Matua 2014 ‘Single Vineyard’ Range Retasted

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ Hawke’s Bay Albarino 2014
  Other White from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 18-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, very pale straw-yellow colour with slight green hues, pale on edge. The nose is very elegant, refined and tightly bound with aromas of white stonefruits and florals interwoven with mouthwatering mineral elements and delicate herbal nuances. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is taut, near austere with thirst-quenching flavours of acacia infused with wet-stone minerals, the acidity racy and refreshing. The fruit follows a core of fine phenolic textures which enhance the dry mouthfeel, carrying the wine along a tight, concentrated line, leading to a sustained finish of minerals, herbs and florals. This is a dry, tightly bound, mouthwatering Albarino with floral and mineral notes. Serve with seafood and poultry over the next 3+ years. Second crop fruit from Tomoana, Maraekakaho, fermented in stainless-steel with 20% finished off in seasoned barriques to 13.5% alc. and 4.8 g/L RS, the wine spending 3 months on light lees. 140 dozen made. 18.0/20 Nov 2014 RRP $30.00 Pale straw yellow colourwith green hues, pale on rim. This has a very fine and elegant nose of white florals and exotic orange blossom that builds in depth, intensity and soft concentration. Subtle floral detail emerges and a saline aspect is apparent. Dryish to taste and medium-bodied, the flavours of citrus zest, oranges and exotic florals are enlivened by crisp and slippery acidity. The mouthfeel is smooth and seamless, with ripeness and an oily, unctuousness that renders the acid soft on the back palate and moderately long finish. This is an exotic-fruited exotic-fruited Albarino with a soft, smooth-flowing mouthfeel. It will drink well over the next 3 years. Second crop fruit from Tomoana, Maraekakaho, fermented in stainless-steel with 20% finished off in seasoned barriques to 13.5% alc. and 4.8 g/L RS, the wine spending 3 months on light lees. 140 dozen made. 18.0+/20 Aug 2014 RRP $30.00
• Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ Awatere Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 18-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Awatere fruit fermented in stainless-steel to 13.0% alc. and 3.2 g/L RS, the wine spending 3 months on light lees. Bright, very pale straw colour with slight green hues, very pale edged. This has a very refined and tightly bound nose with intense, thirst-quenching aromas of pungent passionfruit with gooseberry fruit notes interwoven with blackcurrant leaf and exotic herb nuances. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, succulently sweet flavours of passionfruit and gooseberries are enlivened by fine, lacy acidity. The palate features a tight, concentrated and mouthwatering line unfolding tropical fruit, herb, nettle and smoky nuances. This has good depth and density, the soft textures allowing the juiciness to come to feature and carrying through to a long, detailed, luscious finish. This is an elegantly concentrated, fresh and juicy Sauvignon Blanc with passionfruit, gooseberry and minerally flavours. Serve as an aperitif, with seafood, salads and vegetables over the next 2+ years. 250 dozen made. 18.5+/20 Nov 2014 RRP $30.00 Pale straw-yellow colour with slight green hues. The nose is very tight and refined in expression, showing great purity of gooseberry fruit and subtle passionfruit elements alongside steely, refreshing mineral notes. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, tightly bound, soft and stylishly restrained flavours of gooseberries, nettles, passionfruit and minerals are the feature on palate. The mouthfeel is exceptionally fine-textured and soft, with mouthwatering acidity and a delicate phenolic line guiding the flow. This has a delicate succulence and a thirst-quenching finish. A wine of beautiful finesse and purity, and one that will develop over the next 2+ years. Awatere fruit fermented in stainless-steel to 13.0% alc. and 3.2 g/L RS, the wine spending 3 months on light lees. 250 dozen made. 18.5+/20 Aug 2014 RRP $30.00
• Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013
