Wonderfully floral and herby bouquet. Palate is a complex of dark fruits, subtle oak and other-worldliness. A lingering finish. This is a first class down-under claret.
Sadly, only had this one bottle, bought on site during our visit there 10 years ago.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very tight and youthful on opening. After two hours in the decanter it softens up considerably. Floral/Herbal nose, think somewhere between lavender and thyme. Palate is toasty and this lingers on the finish. Has a long life yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Waited for another hour, opened a bit. Ripe fruits dominate in beginning, dry herbals with a bit greenish notes, still young, firm tannins. Gorgeous structure with long finish. It’s restrained, balanced old world style rather than fruity, bold and highly extraction new world style. But you can feel the good strength in the concentrated core.
The last glass, 3 hours after open, presented round texture, mild cedar and integrated herbals and spices, nice florals in finish, from violet to red rose, subtle but broad. That’s a top NZ red wine in a great vintage, no mistake.
Te Mata official cellar guide suggests ‘hold’ for this wine. My judge is at least holding for 3 years, no rush to open, your patience will be rewarded.
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 5+5/10 Total 95+/100
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP. ABV 14%. A bottle picked up from visiting the vineyard many years ago. Bordeaux blend consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Floral and clean on the nose. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot on the nose, hardly any Cab Franc. A little sweet on the entry, tannins still hanging around but fine tannins, slightly drying mid-palate. Very good concentration and length. Finished with warmth at backend reflecting the alcohol level but not obvious enough to be distracting. Bitter chocolate finish. Eventually some oaks and eucalyptus developed on the nose too. Drinking now with a decant and should continue to evolve. Pretty good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Først av alt: Det her var veldig bra. Men er det litt ‘flinkt’? Det er klokkeklar cabernet-frukt med solbær, markant touch av urter, et ørlite hint av vanilje som forsvinner befriende kjapt og det hele er helt klassisk vestbredde-Bordeaux. Munnfølelsen er elegant og tanninene fullt integrerte - flaska fikk ingen lufting og var klar etter 10 min i glasset. Men mangler vinen litt sjel og egenart? Hvor er fru Coleraine (hvis hun finnes?) sine nykker og særegenheter i dette? Kanskje sitter svaret i svelget. Det beste med hele stasen er nemlig en frisk og nydelig utgang med en fantastisk bringebærtouch (tenk topp CndP?) på ettersmaken.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Klassisk på duft men den er noe undermoden. Dette bekreftes i munn og den kjører på på samme måte som 11 men med langt mindre intensitet. Tynn og ubalansert men fortsatt 91 poeng.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
fresh medium dark red, garnet rim. CS dominating flavours, cassis, dark fruits, moderate cedar and creamy chocolate in finish. Velvety tannins, grippy and smooth, Very well mellowed, superb! Tastes still young and vital, At least more 5 years potential.
BC 95, JC Lee 93, RC 18.5-19.5
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 18/20, Overall 5+4/10 Total 95/100
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was spectacular tonight, so much so that i am not sure I'm not under-rating the wine. Perfect balance, gorgeous fruit, the utmost elegance, gorgeous Cabernet tannins, vibrant and rich plummy merlot character. Lifted Eucalyptus notes adds additional definition and complexity. Essence of cassis. Very much Bordeaux in size and style, although the intense sweetness of the fruit would point a blind taster away from Europe, I think. Coleraine at 10 years seems to be a reasonable sweet spot to me, although I have no doubt that this is going to age and develop positively in the future. (94-96+)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
New Zealand micro trip; 5/6/2019-5/9/2019 (North Island, New Zealand): Decanted a couple of hours. Blackcurrant tending to cassis, and a little plum, underpin, cream, vanilla. Still, albeit very pretty, primary fruit and secondary oak notes. On the palate its softly engaging with pretty fruit and, oddly, almost non-existent tannins...which would be a concern going to age this further but this is very pleasant with rack of lamb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A big mature wine with plenty of dark fruit and some chocolate - silky smooth - quite concentrated and a lovely long after glow - probably one of my best reds - only have a few cos it’s just too expensive now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Colour, excellent density, purple and clear edges 15/15 Nose classic bordeaux nose, black fruits, cigar box etc fabulous 28/30 Palate fresh rich intense, perfect balance between tannin and acidity extended silky finish 42/44 overall well 9yo and still fresh asa daisy , many years ahead of it 10/11
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Crunchy dark fruit on the nose, fresh. Plums, blueberries. Just a hint of graphite. Tightly wound initially on the palate, but this opened up over the next hour or so. Fruit to the fore, tannins in the background. Nicely balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice color...dark ruby red. Enjoyable nose of dried cherries, leather, and wood. Taste disappoints because it is not very rich and finishes with a sour note. The aftertaste is what I remember and it is not wonderfulness. My wife liked it. I will not buy it again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened on the spur of the moment and drunk with some cheese and crackers, out in the yard. Started with little bouquet and a taste dominated by tannins, followed by a very pleasant aftertaste that was surprisingly long. Over the next 30 minutes the nose and taste improved significantly, showing a much better balance between fruit and tannins. Still young, and definitely a lot of development ahead. Given how much I enjoyed the 1991 last year at 21 years of age, I will drink my remaining bottles over a long stretch of time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Taste of New Zealand (Sydney, Australia): Blackcurrant, cherry, graphite and cedar on the nose. Tightly wound on the palate, tense and coiled. Extremely promising, but not singing yet, give it time!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/27/2023 - barryjkeller@gmail.com Does not like this wine:
Dodgy bottle ? - just wasnt integrated or balanced.
