Te Mata Estate Winery, Coleraine, Hawke's Bay, 2000

The biggest ever Coleraine vintage containing the second highest proportion of Merlot in the blend. Aromas are more primary with significantly less evolution evident than in the 1995. Red and black plum fruits dominate the palate. Soft and full-bodied, there is still a lot of acidity evident here and the Merlot imparts a distinctive leafy edge to the finish. Perhaps not as intense as some of the other vintages, though this is at its peak now.

A season characterised by very dry weather and small berries that gave the wine unusual intensity, with good ripening temperatures without the extreme heat of the previous two vintages. This wine is robust and quite youthful, with ripe blackberry, plum, floral violet and spicy oak flavours together with a thread of chalky, mineral character. A very appealing wine in a clear new world style. Probably as good as it gets now.