Resting beneath the Te Mata Peak in the Hawkes Bay region, on the east coast of New Zealand's north island, is Te Mata - the country's single oldest winery to be still operating on the same site as when they first began picking and pressing their grapes in 1896. Continually chasing and achieving excellence ever since, their north-facing sites in the Havelock Hills are speckled by free draining soils (both clay and sandy loam over sandstone), allowing the team to bring forth a sense of concentration and aromatic complexity across vastly distinct varietals.
A true 'national treasure' in the words of Jancis Robinson MW, it is now that time of year where this icon unveils its latest row of goodies - and as always, we're thrilled to be getting a close look at them for our Saturday tasting this weekend! Join us between 12 and 2pm, and see the 2023 expressions of the ripe and phenolic Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc, the perfumed Merlot-dominant Awatea blend, and the eternally well-valuedElston Chardonnay, while the 2024 vintage will be shown through the black-fruited and finely peppered Bullnose Syrah, a savoury style of Pinot Noir in the 'Alma', and naturally, the beloved Coleraine; the Bordeaux-inspired flagship that any of its collectors will stand behind proudly as one of the very finest examples outside of France. So they should - this new iteration is filled to the brim with ripe blackberry, tobacco, mint, dark chocolate and damp forest floor, all underpinned by a fresh nip of tannins that feel appropriately seamless through its prolonged finish. An impressive showing, and one that will only build further with careful cellaring over the next few decades.
It is always one of our very favourite spots on the calendar, so we hope you can join in on the fun!
Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc 2023 -
$45 on special this week ($50 RRP)
// 97% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Semillon, 1% Sauvignon Gris
"Aromatically, the wine leads with pressed linen and Golden Delicious apples, white pepper, shaved fennel and a profusion of preserved citrus rind. Texturally, the wine has grip and shape, and while the acidity is brisk in the mouth, it is enveloped with ripe fruit and is tense. The four clones of Sauvignon Blanc bring genetic diversity and fruit profile, which elevates the wine into the echelon of the great. This is a 360-degree drinking experience here, driven by phenolic drive, acid and an abundance of fruit. Excellent. Barrel ferment and lees work emphasizes all of the above. This is one of the best Cape Crest releases" - 95 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
"Cape gooseberry, blackcurrant, florals, saline notes, baking spice, a bit of leaf and grass, fennel tips, with a slight vanilla creaminess. Bright and juicy, bursts with grapefruit, blackcurrant and fresh pineapple, quite intense in acidity, though it’s both tangy and freshening, and there’s some flinty texture and discreet creaminess in the mix, along with some woody spices. The finish is sappy and citrus laden, with a distinct grapefruity bite." - 94+ Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Awatea Cabernet Merlot 2023 -
$45 on special this week ($52 RRP)
// 52% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc
"Aromatically, this wine is thrilling: dusty cassis, bramble, raspberry pip, blood/iodine, sweet tobacco, raw cocoa, violet perfume, tarragon and fennel and a hint of hazelnut/nutmeg. In the mouth, the wine is savory, structural, spicy and chewy, with a ductile splay of tannin that moves across the palate and through the finish. The palate speaks of structure and shape, while the fruit is mostly on the nose at this early stage. This will evolve beautifully in bottle over time, and as the bottle I am tasting here today was bottled four weeks ago, no doubt your bottle will look more polished and sleek. As it is, I love it, but I am sure I will like it more in time. It is a magnificent wine and a tremendous value." - 95 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
"Plum, raspberry, boysenberry, a slight Cab Franc and/or vintage grassiness, nutty and pencilly, with some floral notes, aniseed and spice. Medium-bodied, bramble fruit (fresh raspberry in particular), some ripe tomato tang, tobacco, a bit of grainy chew to tannin, but the line of acidity is so lovely and crisp – rain-washed and fresh – offering a distinct ‘mineral’ character. Length is excellent. It’s understated, with a classic feel, a sort of bright ‘luncheon claret thing happening, or so I think. It has perfume and presence. So while it’s a somewhat different expression of Awatea, I still like it very much. In summary, it’s a lovely wine to drink." - 94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Elston Chardonnay 2023 -
