Review by
Michael Cooper
Wine writer·New Zealand Listener·
5 Mar, 2026 05:02 PM3 mins to read
Michael Cooper has 45 wine books and several literary awards to his credit. In the 2004 New Year Honours, Michael was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
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The rolling hills surrounding Te Mata Peak is home to some of Te Mata Estate’s best growing varieties. Photo / Getty Images
Te Mata Estate ranks among this country’s leading wineries, with a heritage that stretches back to the late 19th century – the first vines were planted in 1892.
Today, it is internationally renowned for rich chardonnays and refined, long-lived cabernet/merlot blends, but it also produces classy, distinctive examples
of sauvignon blanc, viognier, pinot noir, gamay and syrah.
Te Mata Estate benefits from owning vineyards in some of the warmest districts around Hawke’s Bay – the Havelock Hills (best-suited to late-ripening cabernet sauvignon), Bridge Pā Triangle and the Gimblett Gravels. About 14km inland, the relatively cool Dartmoor Valley is ideal for chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and merlot. These wines are all from the favourably warm, dry, 2024 vintage.
Te Mata Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2024
★★★★
Handled in tanks and French oak barrels, this fleshy, generous wine has strong, ripe stonefruit flavours to the fore, hints of toast and butterscotch and a well-rounded finish. Already drinking well, it should be at its best 2027+. (13.5% alc/vol) $25-$30
Te Mata Elston Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2024
★★★★★
This classy, hand-picked wine was fermented and aged in French oak barriques (33% new). Bright, light yellow/green, it is full-bodied and sweet-fruited, with deep, peachy, slightly toasty and buttery flavours, fresh acidity and a long, dry, savoury finish. Complex, lively and harmonious, it should be at its best from 2028 onwards. (13.5% alc/vol) $46-$50
Te Mata Awatea Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2024
★★★★★
Te Mata’s second-tier red is typically delicious in its youth. A blend of merlot (62%), cabernet sauvignon (27%) and cabernet franc (11%), it is full-coloured, mouthfilling, savoury and supple, with generous, ripe plum, red berry and spice flavours revealing excellent complexity, silky tannins and a very harmonious finish. (13.5% alc/vol) $45-$50
Te Mata Coleraine 2024
★★★★★
One of New Zealand’s most illustrious claret-style reds, Coleraine is on the level of a top-class Bordeaux. The 40th vintage is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (58%), merlot (31%) and cabernet franc (11%) matured for 19 months in French oak barriques (70% new). Refined and elegant, it is mouthfilling, with dense, vibrant, well-ripened blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours seasoned with nutty oak and a finely poised, tightly structured finish. Open 2031 onwards. (13.5% alc/vol) $150-$175
Wine of the week
Te Mata Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2024
★★★★
This full-flavoured, smooth red was barrel-aged for a year. Deeply coloured, with a floral, spicy bouquet, it is fresh, full-bodied and supple, with very good depth of plum, spice and black pepper flavours showing lots of youthful drive. Vibrantly fruity and clearly varietal, it should be at its best 2028+. (13% alc/vol) $24-$29
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