2002 TE MATA ESTATE Elston Chardonnay-Hawkes Bay-N.Z.
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2003 9:35 am
Tasting Note No.11
Not since tasting Vincent Girardin's 1er Cru 'Les Folatieres' 1998 Puligny-Montrachet was I so spellbound by a chardonnay. A thoroughly awesome experience at the fraction of the price of a Burgundy. I was amazed.
Colour bright hay with straw-green edges. The nose is unbelievably fragrant, butterscotch aromas mixing with melon, almonds and nectarines. A wild ariomatic sensation that I associate with great Montrachet, not Hawkes Bay. The palate that followed made things even better! A powerful and silky taste sensation with vanilla and nectarines. The wine has impeccable balance and a long finish with a fantastic minerally aftertaste. A superb wine in every sense, complex and serious. Drinking beautifully even now, will mature for an other 5 years easily. It cost AU $45. It is without a doubt, a bargain in my mind. Winemaker Peter Cowley is the master of his craft.
2003 TE MATA ESTATE Woodthorpe Sauvignon Blanc
Tasted alongside the very commercial and run of the mill CLOUDY BAY Sauvignon Blanc 2003 ($30) it was the TE MATA that really shined. Beautifully fragrant nose followed by lovely sweet fruit and a long dry finish, it was clearly the (much) better wine of the two at AU $25. Beautiful balance and tasty mineral-melon fruit. A delicious experience.
2001 TE MATA ESTATE Coleraine Cabernet/Merlot
Colour bright cherry red, rather light for such premium wine. A medium bodied St.Julien style red with good berry flavours and very high quality oak. The long finish is lovely but I just don't see the value in it at AU $70. I believe it is worth no more than $30. A fairly good wine nevertheless from a (I suspect) difficult vintage. It may improve over the next 5 years.
2001 TE MATA ESTATE Awatea Cabernet/Merlot
Clearly a step down from the Coleraine, it is a less complex but still attractive medium bodied Médoc style red. Classy oak and good balance but it lacks concentration. Not a bargain at AU $45.
2002 TE MATA ESTATE Woodthorpe Cabernet/Merlot
A wild and gamey nose promises a lot (Is it a better vintage?) that is reminiscent of Pauillac but the palate is light to medium bodied with not enough fruit concentration. Still, an honest red at AU $25 it may develop to be a more exciting wine in the next 2 years.
Tasted:November 2003.
Not since tasting Vincent Girardin's 1er Cru 'Les Folatieres' 1998 Puligny-Montrachet was I so spellbound by a chardonnay. A thoroughly awesome experience at the fraction of the price of a Burgundy. I was amazed.
Colour bright hay with straw-green edges. The nose is unbelievably fragrant, butterscotch aromas mixing with melon, almonds and nectarines. A wild ariomatic sensation that I associate with great Montrachet, not Hawkes Bay. The palate that followed made things even better! A powerful and silky taste sensation with vanilla and nectarines. The wine has impeccable balance and a long finish with a fantastic minerally aftertaste. A superb wine in every sense, complex and serious. Drinking beautifully even now, will mature for an other 5 years easily. It cost AU $45. It is without a doubt, a bargain in my mind. Winemaker Peter Cowley is the master of his craft.
2003 TE MATA ESTATE Woodthorpe Sauvignon Blanc
Tasted alongside the very commercial and run of the mill CLOUDY BAY Sauvignon Blanc 2003 ($30) it was the TE MATA that really shined. Beautifully fragrant nose followed by lovely sweet fruit and a long dry finish, it was clearly the (much) better wine of the two at AU $25. Beautiful balance and tasty mineral-melon fruit. A delicious experience.
2001 TE MATA ESTATE Coleraine Cabernet/Merlot
Colour bright cherry red, rather light for such premium wine. A medium bodied St.Julien style red with good berry flavours and very high quality oak. The long finish is lovely but I just don't see the value in it at AU $70. I believe it is worth no more than $30. A fairly good wine nevertheless from a (I suspect) difficult vintage. It may improve over the next 5 years.
2001 TE MATA ESTATE Awatea Cabernet/Merlot
Clearly a step down from the Coleraine, it is a less complex but still attractive medium bodied Médoc style red. Classy oak and good balance but it lacks concentration. Not a bargain at AU $45.
2002 TE MATA ESTATE Woodthorpe Cabernet/Merlot
A wild and gamey nose promises a lot (Is it a better vintage?) that is reminiscent of Pauillac but the palate is light to medium bodied with not enough fruit concentration. Still, an honest red at AU $25 it may develop to be a more exciting wine in the next 2 years.
Tasted:November 2003.