• French oak
• Ripe blackberry
• Toasty vanilla
• Silky tannins

A bright deep magenta, Estate Merlot/Cabernets ’22 reveals aromas of ripe blackberry, vibrant black cherry, plum, bay leaf and toasty vanilla. A balanced composition, with layers of concentration, this full-bodied wine shows dark berry fruits on the palate, alongside cocoa powder, earthy undertones and silky, savoury tannins that lead to a long finish. Precise and integrated with succulent fruit, it is immediately drinkable and moreish. Estate Merlot/Cabernets ’22 will continue to evolve in bottle for five years from harvest.

The grapes for Estate Merlot/Cabernets ’22 were harvested between 19 March and 1 April 2022 from Te Mata Estate’s own vineyards in the Havelock Hills, Bridge Pa Triangle, Dartmoor, Havelock North and Gimblett Gravels sub-regions of Hawke’s Bay.

The individual parcels of each variety from each plot were de-stemmed before a traditional warm fermentation, followed by extended maceration on skins. The resulting wines were pressed, returned to tank for malolactic fermentation, then run off to a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels for 12 months’ maturation before blending. The wines were regularly topped and racked throughout maturation, blended and traditionally egg-white fined before bottling. The final blend is 54% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc.

Food Pairing: Estate Merlot/Cabernets ’22 is a wonderful accompaniment to mushrooms, grilled meats and hard cheeses.