95/100 Wine enthusiast 96/100 Decanter (2019 vintage) 95/100 Wine Enthusiast (2019 vintage) 94/100 Wine Enthusiast (2018 vintage) 16/20 Jancis Robinson (2018 vintage) 90/100 Bob Campbell, The Real Review (2016 vintage) 92/100 James Suckling (2015 vintage) 91/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2015 vintage) 90/100 Decanter (2015 vintage)
Wine enthusiast "This historic Hawke's Bay estate once again delivers a delicious and exceptionally well-priced bottling. A blend of three subregions, including the famed Gimblett Gravels, this ruby red Syrah sings with vibrant plum and berry fruit, cracked black pepper, graphite, dried florals and chocolate mint. Aromas flow seamlessly onto the palate, which threads finely structured tannins through the juicy fruit, herbs and spice, emerging out the other side to form a complete wine that is both serious and playful, food-friendly and highly drinkable."
Decanter "Dark crimson with notes of raspberry, red plum, lavender, cinnamon and five spice. Concentrated and rich with firm tannins and a long, sweet berry fruit-flavoured finish. The berry sweet flavour balances the spice levels, while the cinnamon note lifts the spice flavour, making for a fabulous pairing." (2019 vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "Te Mata's estate Syrah is once again a lucid, approachable beauty. This vintage is more layered than the previous one, unraveling flavors and textures. First, bright cherry and plum arise, then graphite, savory herbs and flowers chime in. The palate is linear and taut, with leathery tannins, crisp acidity and tart fruit. There's a savory edge to the finish. It's a serious yet highly drinkable Syrah, especially when paired with roast lamb." (2019 vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "There is a simplicity to this wine, made by one of New Zealand's most historic wineries. But simple can be beautiful, particularly when it comes to red wines on the fuller end of the spectrum. At first sniff, pristine red fruit is woven with licorice, olives, herbs and slightly chocolaty oak. But as it opens in the glass, the oak fades and warm stone minerality takes its place. Firmly medium bodied, the tangy fruit is interlaced with savory herbs and balanced by lifted acidity and chalky tannins. This is cool climate Syrah that is unpretentious yet wholly sure of itself. " (2018 vintage)
Bob Campbell, The Real Review "Fruit-focused wine with black pepper, violet, plum, berry and spice. Bone-dry, but not austere, with slightly grippy tannins." (2016 vintage)
James Suckling "Some white pepper and attractive bacon fat here with a wealth of blackberry fruits - toasty oak spice brings extra appeal to the nose. The palate has slippery, smooth and silky tannins, plenty of depth, fleshy red cherry and blackberry fruit and a resounding sense of fluidity and polish." (2015 vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Deep purple/red colour and a pronounced peppery aroma, fresh and clean. The wine is medium-bodied and crisp in the mouth; fresh and lively with balanced acid and tannins and just a light, nicely judged grip on the end - which also tastes peppery. Very good and very much a cool-climate shiraz style." (2015 vintage)
Decanter "Medium-bodied Syrah, with the flowing silky red fruits indicative of its Bridge Pa and Woodthorpe origins. Aromas of violet, peony, raspberry, cranberry, sandalwood and star anise." (2015 vintage)
100% Syrah Alcohol: 13%
World of Fine Wine 'Getting to know a legend' "A visit to one of the world’s greatest fine-wine estates should be an integral part of any tour of New Zealand. On the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island is the independently owned, family-run, Te Mata Estate. Owners and staff still work on vineyards that began growing Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir back in the 1890s, making it the country’s oldest wine estate. Since 1905, this winery has been winning gold medals globally, which led to these sites becoming the country’s first to be protected by law due to their viticultural history. Te Mata Estate wines are currently available in 45 countries and have been presented at some of the world’s top tables— including to President Barrack Obama, President Xi Jinping, and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee."
Raymond Chan "Te Mata Estate was the standard by which every other wine producer could be judged against, as the full range of styles has always been impeccable. In the earlier days, Hawke’s Bay was the scene of New Zealand’s quality wine, so it was very apt to have Te Mata Estate as the point of reference. Even when other regions developed, and Marlborough grew larger, and other varietals such as Pinot Noir became important, one could understand the state of the New Zealand wine industry by how Te Mata Estate behaved or reacted to influences, whether internal, or international."
Te Mata Estate is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most important wine producers. It is New Zealand's oldest winery, oldest wine estate and has the oldest winery cellars in the country - in continuous operation since 1895. Coleraine is Te Mata's most acclaimed wine and is often regarded as New Zealand's best red wine.
Hawke's Bay is located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island in and around the cities of Napier, Hastings and Havelock North. This historic region has New Zealand's second-largest wine industry (after Marlborough) and is highly regarded for its red Bordeaux Blend wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay are all planted widely across the region. Over the years, the region has won international acclaim for its very high-quality Bordeaux-style reds and full-bodied Chardonnays. Syrah, produced in a classic European style with strong black-pepper flavors, is another grape variety thought to have great potential here.
Syrah is a dark-skinned red wine grape. Its origins have been popularly debated, but its modern viticultural home is unquestionably the northern Rhône Valley of eastern France. In Australia, Syrah is the flagship variety and has developed such a distinct personality that it is essentially regarded as a distinct variety, is commonly known as Shiraz.
