After 2 vintages in a row where Coleraine has pushed for best ever tag, this years release was always going to struggle to excite in the same way. The drawcard of course was to try the classic 91 vintage. As usual a great night out though.
Sauvignon Blancs were really good both the estate and the cape crest. 12 Cape crest beautiful, I might buy a cape crest. It is quite unique
Chardonnay. Estate not so exciting for me, solid but I drink really only flash chardonnay so..., 11 Elston was nice, saline broad. wasn’t too appealing to me as a vintage to cellar missing focus and concentration. Rather have a few more 10's
Gamay. Meh. More than a quaffer but not my stle
Estate Merlot Cab 10. Not bad, good fine structure but not super exciting
Zara 11. Lovely apricot nougat aromatics but lacking some mid palate richness
Awatea 11. Very approachable, the most immediately drinkable for years and years. In fact most immediately drinkable vintage I can think of. Textural, lots of fruit, creamy and breezy. Not as monumental as 07-10
Coleraine 11. Again very textural, a little tight. Not the x factor of the 09 or 10. Not a big wine dimension wise but still, $85 hmmm I think I am still gonna pass this year and save up for (touchwood) 2013. An earlier drinking coleraine than other recent vintages
Coleraine 01 . This is quite aged and hard. A bit sappy and angular. Hard going. Not upset I never bought this vintage. Drink now if you have any, its not gonna get any better
Coleraine 91. To start with this was very pongy with decayed notes but it grew in the glass. Lots of sweet fruit and tannin, powerdery tannins. Ended up being very good but it is I think now on a slow slide down. Was a better wine 5 years ago imo though it should still keep drinking with only slow decline for some years yet.
Quick Te Mata Showcase Release tasting impressions
Re: Quick Te Mata Showcase Release tasting impressions
Tried the latest TM showcase wines last night in Takapuna. 
I reported last year that I was disappointed in the 2010 vintage offerings. What a difference a year makes.
In short the 2011 Zara, Elsdon, Awatea and Coleraine are far better wines. All between ½ and 1% lower in
alcohol, tight acidities, and pure, fresh, focused fruit flavours, and without alcohol bloat.
I was thinking, due to the poor rep. of the 2011 HB vintage that I could skip buying TM this year. Wrong; these are
must haves for the cellar, except for the Awatea which although better than last year, is still outclassed by
other offerings at its price point.
Loved the Coleraine; 13% alc (2010 14%) 72% Cabernet, the highest since 1994 (74%). Every other vintage
with cab over 70% was in the 1980's.
Yep, I looked it up. Tasting blind I'd never have picked it as Coleraine, more
like a CR Quarry. Classic cabernet doughnut, hole in the middle palate, due to the merlot and franc being anonymous
at this stage. Excellent acidity, pure blackcurrant fruit and plenty of tannic grip. I think this will shine in the cellar.
I reported last year that I was disappointed in the 2010 vintage offerings. What a difference a year makes.
In short the 2011 Zara, Elsdon, Awatea and Coleraine are far better wines. All between ½ and 1% lower in
alcohol, tight acidities, and pure, fresh, focused fruit flavours, and without alcohol bloat.
I was thinking, due to the poor rep. of the 2011 HB vintage that I could skip buying TM this year. Wrong; these are
must haves for the cellar, except for the Awatea which although better than last year, is still outclassed by
other offerings at its price point.
Loved the Coleraine; 13% alc (2010 14%) 72% Cabernet, the highest since 1994 (74%). Every other vintage
with cab over 70% was in the 1980's.
Yep, I looked it up. Tasting blind I'd never have picked it as Coleraine, morelike a CR Quarry. Classic cabernet doughnut, hole in the middle palate, due to the merlot and franc being anonymous
at this stage. Excellent acidity, pure blackcurrant fruit and plenty of tannic grip. I think this will shine in the cellar.
Re: Quick Te Mata Showcase Release tasting impressions
You will be on 2011 if we have a vertical in 10 years time jafa! I decided not to buy mainly because of the stack of 2010's I got cheap a few months ago. I just don't need them. I liked the 2011 Coleraine, just not not enough to part with $85 a piece when I have too many wines at that price point already