"Beautifully ripe and perfumed on the nose, showing cherry, plum, violet and subtle spice aromas with touches of almond and olive. The palate delivers lovely weight and roundness, offering pristine fruit flavours together with fine texture and polished tannins. Wonderfully poised and refined with a lengthy silky finish" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jun 2019

"Elegant, linear pinot noir with plum, violet, dark cherry and attractive spicy oak flavours. Moderately complex and integrated wine with hints of coffee, cedar and anise. The wine has pleasing fruit flavours but it also has good vinosity in equal measure. Subtle power is demonstrated by a lengthy finish" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Jul 2019

"Immediately varietal, tense and focused bouquet of Pinot Noir. Dark cherry and a host of light red berry fruits, savoury note and fresh baking spices. Dry, tense and youthful on the palate with a core of fruit and savoury spice power. Firm tannins and acidity plus there’s no mistaking the oak even at 15% new – it’s spice and sweetness alongside the savoury whole bunch layer adds complexity. Nice medium weight and lengthy finish. A wine with lots of energy still needing some cellar time to settle in. Decant for service with best drinking from late 2020 through 2024" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Jun 2019

The premiere release of Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir ’18 is ink-dark scarlet, with flashes of cherry-red, and an immediate floral presence of fresh boysenberry, redcurrants, cardamom, and Earl Grey tea. A silky, soft palate interwoven with generous, ripe, red berry fruit balances a beguiling background of smoke, cinnamon and gentle tannin. Energetic, full-flavoured and expressive, Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir ’18 appeals and delights. Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir ’18 is closed with a ‘Diam’ cork, which eliminates any possibility of cork taint, allowing continued evolution in bottle for six years from harvest.

Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir ’18 was harvested between 3 and 17 March 2018 from Te Mata Estate’s own vineyards in Woodthorpe Terraces.

The individual lots were each destemmed and given a traditional warm-plunged fermentation. The resulting wines underwent extended maceration on skins before pressing. The separate wines were then run to a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barriques for 11 months’ maturation.

Established in 1896. Te Mata Estate remains family owned producing internationally recognised wines exclusively from its historic, Hawke's Bay vineyards.