Awatea '15 - 'Chewy satisfaction and a little flamboyance in every mouthful... Love this.' 94 Points

Awatea '15 ★★★★1/2 'Bell-clear, pristine, beautifully made and fresh as a daisy. Very elegant and finely textured.' 93 Points

Awatea '15 'Violet, bay leaf, black fruit, almost liquorice, mocha, baking spices and cedar. Medium bodied, black fruit laced with liquorice and tobacco, a fleshy mass of tannin and dark chocolate, cool clean acidity, and very long fi nish, all black tea and perfume in the aftertaste. Chewy satisfaction and a little fl amboyance in every mouthful. Love this.' 94 POINTS

Awatea '15 - ★★★★★ 'Proper and refined, beautifully detailed and composed.' 94 Points

'With some of the country’s finest wines on its books there’s little doubt that Hawke’s Bay can produce outstanding-quality reds and whites. You’ll now find Hawke’s Bay wines in Michelin restaurants from Paris to Monaco.'

Awatea '15 ★★★★★ - 'Fragrant and full-bodied with rich blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, this complex, savoury red is already a lovely mouthful.' WINE OF THE WEEK

'My benchmark. Te Mata Estate is the standard by which every other wine producer could be judged. The full range of styles has always been impeccable.'

Awatea Cabernets/Merlot '15 ★★★★★ - 'Very elegant red with a great texture and dense, concentrated floral, berry and subtle oak flavours... a serious red at a frivolous price.' 95/100

Awatea '15- "Ripeness and oak is played to perfection." 94 points

'If there was Kiwi wine aristocracy, Te Mata would be it. Nestled in the foothills of the Te Mata heritage zone, they make some of the best wines in the country. Independent, family-owned, exclusively Hawke's Bay, and committed to making premium wine on site.'

Awatea '14 - '2013 was an outstanding vintage for New Zealand's answer to the Médoc and northern Rhône rolled into one: Hawke's Bay ... 2014 is thought of as potentially even better than the outstanding 2013.'

Awatea '14 ★★★★★ - 'Bright, fresh red with red and blue berries, pepper and subtle leafy flavours plus a seasoning of spicy oak.' 92 Points

Awatea '14 - 'One of this country’s leading pioneers of full bodied red wines.' ★★★★ RED HOT

Awatea '14 - 'Ripe, plump, rounded and with generous fruit in the mouth, it delivers a firm backbone of ripe tannins and refreshing acidity, finishing with great persistence.' 92 Points

Awatea '14 - 'Intense and focused, long and emphatic wine. Very cellarworthy.' 95 Points

Awatea '14- 'This is very fine and elegantly concentrated, with refined blackcurranty aromas, the fruit definitely in the cool-spectrum, but edgy and poised and with undeniable polish...' 18.5/20

Awatea '14 - 'Forward, dark fruits perfectly balanced with a texture and classic Hawkes Bay dusty, rich blackberry and bay leaf aromas. Easy forward drinking.'

'Structure, tannin,drive. It has it all. Great wine. 94/100

'This offers exceptional value for a premium wine. Compelling and gratifying, yet it’s not over done or blowsy. The fabulously appealing bouquet shows blackberry, dark plum, dried herb and roasted nut characters, followed by a succulent palate that exhibits fine, grainy texture and a super-long finish. The wine is brilliantly polished and framed, and destined to develop gracefully. At its best: 2017 to 2029.' 95 points ★★★★★

'Full, even black-red colour with youthful purple hues. This has a tightly concentrated, penetrating nose of ripe blackberry, blackcurrant and redcurrant fruit aromas unfolding cassis, dark herb, liquorice and minerally detail. The aromatics are presented with precision, focus and depth. Medium-full bodied, the palate is very firmly concentrated with a deep core of ripe black and red berry fruits. Complexing herb, leaf, tobacco and black plum flavours add to an array that blossoms with richness and vibrancy. The tannins are very refined and powdery, providing plenty of structure and support, building and growing in prominence, and carried by refreshing lacy acidity to a long and sustained finish.' ★★★★★

'90 Points - Awatea Cabernets/Merlot ‘13 - A textbook Cabernet Merlot blend with black berry fruit aromas. Offering notes of plum and blackberry. Tannins are soft and well-supported by the cedary oak characters on the finish. Complex and full of flavours.'

