Australia & New Zealand Fusion – 6 Bottle Collection

The vineyards of Australia and New Zealand with this premium mixed collection, harmonious blend of red and white wines, this selection showcases the exceptional diversity and quality of these world-renowned wine regions. From Australia's bold and complex reds to New Zealand's crisp and aromatic whites, each bottle is a testament to expert craftsmanship and vibrant terroirs. Perfect for sharing, gifting, or savoring, this collection is an excellent choice for wine lovers seeking variety and sophistication.

1 x Corymbia Chenin Blanc (Organic) 2022 - Swan Valley, Australia

94/100 Gary Walsh
95/100 Erin Larkin (2021 vintage)
95/100 Erin Larkin (2020 vintage)
94/100 Nick Stock (2020 vintage)
93/100 Gary Walsh (2020 vintage)
93/100 The Wine Front (2019 vintage)
Bronze - Huon Hooke (2019 vintage)
95/100 Ray Jordan (2018 vintage)
93/100 The Wine Front (2018 vintage)
91/100 Nick Stock (2018 vintage)
Bronze - Huon Hooke (2018 vintage)
Bronze - Campbell Mattinson (2018 vintage)

Organic

Gary Walsh "Lime, pear, some white flowers, ginger, cinnamon, and Parmesan rind, a little struck match. It has crunch and energy, pear skin and apple, a saline edge, fine chalky/dusty texture, cinnamon bark, a slight lemon rind and quinine bitterness, fresh crunch of green pear and grapefruit, and a perky kind of sappy and preserved lemon finish of good length and freshness. For a warm to hot climate wine, it certainly has some mojo, not least an individual personality. Saline and samphire thing happening too. It’s very good."

Mike Bennie, Gourmet Traveller Wine "Corymbia is one of the most exciting wine projects to emerge from Western Australia in a decade. The wines under the Corymbia label have been outstanding."

Erin Larkin “Delicate, as usual, with a flood of green apple, white flowers, Turkish apricots, cheesecloth and beeswax. This has Australian bush, and wide open summer air, and saltbush, too. The phenolics have a bitter little kick in them through the finish ... but that's ok, I was waiting for it. The waxy, lanolin character is exactly en pointe for the variety.” (2021 vintage)

Erin Larkin "...Warm, low yielding and with plenty of structure and power. That shows in the intensity of white summer apricot, green apple skin, lanolin and crushed cashew that spools out over the very long, neat finish. Saline acid laces all of these characters together. Another brilliant release." (2020 vintage)

Nick Stock "Lemon and sliced apple aromas, some gentle pastry and an overall purity and freshness. The fruit has been coaxed into a smoothly fleshy style on the palate with a bright apple, pear and lemon-flavoured finish. The Corymbia Rocket's Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2020 is beautifully balanced." (2020 vintage)

Gary Walsh "Preserved lemon, lemon barley, pear and spice. Tight, juicy, pear skin and lemon peel, bright acidity, powdery with a talc-like perfume, saline and fresh, with a dusty chalky finish of fine length. Hot climate wine, from a hot vintage, laying it on cool. Excellent. So excellent. This is a banger. " (2020 vintage)

Huon Hooke "Light yellow hue, with a smoky sulfide bouquet, the palate lean and restrained, delicate and tense, with a properly dry finish augmented by a slight grip. Lemony flavour and acidity lingers. It would be better with a buttery fish fillet." (2019 vintage)

Ray Jordan "This is bloody marvellous Chenin Blanc. It was made by Rob and Genevieve Mann from fruit grown on Tony Mann’s property. Sure, it was a very good year, but it has been handled deftly to capture all those essential goodies from a variety that sings from the Swan. Controlled tropical fruits, with minerally citrus character and a lively fine acidity, are in perfect balance. Just love the palate." (2018 vintage)

