“Generous aromas of ripe strawberries and cherries, turning to flowers and stones with some crushed cement. Medium body with firm tannins that fill the mouth, as well as lively acidity and depth of fruit.”

“Aromas of mushrooms and cherries, together with cedar and cherry wood. Then it moves to rose petals and stems. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and slightly raised acidity that adds a balsamic undertone. Black truffle, walnut skin and dried cherry. Savory finish. Historical character that takes you back in time to the year of production.”

“Fine and spicy, with a tense line of acidity and phenolics—they feel linear and interwoven—that stream through the fruit. This is a very pretty, pithy Chardonnay with ground white pepper, white flesh peach, crushed shells, layers of juniper berry and star anise/cut fennel inflections.”

“Leads with lemon balm/oil, green-olive brine, crème brûlée top (a.k.a. scorched brown sugar), peach fuzz, and an abundance of orchard fruit. In the mouth, kiwi fruit acidity (a.k.a. juicy, sweet, tart) defines the perimeters of the flavors and beckons you in for another, closer look. It's very, very good, a distinct wine, pure, all aspects delineated and deliberate. I like this.”

“Mouthfilling and obvious in its outlay of flavor in the mouth—yellow peach, apricot, Golden Delicious apple, beeswax/lanolin and ripe lime flesh. The flutter of acidity that feathers the fruit is compelling and alluring in its power and juiciness. An exciting wine.”

“The nose leads with candied bananas, pineapple husk, white peach and a hint of lychee, and the edges of the aromatics are feathered with preserved citrus, brine, curry leaf and apple skins. In the mouth, the wine is powered by supercharged fruit; it is crystalline in its way. The flavor is sapid and palate-staining, with just enough salt and savory spices in the fruit to make it super complex as well as powerful. It is precisely folded like origami, each crease in service of the overall shape.”

“The 2021 Coleraine is a superstar. It's the best I recall seeing on release in recent years, a total "pleasure-dome" situation. Tea tree, oyster shell, lavender, black tea and tobacco leaf burst from the glass. Seamless, polished tannins grace the palate. There are notes of creamy red fruits, cassis and bramble, Asian five spice, black cherry and graphite/mineral skein. The persistence of flavor here is extraordinary; it's detailed and nuanced but insistent in the mouth. The tannins cup the fruit in the mouth.”

"The 2022 Estate Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc has been fully tank fermented, no solids, but it was left on the lees post-ferment for texture. There are notes of cheesecloth, pineapple lumps, Pink Lady apples and saline acidity. It’s fleshy, with preserved citrus, juicy acidity and plenty of brine, then sugar snap peas, Nashi pears and a hint of guava/lychee."

"Slightly lighter framed and less dense/powerful than the Coleraine, and with an admirably open and lusty fruit profile, the 2020 Awatea Cabernets Merlot gives the people what they want. It leads with leafy, elegant, very fine Cabernet fruit laden with cassis, pomegranate, ferrous notes, a hint of iodine and loads of bramble and bay leaf. The palate is populated by very fine, powdery tannins that shape the flow of flavor. Gorgeous."

"An excellent representation of the variety. The tannins here are silky, sweet and polished; the fruit has brilliant presence and gravitas; and the density and length of flavor are impressive. It's a beautiful wine. Pomegranate, red cherry, bay leaf, wild thyme and poached strawberry define the fruit characters, while the tannins are a seamless affair. Very good!"

"The wine has aromas of French pear, spring flowers and green apple skins, chalky, talc-y and floral, and there's freshness and texture. The oak is essentially invisible but lends a texturing hand to the phenolics. Low pH here gives the tension and energy. Sauvignon Gris is a seasoning, offering a strawberry/ tropical note, bison grass, straw and smoked cassis. The clay gives a punchy nettle-y, gooseberry, lantana note."

"The 2021 Syrah is a lovely wine. Delicious, in fact. The tannins are chalky and fine, bouncy and a little chewy (a very good thing). This is a gorgeous, slinky Syrah with a supple mouthfeel. Nice! This is spicy and very fine, and it features fruit from Gimblett Gravels, Dartmoor and Bridge Pa. The Bullnose fruit (the premium Syrah at Te Mata), if it falls out, will flow to Estate Syrah."

"The acidity here is juicy and very bright; the orchard fruit in the mouth is silky and plush; and the Malo component contributes a real sweet marzipan, almond skin, crushed nut, vanilla character. Very pretty. Elegant. There is detail, spice and verve here."

"The 2021 Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir is sappy, spicy and stalky, with a very pretty core of pink and red fruit in the mouth. There is spice and grace here in equal measure. Nicely done. You get strawberry, red cherry, pink peppercorns, a hint of pomegranate and a splash of caper brine with some dried herbs. Gorgeous wine."

"The 2020 Bullnose Syrah offers deli meat on the nose, exotic spice, graphite, black tea leaves and succulent red fruits. There is warmth (generosity, plushness, etc.) in this wine, but the acidity is cooling and detailed. Slinky, supple and balanced, shaped by ductile, tissue-paper tannins, chalky and shapely, this is lip-smacking. 13.5% and perfectly ripe. So good."

"The 2021 Awatea Cabernets-Merlot is a thrilling wine and a worthy entree to the Coleraine—one of the Southern Hemisphere's best Cabernet blends. You get red fruits, savory exoticism, enoki mushroom, bay leaf, black tea leaves, pastrami, cassis bramble, red apple skins, tobacco leaf, vanilla pod, salted heirloom tomato, blackcurrant, flowers and delicate nuances of umami in profusion, along with crushed oyster shell, tea tree and native rosemary. It's bloody gorgeous. A sensational wine, it has detail, nuance and line, and it's very long and placid but precise."

"The 2021 Bullnose Syrah gives us Asian five spice, musk, red dirt, gravel and blueberry on the nose. There's a distinctly darker fruit character on the palate, with red licorice, pomegranate, savory and gentle meat nuances. This is fleshy but with energy and finesse. Matured for 16 months in French oak (33% new), it's almost creamy, with hints of cream soda and sarsaparilla, and there's a spice/blood root character. This wine achieves that aspirational balance between sweet fruit and savory tannin."

"The 2021 Alma Pinot Noir leads with an aromatic splay of coffee grounds, black cherries, red apple skins and licorice. It’s incredibly aromatic in fact. You get wild strawberries, salted pomegranate, bramble, bay leaf, brine, a hint of truffle umami, wild lavender and spring florals. In the mouth, a skein of very finely textured mineral tannin shapes the fruit, and there are inflections of Korean mint and thyme. I expect this will unfurl over the next day or so."

“A firm, focused Champagne, with hints of smoke and toasted brioche accenting poached apricot, lemon curd, pastry dough and candied ginger. Creamy on the palate, with racy acidity driving the spiced finish. Opens nicely in the glass and should benefit from some short-term cellaring.”

“A mouthwatering Champagne, with a lovely sense of vibrant buoyancy to the flavors of patisserie apple and pear fruit, chopped almond, spun honey and grated ginger as they ride the fine, lacy mousse. Offers an expressive profile and minerally overtones, lingering on the chalk- and oyster shell–laced finish.”