Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernets Merlot 2022

Description

Established in 1896, Te Mata Estate remains family owned, producing internationally recognized wines exclusively from its Hawke’s Bay vineyards. The Estate’s ownership varied frequently until John and Wendy Buck acquired it in 1978. John and Wendy instigated a twenty-year development program, which commenced with the restoration of the original winery building and the replanting of all of the original vineyards, as well as the acquisition of new vineyard sites.

The range of temperature and soil types, allied with the rainfall band between 650-850mm, create conditions to produce high quality wines of a classic range akin to those of coastal, central and northern France. Te Mata wines are similar in weight and balance but with unique lifted floral and fruit aromas.

Te Mata winery has been ranked ‘Top Winery in New Zealand’ evidenced by the consistent quality of the Coleraine and Awatea Cabernet Merlot wines, the Bull Nose Syrah and the Elston Chardonnay.

Awatea takes its name from the historic ship SS Awatea (a Maori word meaning “Eye of the Dawn”) that sailed the Auckland – Sydney – Wellington route in the late 1930s. The Awatea was requisitioned as a troop transport in WWII and was sunk off Algeria in 1942.

First made in 1982, Awatea continues to represent the best of the classic Hawke’s Bay Cabernet/Merlot blend. Floral aromas with intense blackberry, currant and dark plum flavours lead to a rich, supple palate with a sustained finish.

About this wine from the winemaker: “The 2022 blend is 42% cabernet sauvignon, 44% merlot and 14% cabernet franc.

A deep ‘guardsmen red’, Awatea Cabernets/Merlot ’22 captivates with its nose of blackberry and bay leaf, ripe red currants, and sea spray to instantly engage the senses. On the palate this interplay of red and dark fruit continues with roses, chocolate and black olive with vanilla, cedar and a faint menthol character, layered over a core of perfectly ripe Black Doris plum. Moreish acidity brightens the wine, lifting the classical varietal elements of Awatea Cabernets/Merlot ’22 and its fine, powdery, tannin profile. This is a wine of balance, length and appeal, with the clear ability to evolve even further in bottle.”

95 points, Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review “A dense, lush red with cassis, ripe berry and cedar wood flavours. Seriously good and very accessible red that offers great value at this price.”

94+ points, Gary Walsh, The Real Review “Boysenberry, dusty spice, floral aromatics, tobacco, leaf and mint. Medium-bodied, powdery tannin, very ‘mineral’ acidity, bright but sitting in the wine well, raspberry and plum, complex and chalky firm on a long finish, a little seaweed in the mix. Crisp. Very fine wine. Needs a few more years in bottle.”

• 94 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review  “Deep and bright purple-red colour with a very fresh, youthful and somewhat undevelped fruit-driven bouquet of raspberry, blueberry, violet and mulberry, the palate elegantly formed and medium-full bodied, with fine powdery tannins that dry the finish cleanly. A pristine, pure-fruited style of cabernet blend with medium length and lovely balance.”

RRP $57  *Our Special Price $44.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**