Campbell Mattinson "Soft acidity, fluid flavour, a semblance of texture and lovely length. ...There’s a lilt to this wine, a carry. Watercress, pears and apples. It has enough to satisfy but it’s elegance personified." (2018 vintage)

Huon Hooke "Very light yellow colour. Vaguely scented aroma of fresh flowers and nettles, the palate light and straightforward, wispy and clean, simple and fairly short. A decent quaffing dry white. " (2018 vintage)

Nick Stock "Here’s a delicious Chenin blanc that shows dried apple rind, cooked pears, fresh herbs and freshly squeezed nectarines. Medium body, bright and fine acidity and a medium finish." (2018 vintage)

Campbell Mattinson "You'd call it slight and insubstantial but you'd also call it stylish. It's a paradox. Spiced apple flavours are the order of the day but the real charm springs from soft acidity." (2018 vintage)

Mike Bennie (The Wine Front) "Precise and racy style, kept in check with limey acidity and chalky phenolic grip. Actually, so much grip, rivulets of talc-and-salt-like pucker and chew. Serious structure and finesse in tow. Lime, tonic water, mixed minerals. Whoosh. Belter of a wine."

Gourmet Traveller Wine "Multiple releases of Corymbia Chenin blanc have impressed.....The wines under the Corymbia label have been outstanding."

Gourmet Traveller Wine "Corymbia is one of the most exciting wine projects to emerge from Western Australia in a decade. The combination of a distinguished winemaking family, the reinvention of a much-maligned wine region, the unlocking of the potential of a mature vineyard and a general sense of creativity, have all contributed to a strong currency.

Organic wines are made from grapes grown without pesticides, following strict organic standards. Organic wines are produced in vineyards that do not use synthetic chemicals.Certified organic wines have been certified by Australian Certified Organic Standard (ACOS). 

Corymbia is the newish project of Rob and Genevieve Mann. The Mann family, of course, are generational wine producers in WA, with a history of iconic wines and vineyards. Rob, formerly working with Hardys, Cape Mentelle and Newton Vineyard in Napa Valley, has returned home and made a mark.

The family vineyard in Swan Valley is dry grown and organically farmed. While winemaking draws on the Manns’ suite of expertise and diversity of influences, it has been pared back for Corymbia, letting the fruit and character of the wines take the spotlight.

That Swan Valley has been put on a pedestal is wonderful, and a celebration of older vineyards, unique soil profile and a general sense of generational endeavour is exciting for the region. There’s an undercurrent of winemakers amplifying the region’s potential, but arguably Corymbia is the current totem."

Huon Hooke "The Mann family are winemaking royalty in Western Australia."

Corymbia is a new winery launched by one of the founding families of Western Australian wine. The Manns have grown grapes and made wine in the Swan Valley, Western Australia's oldest wine-growing region for over a century. Corymbia wines are critically acclaimed, organically-farmed, single-vineyard wines. Founder, Rob Mann is considered one of Australia's best contemporary winemakers. He was the senior winemaker at Hardy’s Tintara, and Cape Mentelle, where during his ten-year tenure the winery was twice awarded 'Australia's Producer of the Year' and Rob 'Australian Winemaker of the Year'. Prior to founding Corymbia he was Senior Winemaker at LVMH’s Newton Vineyard in the Napa Valley.

Swan Valley is a sub-region of the Swan District wine region just north of Perth, in Western Australia. The Swan District is Western Australia’s oldest wine region, having been planted by English settlers soon after their arrival in 1829. For almost 150 years it was the only significant wine-producing region in Western Australia and today it's also home to the state's largest winery. Some of Western Australia's finest wines are produced in the Swan Valley.

It is an actively multicultural area, with the descendants of early Yugoslav, Italian and English migrants continuing the region's winemaking traditions. Pioneers in the development of table wines include the legendary Jack Mann at Houghton in the 1930s and 1940s.