  Chardonnay from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 18-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, even, straw-yellow colour with light green hues. The nose is concentrated and harmoniously packed with complex aromas of white stonefruits, nuts and gunflint sulphide reduction, unveiling waves of creamy, toasty oak and smoke. Medium-full bodied, this has a concentrated and dense core of fully interwoven and integrated flavours of citrus fruits, stonefruits, gunflint and toasty oak. The mouthfeel is rich, rounded and creamy in texture and flow, showing attractive barrel-fermentation and MLF buttery nuances. Lacy acidity emerges, lending a fresh tension, carrying the wine to a very long, lingering finish. This is a beautifully complex and richly integrated Chardonnay with stonefruits, gunflint and creaminess. Match with roast poultry and pork over the next 5-6 years. Rua clone fruit from the Gimblett Gravels and fully barrel-fermented, partially with indigenous yeasts and high solids to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 9 months in 45% new French oak barriques, undergoing batonnage and approx. 60% MLF. 150 dozen made. 19.0+/20 Nov 2014 RRP $60.00 Bright, pale straw-yellow colour, light on rim. The nose is full-on with rich and softly concentrated aromas of citrus and white peach fruit seamlessly melded with layers of gunflint reduction, toasty oak, nuts and barrel-ferment cream. Medium-full bodied, powerful and densely packed flavours of stonefruits and complexing gunflint reduction form a fine-textured core. The mouthfeel possesses great energy and vitality to match the richness, with steely, cutting acidity underlining the palate. Flowing smoothly, the palate has finesse and beautiful integration, unveiling waves of citrus fruit, minerally reduction and nutty, toasty oak as it carries to a refined, elegant finish. This is a powerful and complex, contemporary Chardonnay. 5+ years. Rua clone fruit from the Gimblett Gravels and fully barrel-fermented, partially with indigenous yeasts and high solids to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 9 months in 45% new French oak barriques, undergoing batonnage and approx. 60% MLF. 150 dozen made. 19.5-/20 Aug 2014 RRP $60.00
• Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 18-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark, deep, black-hued ruby-red colour with purple hues at the heart, lighter on edge. This has a very fine and tightly held, elegant nose with concentrated aromas of black and red cherry fruit, entwined with thyme herb and mineral elements and subtle plum and liquorice nuances. Red florals unfold with aeration. Medium-full bodied, the palate is tight and finely structured with good intensity of ripe black and red berry fruits entwined with subtle savoury whole bunch aromatics, thyme herb and florals. The mouthfeel features supple, grainy tannin textures along with fresh, balanced acidity. The extraction grows in prominence, carrying the wine to a positive, sustained, dry finish of dark berry, herb and oak flavours. This is a tight, grainy-textured Pinot Noir with sweetly ripe fruit with herb and floral nuances. Serve with poultry, pork, veal and rabbit over the next 6+ years. Hand-picked clone 777 fruit from 14 y.o. vines in an elevated site over the Kawarau River, destemmed, given a cold soak and indigenous yeast fermented with 15% whole clusters to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 14 months in 28% new French oak. 100 dozen made. 18.0/20 Nov 2014 RRP $60.00 Moderately deep, purple-hued ruby-red colour, youthful in appearance. This has a tightly concentrated nose, swith a firm core of primary dark red cherry and raspberry fruit aromas, freshened by a piquant thyme herb note. Black and red berryfruit aromas slowly unfold savoury plum and violet floral elements emerging adding interest. Medium-full bodied and elegantly presented, sweetly rich fruit flavours of dark cherries, raspberries and dark plum flavours are supported by fine-grained, supple tannins. Red floral aromatics and subtle herb notes are present, along with background whole bunch stalky elements. The mouthfeel flows softly, growing in fleshy fruitiness and with positive drive. This is still quite primary with red fruit flavours, but will become more complex over the next 5-6 years. Hand-picked clone 777 fruit from 14 y.o. vines in an elevated site over the Kawarau River, destemmed, given a cold soak and indigenous yeast fermented with 15% whole clusters to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 14 months in 28% new French oak. 100 dozen made. 18.0+/20 Aug 2014 RRP $60.00
• Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 18-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Clone 10/5 fruit from 14 y.o. vines from the company’s ‘Black Quail’ vineyard, Bannockburn, hand-picked and indigenous yeast fermented with 10% whole clusters to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 35% new French oak. Full, deep, black-hued ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues. The nose is full and deep with powerful aromas of vibrantly ripe, spicy black berry and cherry fruit along with plum and savoury thyme herb and complex whole cluster nuances, revealing violet, ink and tarry elements. Medium-full bodied, plush and succulently sweet fruit flavours of dark berry and cherry fruit form a very fine, concentrated core with a very fine-grained tannin line. The palate combines power with finesse, unfolding lifted violet florals and savoury herbal detail which carries through to an elegantly proportioned, long lingering finish. This is an elegant and concentrated Pinot Noir with vibrant and succulent fruit and fine-grained structure. Match with duck, pork, lamb or venison over the next 6-8 years. 300 dozen made. 18.5+/20 Nov 2014 RRP $60.00 Very dark, deep, purple-red colour. The nose is densely packed with aromas of black berried fruits with violet and dark floral perfumes, revealing an array of dark herb and minerally nuances that emerge from the core. Fullish-bodied, rich, luscious and juicy ripe black fruits feature on the palate, the flavours lifted with floral notes. Very fine-grained tannins support the fruit and build in grip and texture, the structure growing in presence. This is solidly concentrated and quite complete, and complexing savoury herb, earth and oak layers emerge, carrying through to a powerful and packed finish. This will develop well over the next 7-8 years. Clone 10/5 fruit from 14 y.o. vines from the company’s ‘Black Quail’ vineyard, Bannockburn, hand-picked and indigenous yeast fermented with 10% whole clusters to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 35% new French oak. 300 dozen made. 19.0-/20 Aug 2014 RRP $60.00
• Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ ‘Matheson’ Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2013
  Merlot from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 18-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, deep, near impenetrable black-hued purple-red colour. The nose is elegantly proportioned with tight and concentrated aromas of ripe blackberries, redcurrants and plums, unveiling sweet floral, herb and complexing earthy nuances. This is fruit focussed and pure with finely integrated, unobtrusive oak. Medium-full bodied, the fruit flavours of ripe black berry and black plums are expressed with precision and intensity. The tannin extraction is very refined and the wine flows with excellent linearity, leading to a dry, textured, lingering finish of ripe redcurrant fruit intermixed with herbs and oak. This is an elegant an precise, penetrating Merlot with ripe fruits and refined, dry tannins. Serve with roasted lamb and beef, or hard cheeses over the next 8-10 years. 90% Merlot and 10% Malbec from the ‘Matheson’ vineyard in the Red Metals Triangle, fermented with a high portion of whole berries to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 50% new French oak. 300 dozen made. 19.0-/20 Nov 2014 RRP $60.00 Black-red colour with purple hues, near impenetrable, and youthful in appearance. This is very tightly bound with a firmly concentrated and refined nose of ripe dark plum fruit entwined with black berry fruit, redcurrants and subtle complexing spice and herb notes, lifted with red florals. Medium to medium-full bodied, the palate is elegant in proportion with ripe dark red berry, plum and curranty fruit flavours. The palate features very fine-grained, flowery tannins to balance the fruit sweetness, the extraction providing excellent linearity. Lacy acidity adds to the energy, tension and vibrant drive, and the wine carries to a very long, sustained finish. This is classical elegance, finesse and style. A beautiful wine that will age a decade. 90% Merlot and 10% Malbec from the ‘Matheson’ vineyard in the Red Metals Triangle, fermented with a high portion of whole berries to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 50% new French oak. 300 dozen made. 19.0/20 Aug 2014 RRP $60.00
• Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ ‘Matheson’ Merlot/Malbec Hawke’s Bay 2013
