Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernets Merlot

First produced in 1985, Te Mata Awatea is the little brother to NZ’s most famous red wine, Coleraine. Or as we like to think of it – the poor man’s Coleraine! Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernets Merlot

Te Mata Awatea is just one of those wines you simply have to keep a stash in the cellar. Even at just under $40 this still represents great value for an extremely classy take on the classic Bordeaux style red.

Awatea and Coleraine are wines that Robert Parker, one of the world’s biggest wine gurus, labelled as “bona fide classics“. The Awatea is named after the SS Awatea, a troop carrier from WWII that has family connections to the vineyard.

This is the latest 2023 release from Te Mata, a pretty rare thing, so jump in while you can. A blend of Merlot (52%), Cabernet Sauvignon (33%) and Cabernet Franc (15%) – this release has got all of the top local critics jumping out of their seats…

5 Stars & Buy of the Week (Michael Cooper, NZ Listener)
“This refined red is a generous blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Mouthfilling, it has deep blackcurrant, plum, spice and herb flavours, in a savoury, supple style, showing excellent vigour and harmony.”

96/100 (Erin Larkin, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate)
“This wine is thrilling: dusty cassis, bramble, raspberry pip, blood/iodine, sweet tobacco, raw cocoa, violet perfume, tarragon and fennel and a hint of hazelnut/nutmeg. This will evolve beautifully in bottle. I love it. It is a magnificent wine and a tremendous value.”

95/100 (Sam Kim, Wine Orbit)
“Wonderfully composed and expressed… harmonious and expressive… a magnificent Bordeaux-style red that’s beautifully crafted and splendidly structured, making it hugely appealing.”

And how many years you wonder? This excellent ’23 vintage should cellar comfortably for 15-20 years.