The 2023 Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernet Merlot is one of New Zealand’s benchmark Bordeaux-style reds from Hawke’s Bay, crafted by the historic Te Mata Estate, one of the country’s oldest and most respected wineries. The wine is a classic blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, sourced from estate vineyards in Havelock Hills and the Gimblett Gravels sub-region.
The 2023 vintage shows lifted aromas of blackberry, cassis and raspberry, layered with notes of violets, bay leaf, vanilla and subtle spice. The palate is structured yet refined, revealing dark plum, black olive and sandalwood complexity with vibrant acidity and fine tannins that carry through a long, elegant finish.
Elegant, age-worthy and distinctly Hawke’s Bay in character, Awatea sits just below the iconic Coleraine in the Te Mata range and represents one of the most compelling Cabernet-Merlot blends in New Zealand.
