TE MATA COLERAINE 2018
| Grape: | 52% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot and 15% cabernet franc. |
| Vineyard: | Te Mata |
| Origin: | Hawkes Bay, New Zealand |
| ABV%: | 13.5% |
| Colour: | A deep midnight-magenta |
| Aromas: | The aromatics are immediately varietal with grace notes of cassis, raspberry leaf, fresh roses, dark chocolate, lifted black cherry, espresso and cedar. |
| Flavours: | The palate deepens the opening theme. There’s tapenade, darkest blackberry and ripe plum while underneath, quietly, a precise, profound tannin structure resonates. Powerful, deep-set, graceful and complex, Coleraine ’18 is refined to an exquisite point while still retaining freshness and balance. It lingers after tasting. Layered and composed, resplendent and resolved, a gloriously seductive ensemble celebratory of all that fine New Zealand wine can be. |
COLERAINE IS NEW ZEALAND’S MOST FAMOUS RED WINE. FIRST PRODUCED IN 1982, THIS CLASSIC BLEND OF CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT AND CABERNET FRANC DISPLAYS THE CONCENTRATION, COMPLEXITY AND ELEGANCE FOUND IN THE WORLD’S FINEST WINES.
Coleraine derives its name from the Coleraine vineyard, home of John and Wendy Buck of Te Mata Estate. John’s late grandfather was born in Coleraine in Northern Ireland and the name has been maintained through the family home to the wine. A single vineyard wine until 1989, Coleraine is an assemblage of the finest wines produced from distinct plots within Te Mata Estate’s oldest Havelock Hills vineyards first planted in 1892.
VINEYARDS
Coleraine ’18 was hand harvested from separate plots within Te Mata’s vineyards between 26 March and 20 April 2018.
WINEMAKING
Each parcel of grapes was destemmed before a traditional warm, plunged fermentation and extended maceration on skins. The resulting wines were then run to predominately new French oak barrels for 17 months’ maturation. Throughout this time, they were regularly topped and racked. The separate wines were blended in January 2019. The finished wine was bottled in December 2019.
Reviews
Coleraine '18 - 'Very deep, concentrated, bright purple/red colour. The bouquet is exquisite with a multitude of black fruits, blueberry, cassis, violet and cedar aromas, and much more besides. The detail is outstanding, as is the intensity of the palate. It’s very concentrated and powerful, firmly-structured and has tremendous persistence. The tannins are firm and abundant and will help guarantee a long life, but they are ripe and accessible and the wine is already approachable. (52% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 15% cabernet franc) 2023–2048.' 98 Points ★★★★★
Huon Hooke, The Real Review, February 2020