Te Mata Estate Vineyard Cabernet Merlot 2020 - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

93/100 James Suckling
93/100 James Suckling (2018 vintage)
91/100 Tom Cannavan (2018 vintage)
90/100 Decanter (2018 vintage)
91/100 Decanter (2016 vintage)
90/100 Bob Campbell, The Real Review (2016 vintage)

James Suckling "I like the distinct pencil lead and graphite character here, with dark plums, bramble, dried herbs and black tea. Medium-bodied with a fine tannin frame. Linear.... excellent varietal expression. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc."

James Suckling "There’s a very attractive, cedary edge to this with red cherries, redcurrants and blueberries, as well as darker plum and cocoa notes. The palate is so composed and fresh and has a vivid, detailed and neatly layered feel." (2018 vintage)

Tom Cannavan "Bold crimson, lithe and cherryish, moving into cassis, but bright, bold and perfumed. Lovely dry palate, the medium-bodied black and red fruits against firm but silky and sandy tannins and well-judge acidity, finishes long on sweet fruit and acidity." (2018 vintage)

Decanter "Te Mata is one of the great names of Hawke's Bay, which is a region well-known for its Bordeaux blends. This blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc with Merlot is still a baby, with the potential to age for at least another four or five years. Cedary, toasty oak, cocoa, blackcurrant and forest fruits. This is a big and structured mouthful which would appeal to anyone looking for a New World alternative to claret." (2018 vintage)

Decanter "Leafy notes, with dark berries on the palate. Great acidity and a tannic framework." (2016 vintage)

Bob Campbell, The Real Review "Aged in French oak, 10% new. Elegant, supple red with sweet berry-fruit flavours together supported by fresh herb and spicy oak flavours. An accessible well-made red that's worth drinking now" (2016 vintage)

45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol: 13.5%

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.