Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernets Merlot Hawkes Bay – 2018

First made in 1982, Awatea is generally seen as the second wine to Te Mata’s flagship Bordeaux blend, Coleraine. The grapes for this wine are hand harvested and destemmed before a traditional warm, plunged fermentation with extended maceration on the skins to gain tannins, colour and structure. The resulting wines are then aged for 16 months in seasoned French oak barrels, blended, then returned to barrel for a further 8 months’ oak maturation.

This blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc is a great success from the dry and sunny 2018 vintage! Inky purple, it has a wide mix of ripe blackberry, blackcurrant and plum flavours with an attractive floral character. Notes of vanilla, cedar and sandalwood from its maturation in French oak barrels add complexity. It is classically structured, with fine balance and long length; beautifully pure and fresh and uniquely “New Zealand” in style.

Winemaker’s tip:- serve with Leg of lamb provençal.

92/100pts Wine Advocate

Drink 2022-2030