2010 Te Mata Coleraine Bordeaux Blend

Breed, rather than brute power, is the hallmark of Coleraine, which since its first vintage in 1982 has carved out an illustrious reputation among New Zealand’s claret-style reds. It is no longer labelled as a Cabernet/Merlot, but 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 top-class Bordeaux. The grapes are grown in the Havelock North hills, in the company’s warm, north-facing Buck and 1892 vineyards, and the wine is matured for 18 to 20 months in French oak barriques, predominantly new. The very classy 2010 vintage (5*), Cabernet Sauvignon accounted for 58 per cent of the blend (its highest proportion for a decade), followed by Merlot 36 per cent and Cabernet Franc 6 per cent (Malbec is definitely not in the recipe).