Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernet Merlot 2004 Saturday, Jan 5 2008
Tasting Notes and New Zealand and Hawke's Bay and Variety and Red and cabernet et al
This is a blend of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot and 13% Petit Verdot and I grabbed a bottle (last year I think) from the Auckland duty free to give it a whizz at some stage. Last night seemed as good a night as any for a bit of whizzing so we took it out to dinner and had it with some Chinese roast duck.
Aromas of blackcurrant and weak raspberry cordial, dusty cigar box and some green leafy smells. On the palate medium bodied with blueberry and blackcurrant fruit that comes across looking a bit confected, some cedar oak and leafy green flavours. It has light tannins that are again slightly green and hard and don’t provide sufficient shape. On the positive side it is quite refined and classically styled which makes for easy drinking and food friendliness. Pleasant but not great.
Rated : 89 Points
Tasted : Jan08
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $35
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2007 - 2010
Source : Retail
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One Response to “Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernet Merlot 2004”
January 5th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Hmm, had the 2005 a little while ago and, from your note, I’d say the more recent wine might be more satisfying, in that I didn’t detect any leafy/unripe characters, nor did the fruit seem confected. The style of this wine seems, as you point out, designed for easy drinking, and it’s not highly structured by any means.