Awatea Cabernets/Merlot ’20 is a dark royal ruby; a bright purple glow at its edge. Immediate classical aromas of walnut and polished cedar shimmer amongst wild blackberry, currants, marzipan, and dusty sun-baked gravel. On the palate, sparkling red and black summer-fruits entwine with brilliant red roses, high notes of vanilla, and silky dark-chocolate tannin. Savoury, bright, sustained and sumptuous, Awatea Cabernets/Merlot ’20 simply shines.

Awatea takes its name from the historic ship SS Awatea (a Maori word meaning “Eye of the Dawn”) that sailed the Auckland – Sydney – Wellington route in the late 1930s. The Awatea was requisitioned as troop transport in WWII and was sunk off Algeria in 1942.

The separate parcels of grapes were destemmed before a traditional warm-plunged fermentation and extended maceration on skins. The resulting wines were then run to new and seasoned French oak barrels for ageing. Throughout this time, they were regularly topped and racked. The separate wines were blended in January, then returned to barrel for their second winter. The finished wine was then egg white fined and bottled in November 2021. The final blend is 54% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot and 12% cabernet franc.

54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. Havelock Hills, Hawke's Bay.

14% abv.