95/100 Wine enthusiast 96/100 Decanter (2019 vintage) 95/100 Wine Enthusiast (2019 vintage) 94/100 Wine Enthusiast (2018 vintage) 16/20 Jancis Robinson (2018 vintage) 90/100 Bob Campbell, The Real Review (2016 vintage) 92/100 James Suckling (2015 vintage) 91/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2015 vintage) 90/100 Decanter (2015 vintage)
Wine enthusiast "This historic Hawke's Bay estate once again delivers a delicious and exceptionally well-priced bottling. A blend of three subregions, including the famed Gimblett Gravels, this ruby red Syrah sings with vibrant plum and berry fruit, cracked black pepper, graphite, dried florals and chocolate mint. Aromas flow seamlessly onto the palate, which threads finely structured tannins through the juicy fruit, herbs and spice, emerging out the other side to form a complete wine that is both serious and playful, food-friendly and highly drinkable."
Decanter "Dark crimson with notes of raspberry, red plum, lavender, cinnamon and five spice. Concentrated and rich with firm tannins and a long, sweet berry fruit-flavoured finish. The berry sweet flavour balances the spice levels, while the cinnamon note lifts the spice flavour, making for a fabulous pairing." (2019 vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "Te Mata's estate Syrah is once again a lucid, approachable beauty. This vintage is more layered than the previous one, unraveling flavors and textures. First, bright cherry and plum arise, then graphite, savory herbs and flowers chime in. The palate is linear and taut, with leathery tannins, crisp acidity and tart fruit. There's a savory edge to the finish. It's a serious yet highly drinkable Syrah, especially when paired with roast lamb." (2019 vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "There is a simplicity to this wine, made by one of New Zealand's most historic wineries. But simple can be beautiful, particularly when it comes to red wines on the fuller end of the spectrum. At first sniff, pristine red fruit is woven with licorice, olives, herbs and slightly chocolaty oak. But as it opens in the glass, the oak fades and warm stone minerality takes its place. Firmly medium bodied, the tangy fruit is interlaced with savory herbs and balanced by lifted acidity and chalky tannins. This is cool climate Syrah that is unpretentious yet wholly sure of itself. " (2018 vintage)
Bob Campbell, The Real Review "Fruit-focused wine with black pepper, violet, plum, berry and spice. Bone-dry, but not austere, with slightly grippy tannins." (2016 vintage)
James Suckling "Some white pepper and attractive bacon fat here with a wealth of blackberry fruits - toasty oak spice brings extra appeal to the nose. The palate has slippery, smooth and silky tannins, plenty of depth, fleshy red cherry and blackberry fruit and a resounding sense of fluidity and polish." (2015 vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Deep purple/red colour and a pronounced peppery aroma, fresh and clean. The wine is medium-bodied and crisp in the mouth; fresh and lively with balanced acid and tannins and just a light, nicely judged grip on the end - which also tastes peppery. Very good and very much a cool-climate shiraz style." (2015 vintage)
Decanter "Medium-bodied Syrah, with the flowing silky red fruits indicative of its Bridge Pa and Woodthorpe origins. Aromas of violet, peony, raspberry, cranberry, sandalwood and star anise." (2015 vintage)
100% Syrah Alcohol: 13%
World of Fine Wine 'Getting to know a legend' "A visit to one of the world’s greatest fine-wine estates should be an integral part of any tour of New Zealand. On the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island is the independently owned, family-run, Te Mata Estate. Owners and staff still work on vineyards that began growing Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir back in the 1890s, making it the country’s oldest wine estate. Since 1905, this winery has been winning gold medals globally, which led to these sites becoming the country’s first to be protected by law due to their viticultural history. Te Mata Estate wines are currently available in 45 countries and have been presented at some of the world’s top tables— including to President Barrack Obama, President Xi Jinping, and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee."
Raymond Chan "Te Mata Estate was the standard by which every other wine producer could be judged against, as the full range of styles has always been impeccable. In the earlier days, Hawke’s Bay was the scene of New Zealand’s quality wine, so it was very apt to have Te Mata Estate as the point of reference. Even when other regions developed, and Marlborough grew larger, and other varietals such as Pinot Noir became important, one could understand the state of the New Zealand wine industry by how Te Mata Estate behaved or reacted to influences, whether internal, or international."
Te Mata Estate is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most important wine producers. It is New Zealand's oldest winery, oldest wine estate and has the oldest winery cellars in the country - in continuous operation since 1895. Coleraine is Te Mata's most acclaimed wine and is often regarded as New Zealand's best red wine.
Hawke's Bay is located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island in and around the cities of Napier, Hastings and Havelock North. This historic region has New Zealand's second-largest wine industry (after Marlborough) and is highly regarded for its red Bordeaux Blend wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay are all planted widely across the region. Over the years, the region has won international acclaim for its very high-quality Bordeaux-style reds and full-bodied Chardonnays. Syrah, produced in a classic European style with strong black-pepper flavors, is another grape variety thought to have great potential here.
Syrah is a dark-skinned red wine grape. Its origins have been popularly debated, but its modern viticultural home is unquestionably the northern Rhône Valley of eastern France. In Australia, Syrah is the flagship variety and has developed such a distinct personality that it is essentially regarded as a distinct variety, is commonly known as Shiraz.