Last bottle was good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2023 - Lype Likes this wine:
Very youthful and tight, holds great promise but not ready yet, I would wait 5+ years. Ended up sourcing more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2022 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 92 Points
More elegant than expected, I’m getting confused with 2009 in Bordeaux !
Classic flavour profile of good claret. Fabulous Very fine tannins.
Good but years of development are a possibility.
14%, cork.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2022 - Stoic Warrior Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderfully floral and herby bouquet. Palate is a complex of dark fruits, subtle oak and other-worldliness. A lingering finish. This is a first class down-under claret.
Sadly, only had this one bottle, bought on site during our visit there 10 years ago.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2022 - Cromulent Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very tight and youthful on opening. After two hours in the decanter it softens up considerably. Floral/Herbal nose, think somewhere between lavender and thyme. Palate is toasty and this lingers on the finish. Has a long life yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2022 - evanqian wrote: 95 Points
Vintages and Memories - Lianzijia (Newmarket, Auckland): Tasted after one hour decanting, still closed, black currant and plum, some green capsicum and spices, cassis with clear structure. CS 52%, Me 43%, CF 5%
Waited for another hour, opened a bit. Ripe fruits dominate in beginning, dry herbals with a bit greenish notes, still young, firm tannins. Gorgeous structure with long finish. It’s restrained, balanced old world style rather than fruity, bold and highly extraction new world style. But you can feel the good strength in the concentrated core.
The last glass, 3 hours after open, presented round texture, mild cedar and integrated herbals and spices, nice florals in finish, from violet to red rose, subtle but broad. That’s a top NZ red wine in a great vintage, no mistake.
Te Mata official cellar guide suggests ‘hold’ for this wine. My judge is at least holding for 3 years, no rush to open, your patience will be rewarded.
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 5+5/10
Total 95+/100
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2020 - pclin wrote: 93 Points
PnP. ABV 14%.
A bottle picked up from visiting the vineyard many years ago. Bordeaux blend consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Floral and clean on the nose. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot on the nose, hardly any Cab Franc. A little sweet on the entry, tannins still hanging around but fine tannins, slightly drying mid-palate. Very good concentration and length. Finished with warmth at backend reflecting the alcohol level but not obvious enough to be distracting. Bitter chocolate finish. Eventually some oaks and eucalyptus developed on the nose too. Drinking now with a decant and should continue to evolve. Pretty good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2020 - ttholst wrote: 94 Points
Pnp. Friskere frukt og bedre balanse enn tidligere flasker
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2020 - ttholst wrote: 93 Points
Plomme, nype, solbær og sjokolade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2020 - ttholst wrote: 93 Points
Som forrige flaske
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2020 - Krokfjord Likes this wine: 90 Points
Først av alt: Det her var veldig bra. Men er det litt ‘flinkt’?
Det er klokkeklar cabernet-frukt med solbær, markant touch av urter, et ørlite hint av vanilje som forsvinner befriende kjapt og det hele er helt klassisk vestbredde-Bordeaux. Munnfølelsen er elegant og tanninene fullt integrerte - flaska fikk ingen lufting og var klar etter 10 min i glasset. Men mangler vinen litt sjel og egenart? Hvor er fru Coleraine (hvis hun finnes?) sine nykker og særegenheter i dette? Kanskje sitter svaret i svelget. Det beste med hele stasen er nemlig en frisk og nydelig utgang med en fantastisk bringebærtouch (tenk topp CndP?) på ettersmaken.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2019 - obmoen wrote:
Klassisk på duft men den er noe undermoden. Dette bekreftes i munn og den kjører på på samme måte som 11 men med langt mindre intensitet. Tynn og ubalansert men fortsatt 91 poeng.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2019 - ttholst wrote: 93 Points
Drukket over 4 timer. Ren kjølig frukt med litt modning. Myk tannin, men stram struktur. Noen sjokobittertoner og snev av grønn paprika.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2019 - evanqian wrote: 95 Points
fresh medium dark red, garnet rim. CS dominating flavours, cassis, dark fruits, moderate cedar and creamy chocolate in finish. Velvety tannins, grippy and smooth, Very well mellowed, superb! Tastes still young and vital, At least more 5 years potential.
