2003 Te Mata Estate Coleraine

BY NEAL MARTIN |&nbsp;APRIL 24, 2023Back in
the day, when I used to cover New Zealand, it was clear that the country
boasted a clutch of wines that could truly repay cellaring. One of those was Coleraine
from Te Mata Estate in Hawkes Bay. I have been fortunate to taste a few mature
vintages of their flagship Bordeaux blend sourced from the Havelock Hills,
which debuted with the 1989 vintage and is named after the birthplace of John
Buck’s grandfather in Northern Ireland. However, I had not encountered one with
20 years on the clock until one was poured at a recent tasting.<img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.vinous.com/uploads%2F1682099981275-te+mate+coleraine.jpg">The 2003
Te Mata Estate Coleraine is splendid at 20 years of age. It has an
almost understated bouquet that gradually unfurls in the glass: red plum, camphor,
lavender and allspice. This becomes very seductive as it finds its groove. The
palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that frame lightly spiced dark
berry fruit. Hints of wild mint, sandalwood, black pepper and sage are cohesive
with a gentle grip on the finish. Coleraine has real pedigree and would show a
few 2003 Clarets a thing or two about freshness. 93/Drink 2023-2038. © 2023, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or re-distributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright, but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism.

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