The 2018 Coleraine (the current release) is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. It's fresh and floral on the nose, with hints of green herbs and dark chocolate both complementing vibrant cassis fruit. Medium to full-bodied, it's richly textured and actually a bit chunky in its youth, possessing a slight excess of flesh that will require age to ameliorate. Of course, that also makes it relatively approachable young, for folks who don't mind a bit of tannin. Long and concentrated on the finish, this looks to be another very successful vintage of Coleraine. Drink Date: 2022-2035. [Tasted 2021]
A very concentrated nose with impressively rich blackberry, raspberry and dark-plum aromas. Dark chocolate, violet and cedary oak here, too. Very youthful. The palate has a very rich, intense and plush feel with fresh acidity and depth, amid long, fine and compressed tannins. Good freshness and concentration. Drink or hold. Feb 2022
After a tricky 2017 vintage in Hawke's Bay, Coleraine is back on form in 2018: the warm growing season and lengthy autumn allowed the team at Te Mata the luxury of picking long into April. This is packed with youthful vitality and primary fruit. There is layer upon layer of flavor here, from sweet raspberry fruit on entry through cassis, cocoa and roses with tea leaf and pencil lead on the lengthy conclusion. It is delicate but there's always an innate intensity within its silken core. The tannins are fine-grained and resolved, and the finish is long and drawn out. Another smash hit that will easily improve over the coming two decades. The final blend is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc; the wines spent 17 months maturing in French oak. Drink Window: 2021-2030. Rebecca Gibb MW March 2021
Te Mata's top wine comes mostly from the Havelock Hills, the first legally protected vineyards in New Zealand. This vintage is a strong one, showcasing the power and ageability of a world-class red with the precision of this traditional estate. Notes of black currant, plum, black olive, baking spice, dried green herbs, vanilla and chocolate are present throughout. The chalky tannins are taut and powerful but well-integrated, hinting at a long life ahead. Drink 2022–2040. [Tasted 2021]
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