Chenin Blanc is a versatile white-wine grape variety that has been cultivated in France for nearly 1300 years. It is most commonly associated with France's Loire Valley, and its high acidity levels mean it can be vinified in a number of different styles: as lusciously sweet, botrytis-affected dessert wines, light, honeyed sparkling wines and as full-bodied, still white wines.

1 x Patrick of Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2015 ~ Coonawarra, South Australia

93/100 - The Real Review
91/100 - Qwine (2014 vintage)
95/100 - Wine Showcase Magazine (2013 vintage)
90/100 'Top Value' Huon Hooke (2013 vintage)
GOLD - Wine Showcase Magazine (2013 vintage)
BRONZE - Limestone Coast Wine Show (2013 vintage)
BRONZE - Melbourne International Wine Show (2013 vintage)
BRONZE - Cairns Wine Show (2013 vintage)
BRONZE - Great Australia Shiraz Challenge (2013 vintage)
BRONZE - Rutherglen Wine Show (2013 vintage)
4 STARS - Winestate Magazine (2013 vintage)
Recommended - the Real Review (2013 vintage)

The Real Review "Deep garnet-red colour with crimson edges. Classic, still fresh Coonawarra notes of tobacco leaf, roasted nuts (oak), soy and spiced blackcurrants. The soft whisper of bottle-age complexity. Fruit is pristine and showing secondary charms. Oak-derived vanilla and nuts just blurring it a little. Sensational value for a wine of this age and quality"

QWine "...this is a Shiraz with great depth and presence... sure to please. Terrific value it must be said. Released with six years of bottle age already under its belt, blue and dark fruits, earthy feels and dark chocolate make a statement early. Add cloves and well handled oak (a mix of American and French for 24 months) and it's a very tidy drink. Fine spices shimmer on a long and dense finish. Steak night please". (2014 Vintage)

Huon Hooke “It's full-bodied and drinking well now. A serious glass of red......Deep red colour with a tint of purple, and a shy, reserved bouquet, which suggests fumey red fruits, older wood and some forward-development. The palate is drying, savoury and well-coated with supple tannin, the structure is in balance with the flavour and indicates it still has a cellaring future.” (2014 Vintage)

The Winemaker "The palate is soft & youthful with great length. This wine has great longevity & will reward cellaring for 5-10 years. This wine was matured in a combination of new American & second use French oak, giving rise to the intense mocha & hints of licorice. This is complemented with the rich mulberry fruit & touch of fruitcake spice." (2014 Vintage)

Patrick's of Coonawarra was founded by Patrick Tocaciu; one of Australia's leading wine (and AFL football) figures. Patrick's reputation for producing exceptional wine earned him many international accolades for the major labels he worked as Chief Winemaker, including; Tollana, Penfolds, and Hollick Wines. Patrick's distinguished reputation continued with the establishment of his own Patrick of Coonawarra Estate label. The wines are built on the solid foundation of extensive estate vineyards: 36 hectares in Coonawarra and 42 hectares in Wrattonbully. The Wrattonbully plantings contain shiraz, sauvignon blanc, and some of the riesling. All of the cabernets are grown in Coonawarra. The Estate is now managed by his eonologist son, Luke who continues the tradition of producing wines of varietal and regional excellence.

Coonawarra is the most important wine region within South Australia, credited with producing some of the best red wines in the entire country, and often described as Australia's most famous terroir...

1 x McHenry Hohnen Hazels Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia

97/100 Wine Pilot, Angus Hughson
95/100 Halliday Wine Companion, Erin Larkin
95/100 The Real Review, Aaron Brasher
91/100 Decanter World Wine Awards
97/100 - Top Chardonnay Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023 (2020 vintage)
91/100 Decanter World Wine Awards (2018 vintage)
96/100 The Real Review (2018 vintage)
94/100 Nick Stock (2017 vintage)
95/100 Huon Hooke (2016 vintage)
95/100 James Halliday (2016 vintage)
93/100 The Wine Front (2016 vintage)

5 Star Winery - James Halliday (2016 vintage)

"Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2022 & 2023"

Halliday Wine Companion, Erin Larkin "All 3 single-vineyard chardonnays are made in the same manner: hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, wild fermented in barrel (25% new) with full solids and partial mlf. White spice, nectarine, coastal spray and crushed macadamia on the nose. The palate is where the mlf is evident; it creates a creamy, buttery texture that sits alongside the pink grapefruit and mandarin pith. Blossom and red apple skin round out the palate, the saline acidity forms curls of sensation as it fades."

