Te Mata

Some names in wine feel inevitable. Te Mata is one of them. The estate began in 1896, and even now, standing among the vines in Hawke’s Bay, you sense the weight of that history. Gravel soils, salt air from the Pacific, the heat of the day fading into cool nights. The Buck and Morris families have carried that thread forward, keeping the estate both rooted and restless.

Ask any collector and they will speak of Coleraine. The first release was in 1982, and since then it has become a reference point for New Zealand reds (https://www.reservecellar.com.au/region/new-zealand). Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc — blended with restraint, never excess. Young, it shows structure and promise. With time it softens, lengthens, and develops that quiet layering which only decades can bring. Opening a mature Coleraine is about flavour notes and memory, of patience rewarded.

Te Mata also shows a lighter touch. The Estate Sauvignon Blanc is bright and clear, hinting citrus and stone fruit lifted by a mineral line. Hawke’s Bay gives it a calmness that feels different from Marlborough’s exuberance. It doesn’t shout; it lingers. Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc takes the idea further. A portion sees oak, adding weight and texture, more savoury edges, something that nods toward Bordeaux but stays firmly New Zealand.

And then, something unexpected: Gamay Noir. Few in New Zealand plant it, fewer still make it sing. Te Mata’s version is fragrant, lively, red-fruited, built for the table. With a roast chicken, a plate of charcuterie, or simply bread, cheese, and the company of friends, the wine folds itself into the moment.

These wines are not for passing glances. They ask to be chosen with thought, held with care, and opened when the time feels right. That is why we bring Te Mata into The Reserve Cellar. We don’t just stock bottles; we cellar them, so that when you reach for Te Mata, you are drawing on heritage, on terroir, on something lasting.

Because with Te Mata, every glass is more than what is in front of you. It is the land, the season, and the years gathered in one pour.