Te Mata Coleraine 2015 750ml

"The wine has everything in place, and nothing out of place. It is striking and restrained at the same time, and delivers youthful charm of classic young Bordeaux, offering concentration, purity and complexity all in this gracious package that is Coleraine ‘15. Cassis, dark plum, violet, cigar and roasted almond lead to a palate that is perfectly
proportioned and detailed with focus and structure, wonderfully enhanced by delectable fruit flavours and elegant oak infusion. Seamless and persistent with a promise to develop magnificently." Sam Kim Wine Orbit

" Very dark, deep, near impenetrable black-red colour, with a slightly lighter edge. The nose is beautifully elegant with stylish proportions and expressed with finesse, showing ripe blackberry and blackcurrant fruit with cassis liqueur, lifted by fragrant dark red florals, subtle notes of dark herbs, and enriched by pencilly oak. Medium-full bodied, the fruit sweetness and richness is the immediate feature on the palate with concentrated and intense, layered flavours of blackberries and blackcurrants, cassis and black plums, along with herbs, floral elements and minerals, unfolding pencilly oak. The fruit richness is balanced by considerable tannin extraction, the mouthfeel very fine-textured and powdery. This has an underlying vitality, freshness and power, carrying the plush fruit flavours to a very long, lingering, textural finish. This is a classically structured, ageworthy Cabernet blend with refined opulence. 10-15 years. A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the fruit predominantly from Havelock with a portion from the ‘Bullnose’ vineyard, hand-picked and fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 17 months in 70% new French oak barrels" Raymond Chan, March 2017

First, a bouquet of violets, roses, lavender and pure cassis, followed by a banquet of blackcurrant, fragrant wild strawberry and pitch-black cherry, laid out over sweet cedar, and fine, supple French oak.

Always floral, always concentrated, always poised – Coleraine ’15 is galaxy-dark with  flashes of magenta and brilliant purple. Alive with charm, texture and energy, this is a  multi-generational wine of immense cellaring potential.

Each parcel of grapes was destemmed before a traditional warm, plunged fermentation and extended maceration on skins. The resulting wines were then run to predominately new French oak barrels for 17 months’ maturation. Throughout this time, they were regularly topped and racked. The separate wines were blended in January 2016, for maturation during their second winter in barrel. The finished wine was bottled in December 2016. The final blend is 54% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot and 10% cabernet franc.

Coleraine derives its name from the Coleraine vineyard, home of John and Wendy Buck of  Te Mata Estate. John’s late grandfather was born in Coleraine in Northern Ireland and the name has been maintained through the family home to the wine. Originally a single vineyard wine, from 1989 Coleraine has been an assemblage of the finest wines produced from distinct plots within Te Mata Estate’s oldest vineyards on the Havelock Hills.