2018 Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernets Merlot

First made in 1982 the Awatea is a classic Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux style blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc that’s matured in a mix of new and seasoned French oak barrels for 16 months.
Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red black tinged hue. Gorgeous ripe red to black currant and more subtle mulberry scents infused with cedary tobacco notes are expelled from the glass with ample intensity. Some earth, dried meat and spice nuances also chime in. Delicious red currant and mulberry fruits are layered across the medium bodied palate with notions of graphite, dusty cedar, tobacco, dried herbs and spice lending further complexity. Slightly dryish yet refined tannin structure concluding long with a Bordeaux like elegance.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews….
This is an excellent bottling of Awatea, the younger brother of Te Mata’s top red, Coleraine. From a long, warm growing season, this feels like a complete wine. Winter warming notes of plump plums, dark cherries and chocolate are complemented by a bounty of dried herbs, spices and graphite. The palate is similarly dense and structured but with elegance and balance. Tannins are powdery and fine, winding through dark, tangy fruit and herbs. Like many of Te Mata’s wines, it has an old school Bordeaux vibe that will appeal more to some than to others.
95 points
Wine Enthusiast