Mike Bennie 94 points!
Mike Bennie 94 points!"Big hit of splintery, cedary wood to kick things off. Some vanilla whiffs, dark chocolate, rose petal and charry characters, with a bold, strike out of dark, deep, brooding black berry fruit and cassis. Some minty notes creep in, more so to taste, but again, it's about potency of flavour and concentration. Long in flavour, honed with firm, grainy tannins, finishes with building, satisfying pucker. Structure, tension, drive. Has it all. Great wine."
Mike Bennie, Wine front
Winemaking
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 15 months' ageing. Throughout this time, they were
regularly topped and racked. The separate wines were blended in January 2014, then returned
to barrel for their second winter. The finished wine was then egg white fined and bottled in
October 2014. The final blend is 40% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot, 16% cabernet franc
and 5% petit verdot.
Tasting Note
An intense deep crimson, Awatea '13 is a true classic. The fragrance immediately captivates
with notes of dark roast coffee, chocolate, vanilla and toast entwined with the fruit.
Hints of bayleaf and mint keep the aromas fresh and lively. The palate unfolds with ripe
berry flavours and a rich mouthfeel, while ripe tannins give a delightfully fine finish. From
perfect growing conditions, the intense fruit concentration remains refined. Elegant and
powerful, Awatea '13 is a masterpiece.
Te Mata
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
NZ- Hawkes Bay
Variety:
Wine Red - Cabernet blend
Size:
750mL
