• French oak
• Ripe raspberry
• Mint & cocoa-powder
• Savoury tannins

Dark ruby with a bright purple edge, Estate Vineyards Merlot/Cabernets ’19 has ripe raspberry and blackberry on the nose and a palate that unfolds with Black Doris plum, cherry syrup, mint and cocoa-powder. Brambly, ripe, cabernet fruit sits atop soft, savoury tannins. Classically inviting, Estate Vineyards Merlot/Cabernets ’19 is complex and instantly-appealing at the same time.

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 nine 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 44 % Merlot, 36 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 20 % Cabernet Franc.

The grapes for Estate Vineyards Merlot/Cabernets ’19 were harvested between 26 March and 11 April 2019 from Te Mata Estate’s own vineyards in the Bridge Pa Triangle, Dartmoor, Havelock Hills and Gimblett sub-regions of Hawke’s Bay.

Estate Vineyards Merlot/Cabernets ’19 will continue to evolve in bottle for three to six years from harvest.

Sourced Exclusively from Te Mata Estate's own Vineyards, The Estate Vineyards wines represent the best qualities of their variety, vintage, and Hawkes Bay origin. Established in 1896, Te Mata Estate remains family owned, producing internationally recognised wines exclusively from its historic, Hawke's Bay Vineyards.

Food Pairing: Estate Vineyards Merlot/Cabernets ’19 is a wonderful accompaniment to hard cheeses and anything that once lived in a field.