Region | |
---|---|
Subregion | New Zealand > Hawkes Bay |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Te Mata Estate
The 2014 Coleraine Cabernet / Merlot was a finished blend, just needing to be fined and bottled in January 2016. Deep garnet-purple, it has a forward nose of pronounced cassis, black pepper, earth, violets, pencil lead and bay leaves plus a waft of cedar. Very elegant, medium-bodied, well-structured and fine, it lacks the lovely freshness of the 2013 but offers plenty of expression at this early stage.
There's an element of expertise to this wine in the form of slick new-French-oak polish and handy freshness. Distinctive leafy aromas abound, as do gravely nuances and tinges of violets, blueberries, blue cherries and cassis. A class act. The palate has layers of fine, dense and ripe tannins saturated in dark-cherry, cassis and blueberry flavors. The acidity is pitch-perfect, too. This is a stylish modern cabernet that could compete with the best from any continent. Best from 2020-2030+.