Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernet Merlot 2022

Te Mata Estate was established in 1896, specialising in high-quality wines of classical style. The winery remains family owned, producing internationally recognized wines exclusively from its Hawke's Bay vineyards. Te Mata produce two classic blends of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc; Coleraine which is regarded by many as New Zealand's finest red wine and its younger brother Awatea.

"This is routinely a superb wine, svelte and supple. I love smelling Cabernet - a great one can make you smile. I'm smiling right now. There's raspberry pip, nori, dried herbs (thyme, lavender, etc.), white flowers, coal dust, star anise, licorice ... I could go on. The palate is shaped by ductile, ferruginous tannins, which contribute a bloody purity. It's a sensational wine, grossly underpriced, and it is an absolute pleasure to drink. Do not delay."  Erin Larkin

The 2022 Awatea is a blend of 44% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon 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."  Te Mata Estate

Te Mata Estate Winery

Expert reviews

"The classic Bordeaux-like bouquet is immediately seductive, showing blackcurrant, sweet cherry, thyme, floral and elegant oak aromas on the nose. The palate has a gorgeous presence and persistency, wonderfully complemented by fleshy texture and loads of polished tannins. This is an irresistible Awatea offering drinkability as well as potential to evolve to provide even greater complexity. Outstanding value for money. A blend of 44% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon & 14% Cabernet Franc. Drink: 2025 to 2038."  Sam Kim, Wine Orbit – 96 points

"This is routinely a superb wine, svelte and supple. The smaller sibling to the magnificent Coleraine, the 2022 Awatea Cabernets / Merlot is composed of 44% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc. This is approximately 30% new French oak, the same barrel regime as Coleraine prior to selections. I love smelling Cabernet - a great one can make you smile. I'm smiling right now. There's raspberry pip, nori, dried herbs (thyme, lavender, etc.), white flowers, coal dust, star anise, licorice ... I could go on. The palate is shaped by ductile, ferruginous tannins, which contribute a bloody purity. It's a sensational wine, grossly underpriced, and it is an absolute pleasure to drink. Do not delay. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam. Drink: 2023-2042."  Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate - 95+ points  

"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. Drink: 2025 - 2035."  Gary Walsh, The Real Review - 94+ points 

"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. Drink: 2025-2037."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 94 points 

"Positioned below its Coleraine stablemate in Te Mata's hierarchy of Hawke's Bay, claret-style reds, Awatea is grown at Havelock North and in the Bullnose Vineyard, inland from Hastings. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it is hand-harvested and matured for 15 to 18 months in French oak barriques (partly new). Compared to Coleraine, in its youth Awatea is more seductive, more perfumed, and tastes more of sweet, ripe fruit, but it is more forward and slightly less concentrated. The wine can mature gracefully for many years, but is also typically delicious in its youth. The distinctive, very graceful 2022 vintage offers typically great value. Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling, with rich plum and blackcurrant flavours, seasoned with nutty oak, good tannin backbone, and a long, finely structured, very harmonious finish. Already highly approachable, it should be at its best for drinking 2026+."  Michael Cooper  ★★★★★

About the winery

Te Mata Estate was established in 1896, specialising in high-quality wines of classical style. The winery remains family owned, producing internationally recognized wines exclusively from its Hawke's Bay vineyards. 

"New Zealand's first growth" - Andy Howard MW, Decanter Magazine
"A national treasure" - Jancis Robinson MW
"New Zealand's greatest winery" - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Te Mata Estate was originally part of Te Mata Station, a large pastoral land-holding established by English immigrant, John Chambers, in 1854. After returning from France, John Chamber's third son, Bernard, had the idea to plant vineyards on the north-facing hills around Havelock North. In 1892 he planted vines on three parcels of hillside land above the homestead and began converting the original stables to ferment and mature the wines. The first vintage wines were released in 1986. Today, Te Mata Estate still uses those same three vineyards. 

The Chambers family sold the property in 1919. The property had two other owners until John and Wendy Buck acquired Te Mata Estate in 1978 and 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. In addition, new vineyard sites were acquired in the Bridge Pa, Gimblett Gravels and Dartmoor Valley sub-regions of Hawke's Bay (refer map below). The Buck family have been producing Te Mata wines ever since. The success of Te Mata's wines in the '80s is credited with sparking the revival of Hawke's Bay as a top wine region.
 

 Te Mata Estate Winery and Hawke's Bay sub-regions