Te Mata - Awatea Cabernets - Merlot 2020
Price: $44.96
| Producer | Te Mata |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 602019 |
| Size | 750ml |
First crafted in 1982, Awatea continues to embody the essence of the classic Hawke’s Bay Cabernet/Merlot blend. Its name pays homage to the historic ship SS Awatea, derived from the Maori term meaning “Eye of the Dawn,” which navigated the Auckland – Sydney – Wellington route during the late 1930s. Serving as a troop transport in WWII, the Awatea met its fate off the coast of Algeria in 1942.
All Te Mata Estate wines are exclusively crafted from the estate's five Hawke’s Bay vineyards. Having been initially planted in 1892, Te Mata Estate’s sites are situated on well-drained, north-facing slopes (remember in the southern hemisphere things are reversed). To the east, the soils primarily consist of sandy loam overlaying a sandstone base, while to the west, sandy loam covers a thin layer of clay. The unique topography of the hills stems from their relatively youthful age in geological terms. Positioned at the convergence of two tectonic plates, the sandstone formations have been pushed upwards and subsequently eroded relatively swiftly, resulting in a landscape characterized by steep and gentle slopes, as well as terraces ideally suited for grape cultivation.
A temperate maritime climate, characterized by low rainfall resulting from the rain shadow cast by mountains to the west, ensures that Te Mata's vineyard sites optimize each vintage.
Each batch of grapes underwent destemming prior to undergoing a traditional warm, plunged fermentation process, followed by an extended maceration on skins. Subsequently, the resulting wines were transferred to both new and seasoned French oak barrels for a period of 16 months for aging. It is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc.
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