Te Mata Estate Coleraine (2021)

The 37th release of New Zealand’s most famous red wine is here! It was over 120 years ago that Te Mata planted Cabernet vines in the Havelock Hills in Hawke’s Bay, Te Mata Estate Coleraine was first produced in 1982 and today is widely thought of as one of the best red wines produced in New Zealand.

They’re called the 2021 release “the one” – and it’s sure to be one hell of a wine to stash in your cellar that’s for sure. From an outstanding 2021 vintage that the guys at Te Mata declaring this vintage “a remarkable vintage”. They went on to say “2021 was an unmatched growing season; the earliest ever bud break on Te Mata Estate’s vineyards led to the earliest ever harvest. This warm, dry, and historic vintage yielded an abundance of very small berries providing great concentration, and producing wines of exceptional purity, power, tension and persistence.”

Using all estate grown fruit and bottled on the estate too, nothing is left to chance. Aged 17 months in French oak the final blend of Coleraine ’21 is 56% Cabernet, 32% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. It is every bit the world class wine you come to expect – high concentration, high energy, complexity, power and elegance. Boy, this is some wine!

Te Mata’s meticulous attention to detail year after year does not go unnoticed around the world that’s for sure. Decanter magazine declared Coleraine as “New Zealand’s First Growth”, a phrase in reference to the top wines of Bordeaux based on reputation and price. The massive praise doesn’t end there either…

“All changed when Coleraine hit the market. No one had dreamed such a wine could be made from New Zealand grapes” – Bob Campbell MW
“A national treasure” – Jancis Robinson MW
“There is no denying that Coleraine has been NZ’s ‘Latour’ for a while.” – Matthew Jukes
“I would have no hesitation placing it within the class of Bordeaux second growths” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“New Zealand’s greatest red wine” – Raymond Chan
“Wine legend – the most avidly collected of New Zealand red wines” – Decanter magazine
“A legendary Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend of New Zealand” – James Suckling

And check out the 2021 vintage reviews to date…

98/100 (Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review)
“Very impressive Coleraine, possibly the best I have yet tasted. Quite Bordeaux-like with impressive density and complexity. Richly textured wine that is obviously youthful but easy to appreciate. Cassis, dark chocolate, vanilla, liquorice, mixed spice and anise are some of the more obvious flavours. Destined to become a classic”

5 Stars, 100/100 (Sam Kim, Wine Orbit)
“The 2021 Coleraine exhibits a commanding presence and majestic poise. The bouquet reveals classic aromas of cassis, dark plum and violet with whispering nuances of cedar and cigar. There are hints of warm spices, compounding the pleasure upon inhalation. The palate is bold and graceful at once, enhanced by plush texture and multi-layered mouthfeel, beautifully framed by refreshing acidity and fine chalky tannins. Robust and substantial with a great line and length, which seem to go on to infinity. This youthful wine is already impossible to resist, but time will reward those who can wait. In sports, they often talk about ‘The Greatest of All Time’, or ‘The GOAT’. This 2021 Coleraine is undeniably THE GOAT of New Zealand wine. At its best: 2030 to 2055”

5 Stars, 97/100 (Huon Hooke, The Real Review)
“Very deep bright purple colour; the bouquet shows similar mulberry, blackcurrant and raspberry fruit aromas as the Awatea but the wine is more concentrated all-round and shows a little more oak (65% new). There are violet notes and a sprinkle of spices including nutmeg too. The tannins are more persuasive and mouth-coating also, and the length is prodigious. A smashing cabernet blend, and a top vintage for this wine.”

98/100 (James Suckling)
“The Te Mata Hawke’s Bay Coleraine 2021 is a terrific young wine with superb depth and complexity as well as just the right amount of muscular tannins to give length and structure for the long term. Yet the polished texture makes it so attractive now. Is it one of the best Coleraines ever?”

97/100 (Gary Walsh, The Wine Front)
“Dark and intense, lots of perfume, red and black fruits, tobacco, a leafy pop that’s pure varietal class, creamy oak, lead pencils, aniseed and spice. Medium to full-bodied, a flood of flavour, super ‘mineral’ feel to the acidity, tannin is superb, and the finish is so long…Incredible wine.”

5 Stars (Michael Cooper)
“Highly refined, it is deeply coloured and mouthfilling, with fresh, notably concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, hints of herbs and nuts, lovely complexity and a lasting finish. Best drinking 2026+.”

Hardcore Coleraine collectors – now is not the time to leave a gap in the cellar! The 2021 is clearly a vintage that will go down in history and the 2020 allocation sold through much faster than expected. If Coleraine is yet to sit in your cellar – what better time to start than now! This is the wine that made history and broke records not so long ago with a thirty-two vintage collection fetching an eye watering $19,000 at auction – almost $600 per bottle! Cha-ching!

Named after the town in Northern Ireland where Te Mata Estate owner John Buck’s grandfather was born and first produced in 1982. This famous Bordeaux style red is presented in individually wrapped in Coleraine branded, vintage dated tissue (presented in swanky Coleraine branded wooden six pack cases when bought in six bottle lots) and will comfortably sit in your cellar for 10-15 years.