumeu River, Ray's Road Pinot Noir, 2020 CHAMPCT0612 The Monts Luisants vineyard sits

The Monts Luisants vineyard sits on stony

Altitude gives these wines their signature high-toned elegance

and this estate sits high on a plateau to catch the full benefit of that balance

and the well-regarded vintage gives reason for optimism

Kumeu River, Ray's Road Pinot Noir, 2020 CHAMPCT0612 The Monts Luisants vineyard sitsKumeu River is famous for benchmark New Zealand Chardonnay, but the Brajkovich family had bigger ideas when they bought the Ray's Road vineyard in Hawke's Bay outright in 2017. This is their only single vineyard Pinot Noir, off a limestone rich site originally planted as a joint venture that included a Sancerre grower. The result is bright and fragrant, with ripe cherry, a dry leaf savory edge, and a distinctive limestone cut running underneath. It's