Coleraine derives its name from the Coleraine vineyard, home of John and Wendy Buck of Te Mata Estate. John?s late grandfather was born in Coleraine in Northern Ireland and the name has been maintained through the family home to the wine. Originally a single vineyard wine, from 1989 Coleraine has been an assemblage of the finest wines produced from distinct plots within Te Mata Estate?s oldest vineyards on the Havelock Hills.
The deep crimson colour of Coleraine ?21, edged in royal purple, is the first clue to this wine?s exceptional character. Pure Hawke?s Bay cabernet aromatics leap from the glass ? wild blackberry, blackcurrant, thyme, and cedar, all interwoven with that signature Coleraine perfume of fresh roses. The palate precisely balances richness with vibrant energy; modern and varietally expressive, with cassis, raspberry, mocha, spice, and a distinctive minerality that is uniquely 2021. The fruit ripeness is so succulent, it cloaks those profound, chiselled tannins that carry the palate on endlessly. With perfume, power, finesse, and length this is an absolute original. Coleraine ?21 is ?The One?.
97+ POINTS
Gary Walsh | The Wine Front | Dec'23
56% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 12% cabernet franc. Because I care, I just nipped down to the cellar to open a bottle of the 2020 Coleraine to compare
and contrast with the 2021. The 2020 is packed with tannin, texture, earthiness, and power, while the 2021 is brighter, a bit more frisky in acidity, with more leafy
perfume. A little more flamboyant, but equal. It?s not a competition, more of a love in. The 2021 may well be the ?better? wine in time, though it?s kind of hard to tell,
and may just come down to personal preference.
Dark and intense, lots of perfume, red and black fruits, tobacco, a leafy pop that?s pure varietal class, creamy oak, lead pencils, aniseed and spice. Medium to fullbodied, a flood of flavour, super ?mineral? feel to the acidity, tannin is superb, and the finish is so long. Light but so dense. There?s a fresh raspberry juiciness here too,
and an extra dimension of tension and energy. All the graphite and presence. Incredible wine. Drink: 2026- 2045+
97+ POINTS
Huon Hooke | Dec'23
Very deep bright purple colour; the bouquet shows similar mulberry, blackcurrant and raspberry fruit aromas as the Awatea but the wine is more concentrated
all-round and shows a little more oak (65% new). There are violet notes and a sprinkle of spices including nutmeg too. The tannins are more persuasive and
mouth-coating also, and the length is prodigious. A smashing cabernet blend, and a top vintage for this wine. (56% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 12% cabernet
franc) 2025?2041
98 POINTS
James Suckling | Jan'23
Redcurrant and creme de cassis aromas. Roses. So aromatic. Stones. Oyster and mussel shell. Ink pot. Lead pencil shavings. Full-bodied but very tight and focused.
Linear and long with fine, powdery and chewy tannins. Crushed velvet texture. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, and 12% cabernet franc. More franc than normal
in the blend. Terrific length. Try after 2028.
5 STARS
Michael Cooper | Feb'23
Breed, rather than brute power, is the hallmark of Coleraine (correctly pronounced Cole-raine rather than Coler-aine), which since its first vintage in 1982 has carved out an illustrious reputation among New Zealand's claret-style reds. In all vintages since 2007, Cabernet Sauvignon has been the predominant variety.
At its best, it is a magical Hawke's Bay wine, with a depth, complexity and subtlety on the level of a topclass Bordeaux. The grapes are grown and hand-picked
in the Havelock North hills, in the company's warm, north-facing Buck and 1892 vineyards, and the wine is matured for 16 to 20 months in French oak barriques,
predominantly new. The very elegant, beautifully poised 2021 vintage (5) is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56 per cent), Merlot (32 per cent) and Cabernet Franc
(12 per cent). Highly refined, it is deeply coloured and mouthfilling, with fresh, notably concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, hints of herbs
and nuts, lovely complexity and a lasting finish. Best drinking 2026+.
5 STARS & 100 POINTS
Sam Kim | Wine Orbit | Feb'23
The 2021 Coleraine exhibits a commanding presence and majestic poise. The bouquet reveals classic aromas of cassis, dark plum and violet with whispering nuances of cedar and cigar. There are hints of warm spices,
compounding the pleasure upon inhalation. The palate is bold and graceful at once, enhanced by plush texture and multi-layered mouthfeel, beautifully framed by
refreshing acidity and fine chalky tannins. Robust and substantial with a great line and length, which seem to go on to infinity. This youthful wine is already
impossible to resist, but time will reward those who can wait. In sports, they often talk about ?The Greatest of All Time?, or 'The GOAT'. This 2021 Coleraine is
undeniably THE GOAT of New Zealand wine. At its best: 2030 to 2055.