Wine Pilot, Angus Hughson "Bright mid straw and a beautifully reserved expression of premium Margaret River Chardonnay. There is impressive aromatic precision and focus with fruits in the citrus and floral spectrum and nougat-scented oak. Also some flinty/smoky leesy elements add superb detail. It is then dry, taut and acid driven with palpable palate tension but also a silkiness and a chalky texture; love the balance and fruit purity as it unfurls. Finally, a picture of refinement and balance with a supremely long finish accented by doughy, citrus and floral complexity. This builds beautifully in the glass over time too which bodes very well for the future."

The Real Review, Aaron Brasher "Quite lifted aromas of nectarine, white flowers, nuts, bacon fat and vanilla. Powerful on the palate—white stone fruit, guava and creamy oak are all at play. Acidity is fine and focused and manages the powerful fruit admirably. There's some grip and texture that adds to the mouth-feel and the length is impressive."

Tasting Notes "Mandarin peal, white blossom and ruby grapefruit aromas give way to stone fruit and a seductive nougat element. Creamy, nutty and textured, this Chardonnay is both powerful in fruit concentration and restrained by a precise acid line. A layered wine with persistence, power and grace and a true representation of this south Margaret River vineyard just inland from the coast."

Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "I've tasted this wine blind in pretty esteemed company (several times), the likes of Bâtard-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Genevrières etc, and while it has come just under those wines in ranking, it has more than stood its ground, and has earned my unwavering respect in doing so. Powerful, layered, fragrant, balanced, rippling and exciting. Back up the car – this is too cheap currently." (2020 vintage)

Stuart Knox, The Real Review "Pale to medium straw-yellow colour in the glass. The nose lifts with flint minerality, bacon fat and nectarines. The palate explodes with power, but almost instantaneously that power is compressed again by incredibly taut acid which brings laser-like focus and drives it very long. As it slowly unfurls softer savoury elements, smoke and nuts show themselves, but that acid drive is never far away. A serious exercise in power and precision." (2018 vintage)

Nick Stock "Striking purity of pithy lemon and lime aromas here with some gentle, grilled-hazelnut complexity at the edges. The palate has a super tight, sleek and mouthwatering style with fresh lemons and grapefruit, as well as white peaches in abundance. Impressive. Drink or hold. Screw cap." (2017 vintage)

Huon Hooke "...invested with delicious complexing notes that make it much more than a simple fruit wine. Lovely. Light yellow hue, fresh and clean; the bouquet is cashew-nutty, creamy and lightly smoky … becoming cleaner and more spicy with air. It's very fresh and vibrant with intense lemon juice flavour...." (2016 Vintage)

James Halliday “A different expression of funk that backs off somewhat having made its point, and moves into elegant mode. Nice wine.” (2016 vintage)

Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen, and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focus on crafting site expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.

Margaret River is one of the best known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined cabernet sauvignon and intensely citrusy chardonnay varieties, the region now produces high quality Semillon-Sauvignon blends and Shiraz.

Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes, Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean, to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak. Bolder, richer, full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays are made using oak and are produced in California, Burgundy, and Australia. Unoaked chardonnays such as Chablis and those produced in Chile, New Zealand, and other parts of France are leaner and often crisp and mineraly, with delicate flavors. By law, if a label says “Chablis,” it must be Chardonnay.

