• French oak
• Ripe red currant
• Vanilla & cedar
• Powdery tannins

"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. A sensational wine ... grossly underpriced" Erin Larkin, Dec 2023

"A blend of 44% merlot, 42% cabernet sauvignon and 14% cabernet franc. An appealing layer of herb and berry fruit with a seasoning of spicy oak. Quite a complex wine that is more vinous than fruity. A worthy lieutenant to Coleraine" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Jan 2024

"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" Huon Hooke, Real Review, Jan 2024

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.

The grapes for Awatea ’22 were hand harvested from Te Mata Estate’s vineyards between 20 and 27 March 2022.

The separate parcels of grapes were destemmed before a traditional warm-plunged fermentation and extended maceration on skins. The resulting wines were then run to new and seasoned French oak barrels for 15 months. Throughout this time, they were regularly topped and racked. The separate wines were blended in July 2023, then returned to barrel for their second winter. The finished wine was then egg white fined and bottled in November 2023. The final blend is 42% cabernet sauvignon, 44% merlot and 14% cabernet franc.