2023 Te Mata Awatea Cabernet Merlot
2023 Te Mata Awatea Cabernet Merlot

2023 Te Mata Awatea Cabernet Merlot

96 pts
Te Mata |Hawkes Bay |Cabernet Sauvignon
Arguably NZ's greatest producer of Bordeaux blends, this is the perfect way to get acquainted with Te Mata's refined style.
4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
8 Reviews
Price:
$45.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Awatea has long been known as the “little brother” to Te Mata’s legendary Coleraine, but it’s really a serious wine in its own right, and some of the smartest buying in New Zealand wine. 

First made back in the early 1980s, it’s a blend built around Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (with a bit of Franc usually in the mix), and every vintage shows just how well these Bordeaux varieties thrive in Hawke’s Bay.

The 2023 release comes off a strong vintage, with steady ripening through summer giving fruit that was both ripe and balanced. The winemaking sticks to the Te Mata blueprint – hand-picking, small-batch ferments and careful aging in French oak – delivering a wine that combines immediate drinkability with the structure to improve over time.

What makes Awatea special is the way it balances generosity and finesse. It’s approachable now, showing off its bright fruit and savoury edge, but has the tannin and acidity to reward a decade or more in the cellar. For those who love Coleraine but want something more affordable (and a little earlier drinking), this is the perfect fit.

96 points
"It is a magnificent wine and a tremendous value."
- Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

Erin Larkin

Erin Larkin

The Wine Advocate 96 Points

The 2023 Awatea Cabernets Merlot comprises 52% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. Aromatically, 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. In the mouth, the wine is savory, structural, spicy and chewy, with a ductile splay of tannin that moves across the palate and through the finish. The palate speaks of structure and shape, while the fruit is mostly on the nose at this early stage. This will evolve beautifully in bottle over time, and as the bottle I am tasting here today was bottled four weeks ago, no doubt your bottle will look more polished and sleek. As it is, I love it, but I am sure I will like it more in time. It is a magnificent wine and a tremendous value.

Gary Walsh

Gary Walsh

The Wine Front 94 Points

Plum, raspberry, boysenberry, a slight Cab Franc and/or vintage grassiness, nutty and pencilly, with some floral notes, aniseed and spice. Medium-bodied, bramble fruit (fresh raspberry in particular), some ripe tomato tang, tobacco, a bit of grainy chew to tannin, but the line of acidity is so lovely and crisp – rain-washed and fresh – offering a distinct ‘mineral’ character. Length is excellent. It’s understated, with a classic feel, a sort of bright ‘luncheon claret thing happening, or so I think. It has perfume and presence. So while it’s a somewhat different expression of Awatea, I still like it very much. In summary, it’s a lovely wine to drink.

Customer Reviews

4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
Based on 8 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 3 Total 4 star reviews: 4 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
8 reviews
  • MC
    Martin C.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Reviewing
    2019 Te Mata Awatea Cabernet Merlot
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Just lovely Cab Merlot Cab Franc Blend.

    Has the right acid & tannin that is heaven to my palate

    Was this helpful?
  • WP
    Wayne P.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Reviewing
    2021 Te Mata Awatea Cabernet Merlot
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Top Te Mata

    Serious red blend. Sensational black fruit, great depth and length.

    Was this helpful?
  • DK
    david k.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Reviewing
    2021 Te Mata Awatea Cabernet Merlot
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Little brother!

    The 'little brother' to Coleraine, maybe, however an excellent example of Kiwi Cab Merlot at a fair price! Te Mata really is where this classic NZ blend really shines...

    Was this helpful?
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Overview
First made in 1982, Awatea continues to represent the best of the classic Hawke’s Bay Cabernet/Merlot blend. Floral aromas with intense blackberry, currant, and dark plum flavours lead to a rich, supple palate with a sustained finish.

Origin
Awatea takes its name from the historic ship SS Awatea (a Māori word meaning Eye of the Dawn) that sailed the Auckland–Sydney–Wellington route in the late 1930s. Requisitioned as a troop transport in WWII, the ship was sunk off Algeria in 1942.

Vineyards
The grapes for Awatea Cabernets/Merlot 2023 were hand-harvested from Te Mata Estate’s Hawke’s Bay vineyards between 4–18 April 2023.

Winemaking
The separate parcels of grapes were destemmed before undergoing traditional warm-plunged fermentation and extended maceration on skins. The wines were then matured in new and seasoned French oak barrels for 15 months, with regular topping and racking.

In October 2023 the parcels were blended, then returned to barrel for their second winter. The finished wine was egg-white fined and bottled in November 2024.

Final Blend

52% Merlot

33% Cabernet Sauvignon

15% Cabernet Franc

Tasting Note
With a gleaming crimson core and ruby rim, Awatea Cabernets/Merlot 2023 is enticingly perfumed with blackberry, bay, violets, and vanilla. The palate is detailed, poised, and texturally rewarding, interweaving plum, black olive, and sandalwood with salinity, refreshing acidity, and bright tannin length. Captivating elegance that is classically Te Mata.

Cellaring Potential
Closed with a Diam cork, Awatea Cabernets/Merlot 2023 will continue to evolve gracefully for 10 years from harvest.

Price Bracket $41 to $50
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety Style ["Cabernet Blends"]
Country New Zealand
Region Hawkes Bay
Feature High Score
Iconic
Reviewed By The Wine Advocate
The Wine Front
Critic Score 96
94
Alcohol 13.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure DIAM Cork

Te Mata Estate

Te Mata Estate has one of the richest winemaking histories in all of New Zealand.

With vineyards planted back as far as 1896, the rich history of this iconic Hawke's Bay producer is enviable in the relatively young NZ wine landscape.

Their wines come exclusively from carefully selected sites across Hawke's Bay. The aim to craft classic, structural wines that are comparable to the very best the world has to offer.

The Te Mata Estate Coleraine is considered by many as NZ's premier Bordeaux blend. A shining jewel in the crown of the Hawke's Bay region.

Discover TeMata Estate

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