1 x Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris 2022 - Marlborough, New Zealand

93/100 Bob Campbell (2021 vintage)
93/100 Sam Kim (2021 vintage)
92//100 Bob Campbell (2020 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World wine Awards (2019 vintage)
Bronze - Bob Campbell (2019 vintage)
92/100 Huon Hooke (2017 vintage)
Bronze - The Wine Front (2017 vintage)
90/100 The Wine Front (2014 vintage)
90/100 The Wine Front (2013 vintage)
Bronze - Bob campbell (2013 vintage)

This acclaimed vineyard has won many awards for this wine.

Commended - International Wine Challenge (2021 vintage)
Blue-Gold - Sydney International Wine Competition (2016 vintage)
Bronze - New Zealand Wine of the Year (2016 vintage)
Pure Gold - New Zealand Wine of the Year (2015 Vintage)
Bronze - International Wine & Spirit Competition (2015 vintage)
Silver - International Wine Challenge (2014 vintage)
Pure Bronze - New Zealand Wine of the Year (2014 vintage)

Matt Ward "With lifted floral notes of elderflower, pear, cinnamon and custard. The palate is generous, where ripe fruit and texture
create richness, yet balance with very fine minerality and a touch of residual sugar to bring the wine to a memorable finish."

Bob Campbell "Attractive pinot gris that's been made with a light touch with poached pear, apple, ginger and nutty yeast lees characters. A dry wine with appealing purity and an ethereal texture" (2021 vintage)

Sam Kim "Elegant and delightfully inviting, the bouquet shows white flesh peach, Nashi pear, floral and lemon peel aromas. The palate displays excellent fruit purity and focus, combined with refined texture and bright acidity, finishing long and delicate. At its best: now to 2025."

Bob Campbell "Dry, fruity pinot gris with ripe pear, stewed apple, ginger and star anise flavours. An initial suggestion of sweetness is quickly balanced by fruity acidity giving a dry finish and adding a little tension to the wine" (2020 vintage)

Bob Campbell "Off-dry pinot gris with green pear, apple and fresh baked bread yeasty characters. Crisp and slightly hard acidity balance subtle sweetness and leave a drying finish." (2019 vintage)

Huon Hooke "The colour is very light, bright yellow and the aroma is fresh and clean, tasting quite sweet and fresh, grapy and stone-fruity, with a nectarine-like flavour that is very appealing. An easy drinking and charming gris." (2017 vintage)

Since the release of Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris, the vineyard has been consistently awarded.

The Real Review. Bob Campbell & Huan Hooke "Top 2016 Pinot Gris"

Winestate Magazine 2016 Vintage "Attractively scented, with mouth filling body and strong, ripe peach and pear-like flavours. Fresh and finely textured, with slightly mealy notes."

Malborough based award winning winery, Catalina Sounds is known for wines which harness the purity and vibrancy of Marlborough’s climate and landscape. The name Catalina Sounds evolved from the majestic Catalina flying boats that played a vital role across the South pacific during and after World War II.

Marlborough is by far New Zealand's most important wine region. Situated at the north-eastern tip of the South Island, this dry, sunny region produces around three-quarters of all New Zealand wine. It is particularly famous for its pungent, zesty Sauvignon Blanc - widely considered by critics to be the best Sauvignon currently produced anywhere on the planet. Commercial scale viticulture began in Marlborough the 1970s – it conquered the world within 25 years!

Pinot Grigio is more than just the Italian name for Pinot Gris. Although the two names refer to a single grape variety, the wine styles they represent are clearly distinct from one another.

The more refreshing Pinot Grigio style has enjoyed great success in various countries, most recently the United States, (where it is fondly nicknamed ""Greej"") and Australia. The most common descriptors of the style are ""light"", ""crisp"" and ""dry"". These characteristics are complemented by aroma notes citing lemon, green apple and blossoms.

The Grigio style is achieved by harvesting the grapes relatively early, in an attempt to retain as much fresh acidity as possible; the variety is naturally quite low in acidity. To retain freshness and ""zing"", fermentation and storage typically take place in stainless-steel tanks.

