Hawkes Bay
New Zealand's second largest region by plantings, with 4,500 hectares (or 20 percent of the country's total) in 2006, Hawkes Bay continues to fine-tune its Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc Bordeaux blends, offering some fine, fresh, pencil-shaving-nuanced examples, particularly from the Te Mata Estate. The more recent success story seems to be that of Syrah, in a cool, black pepper Northern Rhône style.
Hawkes Bay, encompassing Napier on the east coast of North Island, is New Zealand's second largest region by plantings, with 4,500 hectares (or 20 percent of the country's total) in 2006. It is led by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (34 percent), Chardonnay (23 percent), Sauvignon Blanc (16.5 percent) and Pinot Noir (nine percent).
It boasts a diverse spread of soils, from fertile alluvial to stony dry, resulting in an array of variously-sized wineries from the small to the not-so-small; the region accounts for 12.5 percent of the country's 530 wineries, suggesting a happy balance between the two.
Hawkes Bay continues to fine-tune its Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc Bordeaux blends, offering some fine, fresh, pencil-shaving-nuanced examples, particularly from the Te Mata Estate (ie Coleraine). The more recent success story seems to be that of Syrah, in a cool, black pepper Northern Rhône style.
Prices:
Bottle
£54.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 5cs
Bottle
£55.00
Bottle
£59.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 5cs
Stuart Rae, Commercial Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
The Coleraine 2010 has a youthful dark crimson colour and displays Coleraine’s gorgeous floral aromas, together with macerated blackberries woven with graphite and thyme. The palate is pure and very precise, building in intensity, with a long fine tannin structure providing great length. A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, it will continue to develop in bottle and provide great enjoyment up to 15 years from harvest.
Neal Martin - Wine Advocate - Issue#191 Oct 2010
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Fergus Stewart - Private Account Manager
The nose is rich, opulent and broad; but has the detail and intricacies that vintages such as 2009 now have. On the palate one could be forgiven for thinking that this is a top level Medoc Claret in a great vintage. Such is the palate saturating, rich, complex fruit character. There is a wonderful wave of fine, ripe tannins just waiting to unfurl, which when they do is like a whirlwind on the palate. There is great freshness and coolness to this wine and although I haven’t re-tasted their last few efforts recently I am more than happy to declare this the best I’ve tasted.
Gary Owen - Private Account Manager
This has all the attributes to mature very well over the coming ten years, but I believe this will be at its very best in six to eight years.
Gary Owen, Fine Wine Sales Advisor
A rich vibrant and complex Bordeaux blend, albeit predominantly cabernet sauvignon, full of smooth supple gracious fruit with charming, ripe blackcurrant flavours. It is a big wine with plenty of muscle, but Jenny Dobson’s Bordeaux background shows in the strength of the backbone – she’s not looking for exuberant fruit. Drink 2015-2020.