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Description
If you’re looking for an introduction to Hawke’s Bay’s great Cabernet blends, Awatea is where you start. It’s got all the pedigree - a century-old family estate, exceptional vineyard sites, and a winemaking team that’s honed their craft over generations - yet it remains one of the most approachable, expressive, and best-value wines in New Zealand.
The 2022 blend is 44% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 14% Cabernet Franc, sourced from Te Mata’s historic estate vineyards. The fruit was hand-harvested, fermented in small open vats, and matured for 15 months in French oak, before blending and bottling.
From the first sip, it’s clear Awatea is more than the sum of its parts. It’s got that unmistakable Hawke’s Bay Cabernet structure - firm yet polished tannins, bright acidity - but the Merlot brings a plushness that makes it ridiculously drinkable from day one. There’s a savoury edge, a flicker of dark spice, and just the right amount of oak to tie it all together. It’s the kind of wine that makes you want to pour another glass before you’ve finished the first.
It’s seamless, balanced, and built to last - supple enough to drink now, yet destined to evolve over the next decade. A wine that overdelivers in every way, from one of New Zealand’s greatest estates.
