Te Mata Estate

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Awatea Cabernets/Merlot, Hawke’s Bay — 2018

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  • Introduction

    • First made in 1982, Awatea continues to represent the best of the classic Hawke’s Bay Cabernet/Merlot blend. Awatea takes its name from the historic ship SS Awatea (a Maori word meaning “Eye of the Dawn”) that sailed the Auckland – Sydney – Wellington route in the late 1930s. The Awatea was requisitioned as a troop transport in WWII and was sunk off Algeria in 1942.

  • Vineyard Profile

    • The grapes for Awatea 2018 were hand harvested from Te Mata Estate’s vineyards in the Havelock Hills and Gimblett Gravels sub-regions between March 25 – April 20, 2018.

  • Vinification

    • 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 16 months of aging. Throughout this time, they were regularly topped and racked. The separate wines were blended in January 2019, then returned to barrel for their second winter. The finished wine was bottled in October 2019.

  • Technical Information

    • Varietal Composition: 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc
    • Alcohol: 13.5%
    • TA: 5.9 g/L
    • p H: 3.58
  • Tasting Notes

    • 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 16 months of aging. Throughout this time, they were regularly topped and racked. The separate wines were blended in January 2019, then returned to barrel for their second winter. The finished wine was bottled in October 2019.

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Reviews

  • Awatea Cabernets/Merlot, Hawke’s Bay — 2018 – Wine Advocate – 93 Points

    "The 2018 Awatea Cabernets Merlot carries on the theme of the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Awateas: balanced, chewy and spicy. The thread of fruit laces through all four vintages, sometimes red, sometimes black and always succulent. This is a slightly darker version of the others, perhaps in line with the 2015."

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