Te Mata - Merlot / Cabernets 2020
Te Mata Estate is located in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand 's North Island. This independent family winery is the oldest in New Zealand , operating since 1896. Te Mata Estate was originally part of Te Mata Station, a large pastoral property established by an English immigrant, John Chambers , in 1854. After On his return from France, John Chambers' third son, Bernard, came up with the idea of planting vines on the north-facing hills around Havelock North. In 1892 he planted vines on three hillside plots above the farm and converted the original stables to ferment and age the first Te Mata estate wines. The Chambers family sold the property in 1919 and the Buck and Morris families acquired it in 1974. The estate is today managed by the Buck family : John Buck (former president of the Wine Institute of New Zealand) and his three sons Jonathan, Nick and Tobias. Te Mata Estate is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainability through the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) program.
Te Mata Estate 2020 is a blend of Merlot (52%), Cabernet Sauvignon (28%), Cabernet Franc (16%) and Petit Verdot (4%) . The plots and grape varieties are vinified separately. The grapes are destemmed before traditional hot fermentation, followed by prolonged skin maceration. The wines obtained were pressed, returned to vats for malolactic fermentation, then transferred to new French oak barrels for aging for 12 months before blending.
Grape varieties: 52% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
