Reviews
Bullnose 2018 Reviews
Bullnose '18 - 'A great bouquet, fine nose of Syrah with white and black peppercorn, roses and lavender, a core of red currants, black cherry and Doris plum, some sweet olive and new leather. Firm, youthful and dry with an abundance of tannins and acidity. As the wine relaxes (a little) the future looks set - cellar still please, this wine needs time (2024/2026) then try again. Mostly about energy and intensity, salivating structure, great finish, long, complex.' 96 Points
Cameron Douglas, MS, October 2019 Featuring: Bullnose 2018
Bullnose '18 - 'Shiny new and showing gorgeously lifted colour, and aromas of plum, mulberry, hedgerow fruits, green peppercorn and peppery spices, violets and the character of freshly-tilled soil and has incredible minerality.' ★★★★ 1/2
Yvonne Lorkin, October 2019 Featuring: Bullnose 2018
Bullnose '18 - ' The gorgeously perfumed bouquet shows Black Doris plum, sweet raspberry, violet, olive and toasted almond characters with a whiff of fragrant spice. The palate is concentrated, focused and delightfully flowing with outstanding depth and intensity, while remaining elegant and poised, leading to an extremely long expansive finish. Harmonious, seamless and flawlessly precise. Combining exquisite refinement and undeniable power, this latest offering is another stunning beauty under this iconic label.' 97 Points ★★★★★
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, October 2019 Featuring: Bullnose 2018
Bullnose '18 - 'Deep, bright, youthful purple/red colour, with a pronounced spicy, peppery aroma, the palate sweet rich and deep in very elegant, classy fruit flavour. The tannins are ample and refined, balanced and the wine is overall delicious. Black pepper, subtle cloves and other spices. It has a core of fruit sweetness that is utterly delicious.' 96 Points ★★★★★
Huon Hooke, The Real Review, November 2019 Featuring: Bullnose 2018
Bullnose '18 - 'Ras el hanout is a spice mix that means ‘head of the shop’, and maybe we have a bull in a shop here, such is the level of exotic spice and perfume pumping out of the glass. In with that, some lavender and vanilla, cherry and redcurrant, a smattering of green herb too. It’s light to medium-bodied, fine emery tannin, juicy raspberry acidity and flavour, inner-mouth perfume and spiced wood aromatic, and a dusty white pepper texture and taste on a cool long finish. Nice and ‘minerally’ too. You have to like them spicy and lithe, and if so, this’ll be close to the top of the shop for you.' 95 Points
Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, December 2019 Featuring: Bullnose 2018
Bullnose '18 - 'Rich and delicious with hints of farmyard but with the purity of dark fruit that carries it well.'
Roger Jones, The Buyer, January 2020 Featuring: Bullnose 2018
Bullnose '18 - 'Bullnose Syrah is named after a car that had the bull emblem on its radiator and, well, it’s a long story, suffice to say that the wine is made from hand harvested grapes grown on Te Mata’s Bullnose Vineyard with grapes from the Hotspur and Isosceles vineyards also used for good measure. It was aged in new and seasoned French oak barriques for 15 months, is sealed with a natural cork and is super dry, full bodied and savoury. Drinks impressively but needs time to show its full potential.' 18.5/20 Points
Joëlle Thomson, February 2020 Featuring: Bullnose 2018
Te Mata Estate - 'Te Mata justly lays claim to being the oldest commercial winery in New Zealand. They also produce two of the nation’s iconic wines, the Coleraine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc that exhibits the best characteristics of a stylish Bordeaux with ample New World power and exuberance, and the rich and elegant Elston Chardonnay. The intense and structured Te Mata Bullnose Syrah is a personal favourite, as is their light and refreshing Gamay Noir. '
Shine, John H. Isacs, Shanghai, September 2020 Featuring: Zara 2018, Syrah 2019, Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Merlot/Cabernets 2019, Gamay Noir 2020, Elston 2018, Coleraine 2018, Bullnose 2018, Awatea 2018, Alma 2019
Bullnose '16 - 'Bullnose is one of the oldest Syrah brands in Hawke’s Bay, named after one of the vineyards from which the wine is made. The grapes come from two vineyards, Bullnose and Isosceles, both in the Bridge Pa Triangle; one of the warmer growing areas of Hawke’s Bay, thanks to both soil and climate there. This is a beautiful wine with its deep purple colour and impressive full bodied flavours. The 2016 Te Mata Estate Bullnose Syrah was an aged bottle poured to try. It demonstrates how well Syrah can age because it is still exceptionally youthful even at four years old. The current vintage available is Bullnose ‘18.' 19/20
