23/05/2026
‘Spend smart, drink well.’ Thank you . It’s our mantra too.
‘There are reasons why some wines fetch what seem to be hefty price tags, writes Bob Campbell, MW
I was recently asked, “How much should you pay for a good bottle of wine, and how much is too much?
“Supermarkets are discounting even top wines now; is it worth investing in a top label like Te Mata Coleraine ($149.50 per bottle in a case of six bottles) for example, or are these only for connoisseurs?”
Te Mata Coleraine is a good place to start.
By my estimation 2024 Coleraine deserves its status as one of New Zealand’s most iconic wines, and I haven’t even tasted it!
I have, however, tasted every vintage from the first in 1982 and hope to taste the 2024 vintage within the next few weeks.
Why the lolly scramble when Coleraine is released each year?
Because it made waves, very big waves, when it was first released. It was head and shoulders above whatever ranked second. Coleraine hit the ground running and has barely lost momentum ever since.
It is a wine for connoisseurs, but it is also a wine for investors, collectors and anyone whose pulse beats faster when Coleraine is served.’
This weekend.