1 x Catalina Sounds Pinot Noir 2022 - Marlborough, New Zealand

91/100 Bob Campbell, The Real Review
92/100 Bob Campbell, The Real Review (2021 vintage)
Bronze - James Suckling (2021 vintage)
94/100 CamDouglas MS (2020 vintage)
92/100 Angus Hughson (2020 vintage)
90/100 Bob Campbell, The Real Review (2020 vintage)
90/100 Bob Campbell (2020 vintage)
Bronze - QWine (2020 vintage)
Bronze - New Zealand Wine Rater (2020 vintage)

5 Stars - Wine Square

Silver Decanter World Wine Awards (2021 vintage)
Bronze - International Wine Challenge (2021 vintage)
Bronze - The National Wine Awards of Aotearoa New Zealand (2021 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2020 vintage)
Bronze - National Wine Awards of Aotearoa 2022 (2020 vintage)
Bronze - Marlborough Wine Show 2021 (2020 vintage)

Bob Campbell, The Real Review "Pale pinot noir in a lighter style with violet, red cherry, vanilla, cedar and spicy oak flavours. Well-balanced wine that is a pleasure to drink now."

Bob Campbell, The Real Review "Bright, vibrant pinot noir with raspberry, red rose petal, fresh herbs, oyster shell and black cherry flavours. Impressive purity and subtle power. Definitely a candidate for the cellar. High energy wine." (2021 vintage)

James Suckling "An earthy pinot with aromas of forest floor, cherries, mushrooms and lemons with hints of licorice. Fresh and medium-bodied with easy tannins and a savory, simple finish." (2021 vintage)

Matt Ward "A bit brooding at first, this takes a minute to open up. Baking spices, blueberry and cassis, reveal lifted red fruits and cinnamon, wrapped up in toasty oak. The palate is medium bodied with juicy red cherries, soft acid and fine chalk tannins. (2020 vintage)

CamDouglas MS "Youthful, varietal, a core of fruit, dark roses and a plush enticing complexity. Equally enticing on the palate with a core of dark red berry fruit flavours - black currant, dark cherry, some plum then toasty barrel spices of clove, vanilla and a touch of cedarwood. Firm tannins and plenty of acidity provide the foundation for ageing and fruit to rest upon. Lengthy finish and a wine that is very youthful and needs cellar time." (2020 vintage)

Bob Campbell, The Real Review "Bright, fresh pinot noir with floral, rose petal, cherry and subtle spice flavours. An appealing, easy-to-drink wine, with an ethereal texture and vibrant flavours. Simple and distinctive. Good varietal definition." (2020 vintage)

Angus Hughson "perfumed aromas and sweet red fruits with a dark, earthy underbelly. Mid to deep cherry in colour, fruits are fleshy and generous. Cherry compote, damp earth and spice with toasty oak in play. The palate is then juicy and savoury – meaty, ground spice flavours over a bed of dark cherry fruits. It’s on the oaky side for pinot noir so best matched up with flavoursome dishes such as coq au vin. " (2020 vintage)

Bob Campbell "Bright, fresh pinot noir with floral, rose petal, cherry and subtle spice flavours. An appealing, easy-to-drink wine, with an ethereal texture and vibrant flavours. Simple and distinctive. Good varietal definition." (2020 vintage)

QWine "Dark cherry, blackcurrants, mushrooms, even a hint of truffle get things on the move. A drying Pinot but there's a lighter side to it. Easy drinking, you'd kick back with this riverside watching the worries of the world float by. " (2020 vintage)

New Zealand Wine Rater "A subtle bouquet with herbal, minty, meaty aroma s, showing sulphides. Dark fruit conserve, bramble, gummy bears, and blueberry notes. A medium-full bodied wine with a fruity, generous mid-palate, and plenty of acidity." (2020 vintage)

Bob Campbell "Gently seductive pinot noir with cherry, plum and other red fruit flavours together with violet, floral, fresh herb and mixed spice characters. Smooth-textured with a backbone of very fine tannins." (2019 vintage)

Marlborough based award-winning winery, Catalina Sounds is known for wines which harness the purity and vibrancy of Marlborough’s climate and landscape. The name Catalina Sounds evolved from the majestic Catalina flying boats that played a vital role across the South Pacific during and after World War II.