BC 95, JC Lee 93, RC 18.5-19.5
Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 18/20, Overall 5+4/10
Total 95/100
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2019 - Marc wrote: 94 Points
This was spectacular tonight, so much so that i am not sure I'm not under-rating the wine. Perfect balance, gorgeous fruit, the utmost elegance, gorgeous Cabernet tannins, vibrant and rich plummy merlot character. Lifted Eucalyptus notes adds additional definition and complexity. Essence of cassis. Very much Bordeaux in size and style, although the intense sweetness of the fruit would point a blind taster away from Europe, I think. Coleraine at 10 years seems to be a reasonable sweet spot to me, although I have no doubt that this is going to age and develop positively in the future. (94-96+)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2019 - chatters wrote:
New Zealand micro trip; 5/6/2019-5/9/2019 (North Island, New Zealand): Decanted a couple of hours. Blackcurrant tending to cassis, and a little plum, underpin, cream, vanilla. Still, albeit very pretty, primary fruit and secondary oak notes. On the palate its softly engaging with pretty fruit and, oddly, almost non-existent tannins...which would be a concern going to age this further but this is very pleasant with rack of lamb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2018 - NZ wino Likes this wine: 95 Points
A big mature wine with plenty of dark fruit and some chocolate - silky smooth - quite concentrated and a lovely long after glow - probably one of my best reds - only have a few cos it’s just too expensive now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2018 - LindsayM Likes this wine: 95 Points
Colour, excellent density, purple and clear edges 15/15
Nose classic bordeaux nose, black fruits, cigar box etc fabulous 28/30
Palate fresh rich intense, perfect balance between tannin and acidity extended silky finish 42/44
overall well 9yo and still fresh asa daisy , many years ahead of it 10/11
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2017 - grinneback wrote: 91 Points
Great. Still feels young. Strong tannins and feels like a very traditional Bordeaux in the dry style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2016 - MH Amateur wrote: 88 Points
Nothing special
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2016 - Edeon Likes this wine: 89 Points
A bit green and bitter. Not amazed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2015 - Chateau du Fey 1994 wrote:
solid wine but arguably over-priced
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2014 - nihraguk Does not like this wine:
Uninteresting. Tannic nose and rather generous finish with notes of chocolate. But the elements seemed discordant and heavy handed. Little complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2014 - iobtoel wrote: 90 Points
Crunchy dark fruit on the nose, fresh. Plums, blueberries. Just a hint of graphite. Tightly wound initially on the palate, but this opened up over the next hour or so. Fruit to the fore, tannins in the background. Nicely balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2013 - theguy Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice color...dark ruby red. Enjoyable nose of dried cherries, leather, and wood. Taste disappoints because it is not very rich and finishes with a sour note. The aftertaste is what I remember and it is not wonderfulness. My wife liked it. I will not buy it again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2013 - maartenp Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened on the spur of the moment and drunk with some cheese and crackers, out in the yard. Started with little bouquet and a taste dominated by tannins, followed by a very pleasant aftertaste that was surprisingly long. Over the next 30 minutes the nose and taste improved significantly, showing a much better balance between fruit and tannins. Still young, and definitely a lot of development ahead. Given how much I enjoyed the 1991 last year at 21 years of age, I will drink my remaining bottles over a long stretch of time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2012 - canan wrote: 95 Points
Horisontal - Misc Bordeaux 2009: Nose: Sweet, complex, young cherry liqueur, marzipan.
Palate: Super juicy young plum fruit, tightly knit, crazy acidity, long impressive and spicy aftertaste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2012 - willthethrill wrote: 87 Points
Like a cheap Bordeaux.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2011 - CamWheeler wrote: 91 Points
Taste of New Zealand (Sydney, Australia): Blackcurrant, cherry, graphite and cedar on the nose. Tightly wound on the palate, tense and coiled. Extremely promising, but not singing yet, give it time!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment