TNR: Te Mata New Releases?

[Bick]

Anyone tasted the new Te Mata releases, such as 08 Awatea & Coleraine yet?
I've heard 08 wasn't a stellar year in HB, but sometimes good wineries manage to make cracking wine nonetheless.

[Craig(NZ)]

You should know which website brings you the earliest news on Te Mata every year. Notes on my website

Tried them yesterday. The Awatea is surprisingly good, better drinking now than the very closed 07. Quite classy with a little hint of plump forward fruit. I really liked it. Might buy a couple of these.

The Coleraine isn't as good as the 07, though we never expected it to be. I'd like to try it again but at this stage it seems in the mould of the 04, quite backward, a little locked up and lean. Really unless you are a vertical collector I can't see why you wouldn't just snap up some more 07's. They are still around. At this stage I might buy one but no rush, id still like some more 07's first. I dunno if id call the 08 a 'lesser vintage' but it definitely isn't more than 'average' in the statistical sense of the word.

[rooman]

Craig,

is the 07Coleraine really as good as the hype and if so how long will it last. It is the my daughters birthyear and I have thought of putting some down with friends in NZ if it will go 20 odd years.

Mark

[Craig(NZ)]

Yeah I think 07 Coleraine is one of the best vintages made. We can debate whether it is *the* best in a decades time vs vintages such as 91, 95, 98, 00, 05. Well cellared i'm of the opinion the 07 will go 20 years. It just has piles of concentration, layers of fruit and good structure.

Although many people question the ability of NZ reds to cellar we are now starting to see that the best wines from the nineties are up for 15-20 years (some may even go longer - i'm thinking of some of the 94 waihekes especially). The best wines from the noughties with further improvements to winemaking should go 20. I think in another decade the proof in the pudding will start removing the long held belief over NZ and cellar ability. I have great expectations around many Syrah labels too. I have no doubts wines such as Craggy Le Sol will go long long time in da cellar.

The other vintage of Coleraine touted as a long lasting wine is the 98. I have had it recently (it was a sensation) and have no fears for it lasting another decade. I bought magnums of 98 Coleraine for my kids 21st and half way there now I have no regrets.

Coleraine is a wine of definite class, it performs in the cellar and always comes out a complex and interesting wine which is more than you can say for many of the more blockbuster Aussie labels

C

[SueNZ]

Awatea 2008 the highlight of the vintage release for me.
Tasting again in a couple of weeks time.

Tasted at a Te Mata function last week where they put on some 1998 reds.
1998 Bullnose was 'fully mature', some would even say 'peaked'.
1998 Awatea was sublime. Pity we didn't have a bottle this good at the offline last October.
1998 Coleraine was quite good but nowhere near as good as the wine we tasted at the offline in October.

[Bick]

Thanks for feedback guys. I got an Awatea 08 to try last night. Very nice - reminded me of 05, as it is charming from the get-go, unlike the 07, which is barely drinkable yet imo. Will finish the bottle tonight so will see how it goes day 2.

[Craig(NZ)]

tried them both again at the winery on friday. needless to say a lot easier to gain impressions over a squirt out of a tasting machine

coleraine showed a lot better this time round, very tight, black and brooding. it shows the high can sauv %. upgrade to my first impression here. I bought a bottle, one at this stage.

also tried the 09 cape crest which was a lot more integrated and soft compared to the also brilliant 08

grabbed a few halves of elston and awatea. makes a good "mid week with a special steak or piece of fish" drink when you dont wanna sink a full bottle between two of you.