Marlborough is by far New Zealand's most important wine region. Situated at the north-eastern tip of the South Island, this dry, sunny region produces around three-quarters of all New Zealand wine. It is particularly famous for its pungent, zesty Sauvignon Blanc - widely considered by critics to be the best Sauvignon currently produced anywhere on the planet. Commercial-scale viticulture began in Marlborough the 1970s – it conquered the world within 25 years!

Pinot Noir is the dominant red wine grape of Burgundy, now produced in wine regions all over the world, including western Germany, northern Italy, Chile, South Africa, Australia and, perhaps most notably, California, Oregon and New Zealand.

The essence of Pinot Noir wine is its aroma of strawberry and cherry (fresh red cherries in lighter wines and stewed black cherries in weightier examples), underpinned in the most complex examples by hints of forest floor. Well-built Pinot Noirs, particularly from warmer harvests, also exhibit notes of leather and violets, sometimes approaching the flavor spectrum of Syrah.

1 x Te Mata Awatea Cabernet Merlot 2018 - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Commended - Decanter World Wine Awards (2007 Vintage)
Silver - International Wine Challenge (2007 Vintage)

95/100 Wine Enthusiast
95/100 - Huon Hooke
92/100 - Robert Parker
17/20 Jancis Robinson
95/100 Sam Kim (2017 Vintage)
94/100 The Wine Front (2017 Vintage)
93/100 Tom Cannavan (2017 Vintage)
92/100 Wine Enthusiast (2017 Vintage)

Te Mata Estate is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most important wine producers

Wine Enthusiast "This is an excellent bottling of Awatea, the younger brother of Te Mata's top red, Coleraine. From a long, warm growing season, this feels like a complete wine. Winter warming notes of plump plums, dark cherries and chocolate are complemented by a bounty of dried herbs, spices and graphite. The palate is similarly dense and structured but with elegance and balance. Tannins are powdery and fine, winding through dark, tangy fruit and herbs. Like many of Te Mata's wines, it has an old school Bordeaux vibe that will appeal more to some than to others. Christina Pickard"

Huon Hooke" Very deep, bold, bright purple/red colour leads into a superbly fragrant cabernet nose of violets, cassis, cedar and tobacco, while the palate is intense and bright, focused and elegant, with abundant fine tannins but also ready drinkabilty and superb balance. An excellent Awatea, with the structure to age and develop for many years. (48% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot, 15% cabernet franc)"

Robert Parker - "A blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Awatea Cabernets-Merlot is a bit leafy on the nose, with herbal, tobacco-tinged aromas accenting cassis and black cherries. It's medium to full-bodied and supple on the palate, finishing long, silky and mouthwatering."

Gary Walsh '...Wonderful wine. So adult, so poised and sure footed...... [Te Mata's] Coleraine most often is a fair leap ahead of Awatea, but this year they almost pack into the same scrum with equal weight. Black fruit, tobacco, dried flower perfume, cocoa with a sprinkle of baking spice. Its proudly medium-bodied, light but lithe and well-knit. Mineral feel and lead pencil savoury stuff, a little redcurrant and cool acidity, firm and dry tannin, dried herb and delightful clarity mouth-perfume, sure length and mocha in the after taste."" (2017 Vintage)

