Te Mata Estate Winery, Coleraine, Hawke's Bay, 1995

The nineties was a challenging decade for New Zealand but 1995 was one of two highlights. Although a very warm year, heat and heavy rains combined to make the harvest extremely challenging with lots of selection required on the sorting table. This Coleraine has lovely aromatics, typical of top-quality, mature classed Bordeaux, with a cool, subtle oak character and crisp acidity still evident on the palate. Although showing quite an evolved colour, this is undoubtedly a fine wine - deep, profound and with a long, lingering finish. At the peak of maturity.