Te Mata Coleraine 2024

New Zealand's 1st Growth wine, Coleraine is one of the Southern Hemispheres great Cabernet based reds, quality and potential longevity in the Northern part of the world will cost you more than 5 green backs.   Multiple vintages have scored 100 points, 2024 now joining the siblings on the prize wall.  Hesitate and it'll be gone...

58% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot and 11% cabernet franc

Critics thoughts - This is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc. 55% new oak. This vintage puts me in mind of the mighty 2020; that sort of depth and concentration, though it has some of the acid cut of 2021 in the mix too. Winemaker Phil Brodie says 2024 was a dry vintage, and warm too, with small bunches and lower crop levels. Said it could have gone too ripe, but they walked through the vineyards on a daily basis, tasting and testing, and they picked it when they thought it was just right. When I think about NZ wine, at the top of the tree, I have Kumeu for Chardonnay, Bilancia for Shiraz (and sometimes Chardonnay!), and Te Mata for Cabernet. A trio of meticulous producers who regularly deliver that little bit extra. The one percenters, if you like. (Gary Walsh - The Wine Front - 97+ Points)

In their words - A deep, brilliant crimson with a vibrant purple core, Coleraine ’24 opens with an alluring bouquet of fresh roses, cassis, dark cherries and blackberries. Layers of dark chocolate, nori, black olive and subtle cedar add complexity, while lifted florals and a savoury coastal nuance enhance its depth, precision and beauty.

On the palate, a concentrated wave of red and dark fruit flows over velvety, cocoa powder textures, as expansive, silky tannins weave seamlessly through the wine. This enormity of scale is highlighted by a fine, focused acid line that drives through to a finish of exceptional length. With immense power held in delicate restraint, Coleraine ’24 is destined to unfurl over decades.