Wine Enthusiast ""Te Mata's Awatea red blend costs less than half the price of the Coleraine and yet is cut from a very similar cloth. With a little less Cabernet Sauvignon and more Merlot than the latter, along with a touch of Cabernet Franc, it's more red fruited on the nose, weaving between crushed flower petals, herbal tonic, vanilla and graphite nuances. There's a softness here that's apparent on the palate too, where a silky texture belies the power of tight-grained herbaceous tannins. More immediately approachable than the Coleraine, it could nevertheless cellar until 2029."" (2017 Vintage)

Sam Kim ""Wonderfully composed and elegantly expressed with loads of delectable flavours, superbly structured by polished tannins. Delicious already with a potential to evolve gracefully......The wine offers splendid juicy fruit attack on the nose, showing dark plum and raspberry coulis characters with nuances of toasted almond, thyme and mixed spice. The palate is succulent and beautifully rounded, offering lovely flow and supple texture."" (2017 Vintage)

The Winemaker ""glimmers with bright raspberry, cherry and blackberry sparkling over mocha, cedar and spice.....Aromas of red and dark berry fruit, flashes of boysenberry and espresso on the palate, and a classical, super-fine, tannin structure running through to its long finish..."" (2017 Vintage)

Tom Cannavan "A touch more floral and lifted than the 2016, a bit of tapenade, racy cherry and raspberry, the same fruit complexity of red over dark, but super-juicy, a squirt of lemon juice and edgy, energetic flavours are crisp and fresh in the finish over black fruit." (2017 Vintage)

World of Fine Wine 'Getting to know a legend' ""A visit to one of the world’s greatest fine-wine estates should be an integral part of any tour of New Zealand. On the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island is the independently owned, family-run, Te Mata Estate. Owners and staff still work on vineyards that began growing Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir back in the 1890s, making it the country’s oldest wine estate. Since 1905, this winery has been winning gold medals globally, which led to these sites becoming the country’s first to be protected by law due to their viticultural history. Te Mata Estate wines are currently available in 45 countries and have been presented at some of the world’s top tables— including to President Barrack Obama, President Xi Jinping, and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.""

Raymond Chan ""Te Mata Estate was the standard by which every other wine producer could be judged against, as the full range of styles has always been impeccable. In the earlier days, Hawke’s Bay was the scene of New Zealand’s quality wine, so it was very apt to have Te Mata Estate as the point of reference. Even when other regions developed, and Marlborough grew larger, and other varietals such as Pinot Noir became important, one could understand the state of the New Zealand wine industry by how Te Mata Estate behaved or reacted to influences, whether internal, or international.""

Te Mata Estate is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most important wine producers. It is New Zealand's oldest winery, oldest wine estate and has the oldest winery cellars in the country - in continuous operation since 1895. Coleraine is Te Mata's most acclaimed wine and is often regarded as New Zealand's best red wine.

Hawke's Bay is located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island in and around the cities of Napier, Hastings and Havelock North. This historic region has New Zealand's second-largest wine industry (after Marlborough) and is highly regarded for its red Bordeaux Blend wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay are all planted widely across the region. Over the years, the region has won international acclaim for its very high-quality Bordeaux-style reds and full-bodied Chardonnays. Syrah, produced in a classic European style with strong black-pepper flavors, is another grape variety thought to have great potential here.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot wines are made from two of the world's most famous and most widely grown wine grapes. The pair form the foundation of many of the great wines of Bordeaux, where this classic blend (often dubbed ""Bordeaux Blend"") is thought to have originated. For centuries, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have been the quintessential Bordeaux wine grapes, but their fame and popularity have now taken them far beyond the banks of the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde, to the furthest reaches of the wine world.

In California the blend is often labeled as Meritage – providing the producer meets the requirements of the Meritage Alliance. The Australian regions of Coonawarra, Margaret River and Yarra Valley are highly regarded for their unique expressions of the blend. A Bordeaux Blend is any combination of those grape varieties typically used to make the red wines of Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon is widely accepted as a compulsory component of any Bordeaux Blend along with Merlot. In fact, the majority of Bordeaux Blend wines are often made exclusively from a blend of these two varieties. The remaining components are Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.