Time to dig out those 95 Coleraine

[Craig(NZ)]

ive tried this more times than I can care to count since release and last night was the first time ive felt it is now ready to drink. Sensational Cabernet, silky, deep, complex - dig in to your stocks if you are lucky enough to have a few

[Guest - Paul Simpson]

Hi Craig,

I've just a few of the 1996 & 97 but was not going to crack either for another couple of years. Have you had either recently?

Best

Paul

[michel]

Hi Craig,

I've just a few of the 1996 & 97 but was not going to crack either for another couple of years. Have you had either recently?

Best

Paul

Paul
For my palate the 96 is ready- more bordeaux in style than the ball breaker Aussie style. I liked it and couldnt see it doing much more.
michel

[Paul Simpson]

Hi Michel,

Thanks for the comments. I usually wait 10 years for a wine such a this. Perhaps the time is more now.

Best

Paul

[Craig(NZ)]

1989 Te Mata Coleraine Showing good colour still. Ruby red. Nose is extremely aromatic displaying red fruits, currants and a dry warm leafiness. The palate is still very sweet fruited, exhibiting sweet currants, fresh gentle red fruits. Very complex and gentle in the mouth with excellent depth of flavour for a wine of this age. Its thinning out a bit, and showing noticeable but not unpleasant acids. It is probably past its best but still a classy enjoyable mature red. This is the first time I have tried this vintage. Drink up now wine. 16.75/20

1990 Te Mata Coleraine. Ruby Red, no real sign of bricking. The nose of this wine is very complex and I found notes of many things in here that you donÂ’t usually associate with this type of wine including sweet potato, beeswax and the more normal tea and red currants. On the palate it is a slightly more powerful wine mature than the 1989, sweet fruited with currants. Tannin is totally integrated with a slight acid frame covers in plenty of mature sweet velvety red fruits. I have tried this vintage once before, about a year ago, and it looked in great shape today. At peak now, very enjoyable old wine. Drink now 17.25/20

1991 Te Mata Coleraine. This was the first time I had tried the legendary 1991. I had heard so much about it. I was not let down. This is simply a stunning red which would hold its own against anything in the world. The nose initially is not as aromatic as the 1989 or 1990, but is warm and restrained, quiet, displaying a richness and depth of red fruits. The palate is close to perfection displaying perfect balance between structure and fruit, every part of the wine is in harmony. It is a big wine, probably the biggest of the line up, Masses of depth, powdery fine tannins, warm rich and soft fruit, masses of complexity and interest. Very expansive and powerful but fine and classy at the same time. Massive finish. Although this wine is drinking magically now, there is definitely the potential to cellar this wine further and looks to be in no decline. Could take 3-5 years more in the cellar no problems. A very long lived vintage 18.75/20

1994 Te Mata Coleraine. After not producing Coleraine in 1993 and 1992, this was perhaps and over rated vintage in the bay overall with many wines revealing herbaceousness after time in the cellar. My only other run in with this vintage was distinctly unpleasant. However today this wine really shone. The nose displays a bit more cool climate influence with hints of green capsicum, black olive, and a dry leafiness. The palate is very fine and dark fruited, showing very good fruit depth and richness. Olives, cocoa run through a very smooth wine, which sits very nicely in the mouth. It doesnÂ’t display quite the tannic frame that the 91,95,98 and 00 display, and is definitely a earlier drinking wine. I would suspect it should be drunk now as the fruit is the attraction in this vintage. At peak. 17.5/20

1995 Te Mata Coleraine. 1995 is a vintage I have had a lot of experience with and it has never failed to impress. Generally I have considered it to be a warm, tannic, red fruited rather chunky and expansive Coleraine. Today it seemed to have fined up quite a bit. It seems in the mould of the 1991, though not quite as big. Nose is restrained and quiet, red fruits. A concentrated wine showing powdery coating tannins, and excellent length. It gives the impression of needing quite a bit more time and should be a very long lived Coleraine. Still a little closed and gripy. 18+/20

1996 Te Mata Coleraine. 1996 has always impressed me as a Coleraine of breed and class. It is not as big and long term as many of the vintages but it displays all of the quality. Purple, red. The nose is a little shy but displays velvety integrated redcurrant and spice. The palate is very fine, balanced and integrated. A fine rich and supple wine, Gentle tannins and a creamy texture. A wonderful smooth, classy wine. This wine seems to be drinking very well now, and may benefit from a further 1-2 years in the cellar but doesnÂ’t seem to have the structure to improve much beyond that. A sexy Coleraine vintage. 17.75/20

1997 Te Mata Coleraine. I have not tried the 1997 since release, where it was a fine and complex but not really the size expected with Coleraine. Today it had really developed and opened up, gaining some weight and stuffing. On the nose this wine is quite different, very savoury, integrated and pongy, perhaps the merlot coming through a bit more though the stats donÂ’t indicate that! On the palate is a very savoury, complex and open wine, lovely silky texture. It is a little shorter on the finish than most vintages here today. At 6 years of age, this looks very much a drink now wine. A lovely drink but in the context of today it looks a lesser Coleraine. Drink now 17/20

1998 Te Mata Coleraine. I have not tried this wine since release either. The hyped 1998 vintage is still being debated as to how great it really was. One thing is for sure, the levels of ripeness achieved make this vintage a freak. This wine is very dark dense purple in the glass. Aromas of black fruits, blackberry, cassis, spice and vanilla flow to the nostrils. Structurally the 1998 is very fine and tightly knit. Very fine silky tannins are enveloped in masses of tight, un-giving, primary fruit. Texture is very creamy perhaps in the mould of the 96. It has opened a little since release but still needs a stack of time. I am just wondering whether, when this wine eventually starts to develop into its secondary phase whether it will have a plateau as long as wines like the 91. 95 or 00. It doesnÂ’t have the big powdery tannins of these vintages. Needs another 5 years before it really can be assessed properly I think but should be a legendary vintage. Patience!! Keep. 18.25+/20

1999 Te Mata Coleraine. A vintage of Coleraine I have not tried before. Nose of boysenberry and red fruits. The palate is big, open and loose knit. Bright breezy fruit, lovely silky texture. Relaxed and pleasant drinking. Doesn’t seem to be a long term Coleraine and in fact it is drinking quite well now though I feel it will improve with a further short term stint in the cellar which should improve its complexity. It is slightly one dimensional in the context of this line up, but still a fabulous drink. Drink now – 3 years 17.25/20

2000 Te Mata Coleraine. Ive had a few goes at this wine before and have always been very impressed with the black fruits and spice found in this wine, the Fruitcake complexity and the silky creamy texture. Today in the context of these vintages it showed very well but also showed it needs time. Plenty of grip here and plenty of fruit really announces an wine that should be looking fantastic in 10 years time. It has the same structural feel as the 1991 and 1995; plenty of warm ripe tannin coating the mouth. Very primary, heaps of dark black fruit and a stunning texture. Big and expansive wine. Flavour profile is quite similar to the 98, though the 00 is a bigger wine with more structure. Cellar 5-10 years 18+/20

[Paul Simpson]

for the detailed notes. Coleraine has been a favorite for years and your notes are spot on. Have a great holiday.

Paul