Coleraine 2018 Reviews

Coleraine '18 - 'Very deep, concentrated, bright purple/red colour. The bouquet is exquisite with a multitude of black fruits, blueberry, cassis, violet and cedar aromas, and much more besides. The detail is outstanding, as is the intensity of the palate. It’s very concentrated and powerful, firmly-structured and has tremendous persistence. The tannins are firm and abundant and will help guarantee a long life, but they are ripe and accessible and the wine is already approachable. (52% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 15% cabernet franc) 2023–2048.' 98 Points ★★★★★

Coleraine '18 - 'I often find myself conflicted when rating wines like this one; it’s impeccable in taste but its price puts it beyond the reach of most of us mere mortals. That said, the new 2018 Te Mata Coleraine is, without doubt, the star wine of this winery’s latest releases. It had been bottled for two months at the time of tasting in early February 2020, so it has plenty of time up its sleeve; it’s a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc and tastes of dark black fruit flavours with hints of black olives, wild herbs and a full body.' 18.5/20 Points

Coleraine '18 - 'Coleraine is, perhaps, my favourite red wine produced south of the equator. Exquisite perfume over purple silk sheets of dense tannin. Roll in them. Luxuriate in the quality on off er here, now, and for decades to come. Black fruit, raspberry coulis, sweet rolling tobacco, hazelnut, roses, nutmeg and paprika. It’s tightly packed, with a distinct ‘mineral’ feel to the acidity, concentrated but light on its feet. Dark chocolate and subtle leafy fragrance, long and powerful through the finish, with a deliciously adult walnut burr to close. Magnificent.' 97 Points

Coleraine '18 - 'Undeniably well-crafted and impeccably styled, the wine exhibits cassis, dark cherry, cedar, violet and subtle tobacco characters on the nose with a light seasoning of warm spice. The palate offers outstanding concentration and multi-layered mouthfeel, combined with fabulous fruit purity and elegant oak undertones, leading to an impressively prolonged finish backed by seamlessly integrated chalky tannins. At its best: 2026 to 2038.' 98 Points, ★★★★★

Coleraine '18 - 'Bright, youthful blended red of cabernet sauvignon (52%), merlot (33%) and cabernet franc (15%). This is classic Coleraine with cassis, cedar, floral, blueberry, a suggestion of wood-smoke, anise and spicy oak flavours. Terrific depth and an exquisite balance between fruit sweetness and acid/tannin structure. It will be a long-distance runner. Drink 2019 to 2028.' 98 Points, ★★★★★

‘The Buck family of the Te Mata estate produce the best New Zealand wine I have come across ... could have passed muster as a classed-growth claret.’

Coleraine '18 - 'Slightly deeper in colour than the 2017, a solid crimson, this has a truly lovely perfume, touches of violet and kirsch like the 2017, a little bit of briar and olive, but more overtly ripe and plush fruit suggesting blackcurrant and cherry with less of the currant leaf note of the 2017. The slightly greater ripeness is apparent. Substantial and creamy on the palate, a flood of fruit is sweet and ripe, fleshy with plum and bramble, but the impression of bittersweetness comes with the endive and liquorice bite of the tannins, a touch of roasted chestnut, and fresh, vital acidity. Tasted back to the 2009 vintage on this occasion, Te Mata suggest the wine begins to really hit its stride only after 15 years or more, but with substantial decanting this dense, powerful Coleraine will be approachable before then.'

Coleraine '18 - 'Te Mata Coleraine is the most obvious example of an iconic wine. It has been produced since 1982, has a proven ability to age gracefully, has gained international respect, and is certainly one of the best blended red wines made in this country. Coleraine is actively traded on the secondary market, where it fetches record prices. This truly iconic red raised the bar significantly when the first (1982) vintage was released and it continued to grow in stature over the next 36 years. Two thousand and eighteen was a good vintage, although 2019 and 2020 are shaping up to be even better. With the help of temperature-controlled storage the 2018 is good for at least another couple of decades but will offer guilt-free drinking from about 2023. It is a seriously good red.'

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. '