August 7, 2025
Te Mata Awatea 2023 - a 96-pointed wine punching well above it's weight
2023 Awatea by Te Mata
We love discovering wines that punch well above their weight, and today’s offer is a perfect example. Awarded a very respectable 96 points by The Wine Advocate, it delivers serious quality for just €23.50* IB per bottle—proof that great wine doesn’t need a grand price tag.
96 Points - Wine Advocate
“Aromatically, this wine is thrilling: dusty cassis, bramble, raspberry pip, blood/iodine, sweet tobacco, raw cocoa, violet perfume, tarragon and fennel and a hint of hazelnut/nutmeg. […] It is a magnificent wine and a tremendous value."
- Erin Larkin
Last week we offered Te Mata Coleraine—one of our favourite Bordeaux blends from New Zealand and the flagship of the estate. Normally, we pass over the rest of the range in favour of the top cuvées, but in 2023, Awatea is simply too good to overlook. This vintage demands attention and deserves a spot in any serious collection.
Named after the SS Awatea—an elegant 1930s ocean liner whose name means “Eye of the Dawn” in Maori—this wine reflects both heritage and finesse. Aged for 15 months in French oak, it is crafted to showcase the classic varietals of Hawke’s Bay: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Rather than power, Awatea offers precision and poise, with Merlot leading the blend in a style that is refined and expressive.
Awatea opens with vibrant dark berry fruit, graphite, and delicate floral notes, underpinned by silky tannins and fresh acidity. Its medium-bodied frame makes it instantly appealing, while the wine’s polish and structure promise graceful evolution over the next decade. A benchmark for value in New Zealand reds, Awatea consistently delivers a level of quality and charm that far outpaces its price point—perfect for both early drinking and thoughtful cellaring.
Awarded its highest-ever score from The Wine Advocate—96 points from Erin Larkin—Awatea 2023 is not only a magnificent wine, but also a remarkable value. At €23.50* IB per bottle, we see this as an unmissable buy. Grab it while you can.
Te Mata Awatea 2023
€23.50* In Bond per bottle
96 Points | Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin
The 2023 Awatea Cabernets Merlot comprises 52% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. Aromatically, this wine is thrilling: dusty cassis, bramble, raspberry pip, blood/iodine, sweet tobacco, raw cocoa, violet perfume, tarragon and fennel and a hint of hazelnut/nutmeg. In the mouth, the wine is savory, structural, spicy and chewy, with a ductile splay of tannin that moves across the palate and through the finish. The palate speaks of structure and shape, while the fruit is mostly on the nose at this early stage. This will evolve beautifully in bottle over time, and as the bottle I am tasting here today was bottled four weeks ago, no doubt your bottle will look more polished and sleek. As it is, I love it, but I am sure I will like it more in time. It is a magnificent wine and a tremendous value. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under 44-millimeter Diam 10 cork (usually it's a 44-millimeter natural cork). Next year it will be a 49-millimeter Diam 10 cork.
*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.