Awatea '12- 'A small amount of Coleraine made from this vintage ended up here. The wine shows pristine aromas of red fruit and floral with hints of dried herb and roasted nut complexity. It’s elegant and flowing on the palate with excellent detail, backed by finely drying chalky tannins. Wonderful structure and length.' 92 points

Awatea '12- 'Dark, deep, black-hearted red with youthful purple hues on rim. This has an elegant and fragrant nose of redcurrants and nuances of blackberry fruit along with lifted blackcurrant confectionary elements, dark plums and dark red perfumes. Fine-grained, sinewy tannins provide a dry, textural line that carries the flavours to a bright, dry, fresh finish.' 17.5/20 ★★★★

'Awatea '11 - classy, more forward than Coleraine.' ★★★★★

'In true Awatea form, this vintage offers youthful charm as well as potential for graceful development. The bouquet is fragrant showing red/black plum, cassis, floral and hints of game and dried herbs. It’s flowing and textured on the palate with lovely mid-palate weight and fine chalky tannins providing excellent frame and balance. A beautiful expression of Awatea.' 94 points ★★★★★

'Very dark, deep, ruby-red colour with lighter purple hues on edge. The bouquet is marked by fragrant and lifted aromas of blackcurrants, fresh herbs and dark red florals and currants, along with youthful esters. This speaks of Cabernet Franc on the nose. Tight and elegant, a fresh herbal note indicates some cooler spectrum expression. Medium-bodied, this is stylishly tight and elegant in size, with earthy plum and tobacco-like Merlot prominent. The fruit is enlivened by driving acidity, and framed by dusty, fine-grained tannins. There is good concentration and linearity to the mouthfeel, with moderate richness and fleshiness, but good raciness on the finish. A fragrant, elegant and fresh wine, this should develop over the next 5-7 years, to show more cedary complexities.' ★★★★

'Te Mata Estate - Four stars out of four. Grand and prestigious. Especially good within it’s price range.'

'A classy, highly refined red, it is fragrant and deeply coloured, with loads of plummy, spicy flavour, hints of leather and buts and obvious cellaring potential. Savoury and harmonious, with good tannin backbone, it offers top value.' Classic ★★★★★

Awatea '10- 'Dark purple red with a bouquet of concentrated, cedar, cassis, rose hip nuances and a rich evocative scent like new suede, opening up in the glass to display more and more purfume with time. A youthful wine to the taste with mocha notes, cedary spice, blackberry, boysenberry and cherry fruit, fine tannins and a gorgeous vinosity that is rich, long and deep.'

'Looking gorgeous. Pristine and fragrant with red plum, blueberry and floral aromas with a hint of spice oak. It’s beautifully focused and textured on the palate showing lovely weight and an exquisite, long finish. The more I looked at it, the better it became.'

Awatea '10- 'A classy, very refined blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot, fragrant and deeply coloured, with loads of plummy, spicy flavour, hints of leather and nuts, and obvious cellaring potential.Top value.' ★★★★★

'Te Mata Awatea 2010 ($38) surprised me how good it looked. A young wine needing 10 years or more to develop fully, this was looking gorgeous already. No doubt it will age well too. The wine is pristine and fragrant with red plum, blueberry and floral aromas with a hint of spice oak. It's beautifully focused and textured on the palate showing lovely weight and an exquisite, long finish. The more I looked at it, the better it became.'

'Just when you thought you’ve tried the best Awatea (2007), comes this exceptional 2009 wine. The nose is beautifully fragrant and primary, displaying red/black fruits and floral characters with hints of vanilla, game and cedar notes. The wine is pristine and structured with graceful power.' 95 points

Awatea '09- 'A lighter purple red, with raspberries, baked bread and cassis. The hallmark of this wine though was the incredible focus, soft red fruit tannins and blackberries and long finish.' 19.5/20

Awatea '09- 'Aromas of Indian spice, sandalwood, cloves and cumin seed over warm blackberries and cassis plus hints of cigar box and cedar. Full bodied with muscular fruit and a good amount of spicy berry flavors in the mouth, it has firm grainy tannins, crisp acid and a long, elegant finish.' 92 points

Awatea '09- 'Lively, bright and luciously juicy flavours unfold. The palate is one of finesse and fine-grained textures.' 18.5/20 ★★★★★

Awatea '09- 'Lovely big cassis and plum fruit flavours with hints of mint, floral and spice interwoven with classy oak. Fruit-focused, chewy red with a lengthy finish. Deliciously drinkable now but with plenty of ripe tannins. Clearly a great vintage for Awatea.' 95 points

'Lovely big cassis and plum fruit flavours with hints of mint, floral and spice interwoven with classy oak. Fruit-focused, chewy red with a lengthy finish. Deliciously drinkable now but with plenty of ripe tannins. Clearly a great vintage for Awatea.' 93/100

"The 2008 Awatea is fragrant and fruit-driven, with a warm and open-hearted personality."

Awatea '08- 'A particularly fragrant season shines through in lifted blackcurrant and rose petal nuances. A wine of finesse and integration, it’s drinking well now, but don’t hesitate to put a few down for the medium-term.'

Awatea '08- "A New Zealand red that always lives up to its pedigree. This is a good example of Hawke's Bay's take on the Bordeaux-style blend."

Awatea '08- 'Fresh and complex. Medoc-like in character. The palate is fine and long, showing flavours like blackcurrant, plum and bay leaf.'

'I didn’t mean to taste/consume this Te Mata Awatea cabernet blend over three nights – but I’m glad I did. Kept getting better and better. It’s easy to be anti-oak, but when it tastes as good as it does here – I mean, really, let’s not fuss about it. It tastes gorgeous. Its cedary, smoky characters are matched of course to dusty, chewy, blueberry and blackcurrant flavours and best of all, it has a dry, tobacco-like edge. It’s fresh and polished and acidic; it needs a good lie down. Tannin is ripe and bold. All told, a classy wine. 93 points.'

Awatea '08- 'Strong sweet fruit with plump, ripe berry, plum, spice, tobacco and floral flavours. An impressively dense wine with layers of flavours that nicely envelope a classy oak influence. Accessible and very attractive.'

'Dark, deep, black-red with purple hues, this was elegant on nose with lovely fragrant blackcurrant aromas, quite pure in expression and supported by subtle oak. An elegant wine in mouthfeel, this was still tight with fine-grained tannins behind pure blackcurrant varietal fruit, beautifully knit and balanced. This will cellar well over the next 7-10 years.' 18.5/20

Awatea '08- 'Very classic in style with superb balance. There is definitely a nod to the Old World here. Well-crafted and very ‘true’. 92 points

Awatea '08- 'Very ripe aromas, lots of blackcurrant with tobacco leaf nuances in the Bordeaux style. The wine is medium bodied, elegant and tight, with abundant powdery tannins.' Highly recommended

'Youthful and charming with pleasantly drying tannins.'

'The baby Coleraine is called Awatea and at half the price of the flagship wine, it represents good value. The 2008 Awatea is fragrant and fruit-driven, with a warm and open-hearted personality.'

'Very ripe aromas, lots of blackcurrant with tobacco leaf nuances in the Bordeaux style. The wine is medium bodied, elegant and tight, with abundant powdery tannins.' Highly recommended

'Fresh and complex. It’s not big but it’s quite Medoc-like in character. The palate is fine and long, showing flavours like blackcurrant, plum and bay leaf.' Highly Recommended

'The best Awatea yet ... fruit driven and full of charm ... and, like Coleraine, superbly ripe fruit flavours.'

Awatea '07- 'It opens up to really fragrant cassis and blue fruits, some bright fragrant notes and brambly leaves. The palate is medium weight with fine, concentrated tannins that wrench purple fruit flavour into the tongue, balanced already in its youth.'

'The ’07 Awatea is the more startling, because it’s probably the best Awatea yet – certainly the best I can recall. It is more accessible, less tannic, more fruit driven and full of charm, especially if you give it some air. Very good concentration, soft tannins, moderate oak and, like Coleraine, superbly ripe fruit flavours in the dark-berry spectrum, without any herbaceousness. I’d expect it to also cellar 15years.'

'Probably the best ‘Awatea’ ever. Very dark, deep, black, purple red in colour, this had beautifully ripened black and red fruit aromas, classical blackcurrant and cassis and blueberry elements on nose and palate. A wine of great concentration, this had layers of fruit flavours interwoven, with perfect oak background. Classically structured with elegance, yet concentration, and a very long finish. This will handle two decades in the bottle.' 19/20

'Aromatic blackcurrant, spice and tobacco notes meld into a densely flavoured palate which displays fine, dusty tannins and a long, persistent finish. Cellar for at least 4-5 years, As with the Bullnose, undoubtedly the best release of this wine to date.' Outstanding

Awatea '07- "8pts ... very elegant, refined, supple palate with acid integration and tannin support."

Elston '07 and Awatea '06 both featured in Matthew Jukes Top 60

Awatea '06- "Quite possibly the best Awatea so far ... classic Bordeaux-like style with regional Hawke's Bay gravel ... superb"

'Awatea 2006 is a standout this year, with pronounced black currant and mint aromas, firm yet fleshy tannins and a long, long finish.'

'Coleraine '06. The palate is classy: some dense fi ne tannins, super smooth, almost St-Emilion-like; the overall impression is supple with the grace, power and elegance to age handsomely. 96 points."

'Awatea is a standout this year, with pronounced black currant and mint aromas, firm yet fleshy tannins and a long, long finish. Like Coleraine, Awatea’s proportions of merlot and cabernet sauvignon are roughly equal, with a slightly higher percentage of cabernet franc with a dash of petit verdot.'

'Awatea '05 - long regarded as New Zealand’s greatest red wine producer, this is your swanky red limousine. Black raspberry, cassis and satsuma plum interwoven with mocha and anise. Classic structure and fine-grained tannin profile.' 92 points

Awatea '02- 'Excellent. It displays a nose of herb-laced cassis and blackberries. Armed with excellent depth, concentration and extract, this long, pure, powerful effort coats the taster’s palate with herbs blueberries and asphalt.' 89 points

Awatea '00- 'Blackberry, blackcurrant cabernet with crushed-leaf and crème de cassis high notes. Medium to full-bodied, with lovely style and balance.'

'Blended in much the same proportions as its close and classy relative, the much-valued Te Mata Coleraine, with just a jot of petit verdot. Also an elegant and complex wine, fragrantly spiced and richly fruited with blackberry, plums.'

'Perhaps it is the Petit Verdot, which is rare in New Zealand and isn’t used in Coleraine, that gives this wine’s bouquet its edge of wild characters. Long smooth and savoury... a popular wine.'

'Awatea is a blend of 52% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot, 16% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. It has a hint of smokiness behind the predominant aromas of blackberries and currants and a healthy dash of leather from the merlot. Its flavour profile is earthy and well focused.'

'Already highly approachable, Te Mata Awatea Cabernet/Merlot 2000 is scented and supple with lingering, complex flavours.' ★★★★

'1999 Te Mata Awatea and the 1999 Te Mata Coleraine is built to last.They are concentrated, rich serious and tannically well-endowed. They are like Old World cabernets.'

'Ripe, aromatic blackberry and fine oak fragrance mark this as a beauty, and it has the elegant palate and lingering, careful tannins to fulfil its promise.'

'Has a delightful fragrance of plums and wild blackberries with a hint of smoke. It’s richly tannic and lingering sweet berry fruit enhanced with creamy, cedary oak that remains in the mouth for ages. Recommended for medium term aging 5-7 years.'

Plums, spice and a suggestion of chocolate suit me just fine on the nose. It’s an approachable, mouthfilling wine with good mid-palate richness and a sweet-fruited finish.

'Dark black red, impenetrable in colour, this had a bouquet of dusty, earth and leather with cedar, quite secondary now. The palate was full, firm and structured, quite dry and the fruit behind the extraction. Still showing body and grip, this will hold in a more austere style for some time yet.' 17.5/20