-
95
/ 100
The Wine Advocate -
94
/ 100
The Wine Front
Red
Classification
Cabernet Blend
Variety
2022
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
New Zealand
Country
Hawkes Bay,
Region
14.0%
Alcohol %
5-10 Years
Cellaring
Scores
95 / 100"The 2022 Awatea Cabernets Merlot is floral and layered with cassis and raspberry, chalk and tobacco, paprika dolce and pink peppercorns. This is modern claret at its finest, and I find it to be beguiling in that way. It's softer and a little less structural than the 2021 but with so much cushioning and fruit. The tannins are firm through the finish, and I feel that balances the sweet fruit well. Yes. Drink 2024 - 2042. - Erin Larkin"
- The Wine Advocate
94 / 100
"Here’s we have 44% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 14% Cabernet Franc. I asked which Merlot clone they have in the ground at Te Mata, and it’s Entav, which is one of the better ones. 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 Wine Front
Tasting Notes
Te Mata Estate is one of New Zealand's most renowned wineries, known for producing exceptional wines with a strong sense of place and character. Awatea is one of their flagship wines, showcasing the best of Hawke's Bay's wine-growing region.
The wine offers a harmonious interplay between ripe fruit flavors, refined tannins, and well-integrated oak. You can expect notes of blackcurrants, dark cherries, plum, and subtle hints of spice, complemented by a touch of vanilla and cedar from the oak aging process.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity