Te Mata Estate Merlot Cabernets 2025

Te Mata Estate Merlot Cabernets brings polished Hawke's Bay character without demanding a special occasion. Merlot leads the blend with generous blackberry, red currant and plum, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc add graphite, bay leaf, black olive and a subtle cedar note. The palate is concentrated yet composed, with fine-grained tannins, savoury complexity and a long, dry finish. Made entirely from Te Mata Estate vineyards, this is a versatile red with the fruit to enjoy now and the structure to develop further. Pour it alongside grilled lamb, mushroom dishes or a well-stocked cheeseboard.

What the winery says:

The 2025 blend is 52% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc, harvested from Te Mata Estate vineyards across the Havelock Hills, Bridge Pa Triangle, Dartmoor, Havelock North and Gimblett Gravels. Each parcel was destemmed and traditionally warm fermented, followed by extended skin contact and malolactic fermentation. The wines matured in a combination of new and seasoned French oak barrels before blending, egg-white fining and bottling. Te Mata describes a vibrant, layered wine with concentrated dark berry fruit, savoury detail and a taut, extended frame, with cellaring potential for five years from harvest.

What the experts say

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 5 Stars and 93/100 (2023)
“Beautifully fruited with elegant complexity, the wine shows Black Doris plum, blueberry, floral, thyme, and toasted almond characters on the nose. The palate delivers succulent fruit intensity with supple texture and polished tannins, making it robust and silky at the same time with a long, pleasing dry finish. At its best: now to 2033.”