Te Mata Estate Coleraine

The 38th 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 (pronounced “Cole-raine” rather than “Coler-aine”) was first produced in 1982 and today is widely thought of as one of the best red wines produced in New Zealand.

This is the latest 2022 vintage and it’s one to get seriously excited about  – the guys at Te Mata certainly are! “The recent releases of excellent Coleraine have exceeded that of any of our historic wines. Coleraine ’22 will rightly take its place among these great Coleraine” they said.

Using all estate grown fruit and bottled on the estate too, nothing is left to chance. Aged 16-20 months in French oak the final blend of Coleraine ’22 is 84% Cabernet, 13% Merlot and 3% 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 2022 vintage reviews to date…

99/100 (Huon Hooke, The Real Review)
“Deep, brooding purple-red colour with a concentrated berry fruit bouquet laced with cedar, violets and dried herbs, gorgeous fruit and classy oak embellishment. The wine is full bodied and powerful, with a generous serving of fine grained tannins that add length, authority and a drying but supple finish. Tremendous persistence and wonderful structure. A great wine, that will richly reward long-term cellaring.”

97/100 (Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review)
“Oak is a little obvious but it is attractive oak and should integrate into the wine in time (it was bottled six weeks before tasting). Cassis, cedar, floral and tobacco flavours are evident. Youthful wine that clearly needs time. Elegant red that seems to get better every vintage.”

98/100 (Sam Kim, Wine Orbit)
“The ‘King of the Grape’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes to the fore with its flatteringly classy presence…Perfectly proportioned, this 2022 has the majestic feel that each previous Coleraine possess”

96/100 (James Suckling)
“A very elegant young Coleraine with lovely aromas of oyster shell, lead pencil, sweet tobacco, black currant and moss. Very perfumed and expressive. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that are polished and energetic with some citrusy acidity underneath. Some dust to the texture. This is the second highest blend of cabernet sauvignon in the history of Coleraine with 84% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot and the rest cabernet franc.”

96/100 (Gary Walsh, The Wine Front)
“Excellent, albeit a more Cabernet focussed expression of Coleraine, which marks it out as being different, and on that point such a worthy of addition to the cellar, though of course the wine is outstanding irrespective of that.”

5 Stars (Michael Cooper)
“The notably graceful 2022 vintage (5) has deep, dark, purple-flushed colour. Fragrant and full-bodied, it has concentrated, well-ripened blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, gently seasoned with nutty oak. Complex, savoury and seamless, with highly refined tannins and obvious cellaring potential, it should break into full stride from 2029+.”

Hardcore Coleraine collectors – now is not the time to leave a gap in the cellar! The 2022 is yet another one for the ages. If Coleraine is yet to sit in your cellar – there’s no 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.