Quick Scribbles from Te Mata Tasting (by an Aussie!)

[Maximus]

I had a call from a colleague last night to swing by work and taste the latest offerings from Te Mata for an hour this evening. Here are my, perhaps forthcoming, impressions:

Woodthorpe Sauvignon Blanc 2004
Nice fruit without the capsicum. Maybe too much acid, especially on finish.

Woodthorpe Chardonnay 2004
Closed nose. Very average everywhere.

Woodthorpe Viognier 2004
Very varietal (refreshingly so) with peach/apricot on the nose, along with a whiff of heat. I checked the bottle and yes, this is a 14.5% wine. Tastes a little sweet too, like there was high residual sugar.

Cape Crest (Sauvignon Blanc) 2004
Closed. More acid. Boring.

Elston (Chardonnay) 2004
Pleasant nose - more like the stonefruit and oak treatment I look for. Good length. Oak use isn't overdone on palate or nose, but prevails nicely. Should age well.

Woodthorpe Syrah/Viognier 2003
A beguiling nose with violets, cherries and well rounded oak use - a great sniff with complexity. A little tart with a slightly thin mouthfeel unfortunately, but a good finish. Wine of the night if not for the tartness (is that the right word?).

Woodthorpe Cabernet/Merlot 2003
Actually has Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Quite a light colour (more like Pinot). Small, red berry fruit on the nose. A big green. A bit sweet. Mouthfeel is lame.

Awatea (Bordeaux Blend) 2003
This is 37% Cab Sauv, 47% Merlot, 11% Cab Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Now reaching the upper echelon of what Te Mata has to offer (with the Elston and Coleraine). This was much darker than the Woodthorpe equivalent. Refined nose, with black cherry and very subtle oak - this wine may have been a tad closed. Spicy, ripe fruit on palate with good, long finish and persistent tannins. Nice wine.

Coleraine (Cab/Merlot) 2003
This is 50% Merlot and 50% Cab Sauv. Nose of dark berry fruit - predominantly cherry - with lead and aniseed. Almost an underlying smoky aroma - not unpleasant. Certainly a complex nose. After first taste, it becomes apparent that this is a very well made wine with an amazing finish and delightfully svelte tannins. Mocha and currant on the palate. Perhaps lacking a rich, concentrated mouthfeel if I have to pick (thanks Drew Noon). Hope the nose improves to match the palate impression, which it may well do with time.

Craig, the gang from Christchurch, and anyone else who've tasted these - let's hear it!

[Craig(NZ).]

tasting them on thursday along with pennies

interesting to see the 03 coleraine really rated. look forward to tasting it. seems its back to the 'proper' coleraine style after last years tangent.

wen i tried the 04 woodthorpe i quite liked it but wasnt impressed with any of the other wines at the CD (Jan)