$53 on special this week ($59 RRP)
"Medium-light yellow colour with a complex and inviting bouquet of toasted nuts, nougat, smoky flintiness, creamy lees, a dairy note and underlying lemon/lime—especially evident on the palate. There is excellent concentration and persistence, as well as layers of complex flavours. Wonderful chardonnay, full of flavour and generosity. Fully satyisfying." - 96 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
"The nose leads with a profusion of white pineapple and green apple, roasted hazelnut/cashew and white flowers. There is an abundance of toasty oak, but it's not the main player onstage, which is great. It supports the fruit, and in the mouth, the purity and power of the fruit really emerges. There is really structural grip and shape to the wine, and the acidity is juicy and feels woven into every aspect. It is impressive, flavorsome and almost achingly intense, with great length through the finish. Recommended." - 94 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Bullnose Syrah 2024 -
$79 on special this week ($89 RRP)
"Red and blue fruit, cracked pepper, jasmine perfume, nutmeg and biscuit spices. Medium-bodied, a fine dusty feel to tannin including a bit of the old emery board, bright acidity, juicy red and blue fruit, toasted hazelnut and quite some spice, finishing long with a firm graphite grip to tannin and a savoury flourish. It has concentration and power, though it’s light on its feet. Needs a few years more in bottle, ideally." - 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
"Initially brooding and smoky, this opens with vigorous swirling to reveal a beguiling nose of orchid and dried violet, white pepper and ground cinnamon against a backdrop of blueberry and marjoram. The palate is tightly coiled around a core of taut, sinewy tannins which creates a dynamic balance between its athletic structure, racy fruit and youthful austerity. The long, elegant and detailed finish is underpinned by fantastic acidity and there is no doubt that this mid-weight syrah will unfurl with time in bottle to reveal the classically-proportioned wine within." - 94 Points, Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review
Alma Pinot Noir 2024 -
$79 on special this week ($89 RRP)
"Expressive perfume with black plum, cherries, wild raspberry, violets and plenty of baking spices, a pleasing savoury note threaded beneath. Densely fruited, savoury, elegant and quite tightly wound, with fine but slightly chewy tannins. Oak is nicely interwoven with fruit, acid and tannins. Long. Quite a polished style, with a sense of careful crafting." - 94 Points, Emma Jenkins MW, Decanter
Coleraine 2024 -
$148 on special this week ($165 RRP)
(Limited availability)
// 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc
"This is a masterpiece, much like a great work of art. The bouquet shows cassis, dark plum, bouquet garni, baking spice, rich floral, and cedar characters. It’s concentrated with exceptional depth and mouth-coating texture, wonderfully framed by finely polished tannins. It’s perfectly proportioned and gracefully powerful, combining scintillating fruit purity with seductive complexity. The wine flows seamlessly to a persistent, structured finish." - 100 Points, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
"Deep and bright, bold purple-red colour; fabulous cranberry, violet and cassis aromas, the fruit bursting from the glass. The same flavours saturate the palate which is beautifuly balanced by abundant fine-grained tannins that run the full length of the palate and provide a very long lasting and resonant farewell. Oak is so well handled as to be only just perceptible, adding to the cedary touches. An utterly delicious cabernet blend and a top vintage of this wine." - 98 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
Deep dark wine, black and red fruit, chocolate and ironstone, some creamy and spicy cedar oak, dried flowers, a light minty perfume, slight roasted red capsicum and pimento. It’s medium to full-bodied, crisp ‘mineral’ acidity, lavish graphite tannin, tobacco and nori, a fresh blackberry nip to it, brooding and ferrous, with a firm and savoury finish of superb length. An exceptional wine. It will keep, probably, for as long as you want to keep it, if you can keep your hands off it, that is." - 97+ Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
If you wish to purchase any of these wines, please use the links above
Otherwise, if you have any questions, please contact us on (07)32521117 or email sales@thewineemporium.com.au
// Special prices valid until Thursday the 12th of March