  Merlot from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 18-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  60% Merlot and 40% Malbec from the ‘Matheson’ vineyard in the Red Metals Triangle, and fermented with a high portion of whole berries to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 50% new French oak. Very full, saturated black-red colour with youthful purple hues. This has a firm and intensely packed nose of ripe black berry and plum fruits with exotic spices and blue fruit nuances, opening to show opulence and a completeness to the bouquet. Medium-full bodied, densely packed flavours of ripe black plums and berry fruits are layered with boysenberry and spice elements. The fruit is sweet and succulent, and balanced by fine-grained tannin structure with an underlying line of acidity, forming a tight, concentrated vibrant core. The wine leads to a fine-textured, sustained finish with an array of spice and floral flavours. This s a succulent and refined Merlot and Malbec blend with concentrated and opulent black fruits. Match with slow-cooked game meat over the next 7-9+ years. 115 dozen made. 19.0/20 Nov 2014 RRP $60.00 Impenetrable black-red colour with youthful purple hues. This has a soft, plush and lifted nose with opulently rich blackberry and raspberry fruit along with spicy black plums and notes of blueberries, the fruit well balanced with oak lift. Medium-full bodied, plush and juicy fruit flavours of sweetly ripe black plum fruit are layered with spice notes. This is already up-front and very Malbec in its exotic expression. The fruit is supported by fine-grained, supple tannins enabling accessibility, allowing the fruit sweetness to prevail. The structure provides an elegant, underlying core to guide the fruit to a long finish. This is a plush Merlot and Malbec blend with up-front spicy black fruits. 6-9 years ahead easily. 60% Merlot and 40% Malbec from the ‘Matheson’ vineyard in the Red Metals Triangle, and fermented with a high portion of whole berries to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 50% new French oak. 115 dozen made. 18.5+/20 Aug 2014 RRP $60.00
• Matua ‘Single Vineyard’ ‘Matheson’ Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013
  Syrah from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 18-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, saturated black-hued ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues. The nose is beautifully elegant and aromatic with vibrantly bright, ripe black and red berry fruit with lifted black pepper and harmoniously interwoven exotic spice and floral notes, unfolding oak toast elements with aeration. This is integrated and finely presented. Medium-full bodied, finely concentrated and intensely rich fruit flavours of ripe black fruits are entwined with black pepper, Asian spices, dark florals and oak toast. The palate is balanced and wonderfully proportioned, the rich and sweet fruit enlivened by discreet acidity and supported by considerable extract. The tannins are very fine-grained and powdery in texture and carry the palate to a very long, sustained finish with a floral and spicy amalgam. This is a superbly concentrated Syrah with rich, ripe fruit and a seriously structured, but refined palate. Match with slow-cooked game meat dishes over the next 8-10 years. Chave, Bullnose and 470 clone fruit 13-14 y.o. vines from the ‘Matheson’ vineyard in the Red Metals Triangle, fermented with a high portion of whole berries to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 45% new oak, 85% French and 15% American barrels. 130 dozen made. 19.5/20 Nov 2014 RRP $60.00 Full, black-hued red colour with youthful purple hues, near impenetrable. The nose is beautifully perfumed with strikingly rich, sweet and aromatic floral and exotic black berried fruits. Waves of dark red and violet florals are interwoven with ripe and spicy fruits and unfold with intensity and volume. Medium-full bodied, the wine is one of finesse, elegance and richness. Succulently sweet, ripe black fruits unfold an array of spices and perfumes. The fruit concentration is balanced by very fine-grained tannins and the vitality and poise from the acidity remarkable. As the wine flows, the exotic fruit spectrum grows to fill the mouth and carries through to a luscious, lively, lingering finish. This is an aromatic and exotic Syrah with great poise to age 10+ years. Chave, Bullnose and 470 clone fruit 13-14 y.o. vines from the ‘Matheson’ vineyard in the Red Metals Triangle, fermented with a high portion of whole berries to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 45% new oak, 85% French and 15% American barrels. 130 dozen made. 19.5/20 Aug 2014 RRP $60.00