Te Mata Estate Alma Pinot Noir

It’s been 25 years since Te Mata released a wine under their ‘Showcase’ series. This is the range that includes the absolutely tip top, world class Bordeaux red (Coleraine), Syrah (Bullnose), Chardonnay (Elston) and others. It’s taken years of perfecting before they felt the time was right to release their first ever showcase Pinot Noir.

Central Otago, Marlborough and Martinborough might take the headlines when it comes to Kiwi Pinot but Te Mata are keen to change all that with their release of Te Mata Estate Alma Pinot Noir, this 20212 vintage being only the fourth ever release. You might call it Hawke’s Bay’s finest Pinot, we sure would.

And just like the previous releases this has a swag of A-grade reviews…

5 Stars (Michael Cooper)
“The 2018 vintage marked Te Mata’s first plunge into the production of top-end Pinot Noir, a varietly not commonly linked to Hawke’s Bay, but cultivated in the region since the nineteenth century. Estate-grown inland, at the Woodthorpe Terraces Vineyard in the Dartmoor Valley, it is matured in French oak casks (partly new). The 2022 vintage (5*) is one of Te Mata’s best reds of the year. Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, with rich cherry, plum and spice flavours and fine, supple tannins. A strongly varietal wine, savoury, nutty, complex and very harmonious, it’s already delicious, but well worth cellaring to 2026+.”

5 Stars, 96/100 (Sam Kim)
“Wonderfully composed and poised with a prolonged velvety finish. At its best: 2025 to 2037.”

95/100 (Huon Hooke, The Real Review)
“A serious pinot noir that will reward cellaring for several years.”

91/100 (Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review)
“A mix of floral and savoury characters including violets, chocolate/mocha, and fresh herb flavours supported by fresh acidity and fine tannins”

When word came out that Te Mata were going to add a premium Pinot to their already damn impressive line-up they got some pretty big interest from retailers around the world. In fact, one UK retailer wasn’t joking when they said they wanted to take the entire lot! Oi, hands off.

Named Alma after the Battle of Alma and Dr James Thomson, a fore father to the Buck family and owners of Te Mata Estate. He saved over four hundred lives and sacrificed his own in the process. The medal on the label of Alma Pinot is the medal he was awarded and a proud piece of family history for the Bucks.