Te Mata
Awatea Cabernet Merlot, Hawke’s Bay
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.
Fruit for the Awatea was hand-harvested in March and early April from Te Mata Estate’s Havelock Hills and Gimblett Gravels vineyards. Havelock Hills’ north-facing sandy loam slopes produce balanced, elegant wines and form part of New Zealand’s first wine appellation, established in 1996. The stony soils of Gimblett Gravels, exposed by an 1860s flood, are internationally renowned for producing complex red wines.
- Region
- Hawke's Bay
- Appellation
- Hawke's Bay
- Varietal Composition
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
- Aging
- 17 months in a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels; 28% new.
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
Bright crimson with a purple edge, the Awatea shows youthful energy in the glass. Aromas of blackberry, dark plum, cassis, redcurrant, and cherry mingle with thyme, cedar, tapenade, and a light floral lift. The palate is seamless and generous, with black plum and blackberry supported by silky tannins and a savory thread of truffle, spice, and plum sauce. The finish is long, polished, and mouth‑watering, promising balance and graceful evolution ahead.
Vinous
93 Points
2021
“It is young and intense with masses of headstrong fruit: brooding cassis and dark chocolate provide some of the mille feuille-like layers in this wine, along with bright lifted green herbal notes and violets. What's most attractive about this wine is its texture and persistence from both its freshness and the shape of the tannins. It has a lengthy savory finish that's all mocha and black tea. Great value for money.”
— Rebecca Gibb, 2023
