December 26, 2021 - Alas, my last bottle . Very consistent .
September 25, 2021 - 4.5 years since my last bottle of this and it’s still very youthful. As good as I rembember it to be. Will hold off another few years before another. This is a wonderful wine at the price point and poised for future improvement
March 21, 2020 - A good bottle, no corky smell, and has not budged since August. Better on this, night three. Perhaps a touch more black olive than I recall with this bottle. Looking forward to seeing some more complexity and development with my final bottle- will drink in 5 years alongside a Wynns Black 2013. They are so close in style and shape in my mind.
October 4, 2019 - I'm maintaining my view of this wine. Gorgeous, one of the best Awatea's I've had. Its only 4 years old and still a beautiful young colour but also a beautiful bouquet of violets, vanilla, black fruits and some depth from the lightly toasted oak. I still believe Te Mate learned from the two previous superb years 13, 14 and threw every good thing at this wine,
I love the flavour profile, Yes it seems just right, straightforward even but it is not without some components. Lovely dark cherries and doris plums. But there is also a lovely light vanilla touch, some cedar and a light touch of tobacco, and best of all for me is some cleansing acidity. This wine also has a lovely influence of perfumed perfectly ripe grape berries on the vine and for me it seems to last into the palate. I just love this influence, for all that I also love a full-bodied cabernet. This wine strikes a happy place where depth of flavour meets enjoyment of elegance. For example, think Freesias in Spring which are somehow full on but subtle at the same time. Oh, its Spring here right now, no wonder I am enjoying this wine so much.
The reason I don't give it more points (but I love it for what it is) is perhaps a little missing in the tannin structure. This wine is not made to last 30 years so it does not have the tannin of a great Bordeaux but gosh if THIS vintage had those whole bunches and stalks thrown into the ferment how great would this wine be?
No this is a 10-15 year wine but already I'm loving it and it will easily last the decade its made for. If you want longer you can buy Coleraine. Or you could just keep this one and see how it goes.
I'm impressed. The 2013 was superb even soon after release but maybe a little, I mean a little down on structure. 2014 might yet impress but may be a little down on fruit? This 2015 has the enjoyment factor for me. There is not much difference in these 3 marvellous vintages so thanks Te Mata for a real treat. (and I have the Coleraine as well thank you very much). Lovin' it all.
June 16, 2019 - David’s note previous is spot on, I’d go couple of points higher on my scale. I see the alcohol, but it’s just- only just- in balance. Love the red fruit transparency here, puts me in the mind of the 2013 Wynn’s Black but with finer tannins. Four out of five. Ready to drink, but will hold in the medium term.
May 25, 2019 - Medium to deep ruby. Medium intensity nose of red fruits, vanilla and menthol. Feels hotter than the advertised 14% alcohol. Linear raspberry and vanilla on the palate. Tannins are of medium tackiness and fine grained. Medium(-) acidity and there’s a lingering inner sweetness. Decent structure but the flavors are uninteresting.
May 1, 2019 - Russk. I liked it in the beginning but then grew quite bored with it. Aromatics mostly primary. Mouth Pleasant.
December 26, 2018 - Vermelho rubi (escuro). Lágrimas bem formadas, duradouras e simétricas. Nariz de intensidade média. No olfato notas de frutas negras, florais (Jasmin), caixa de cigarro e chocolate amargo. Em boca tem ataque pleno e aveludado. Estrutura tânica portentosa. Álcool muito educado. No retronasal as frutas negras abundam. É um vinho ainda jovem. Final de boca agradável e com boa extensão.
October 7, 2018 - Same notes. Great qpr here
September 10, 2018 - There's something rather special going on with this wine. I can say that now that I have secured 18 for the cellar and a few more to drink over the next months while in primary phase. So the secret's out and you lot can go and find all you can - I've got mine!
Nice quality long cork seals the bottle, smells great upon extraction. The wine is dark and dense. Cab, Merlot, Franc - my favourite grapes. I wonder if there is a touch of Petit Verdot in there too. Who cares, read below, this wine is near perfection for me.
This is rather dense and has a somewhat savoury component on the nose and also a touch in the palate while being essentially new world fruity. The tannin is there but smooth. Oak treatment is in check and good quality. Likewise the acidity is there but checked and in balance.
The wine is immediately impressive but takes 2-3 hours to fully open up and display a wonderful potpourri of ripe dark berry fruits, cherries, plums with some perfume and a little creamy dark chocolate. Its just gorgeous. For my purposes the QPR is off the scale. I'll get some more if I can find it!
I reckon with the earlier 2013 and 2014 vintages also being exceptionally good in Hawkes Bay that Te Mata have judged this one to perfection. 14pc Alcohol is a little on the high side for them but the wine carries it well and it sure is enjoyably fruity but with fine tannins and just enough gentle acidity.
I don't know for sure, but if this wine isn't off the scale enjoyable in 10-15 years I'll regret my $800 investment but I don't think so.