ESTABLISHED IN 1896, TE MATA ESTATE REMAINS FAMILY OWNED, PRODUCING INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED WINES EXCLUSIVELY FROM ITS HISTORIC, HAWKE’S BAY VINEYARDS.
Estate Grown. Estate Bottled. Estate Wines.
Merlot / Cabernets 2014 Estate Vineyards
SOURCED EXCLUSIVELY FROM TE MATA ESTATE’S OWN VINEYARDS, THE ESTATE VINEYARDS WINES REPRESENT THE BEST QUALITIES OF THEIR VARIETY, VINTAGE, AND HAWKE’S BAY ORIGIN.
VINEYARDS
The grapes for Estate Vineyards Merlot/Cabernets ’14 were harvested between 10 March and 3 April 2014 from Te Mata Estate’s own vineyards in the Bridge Pa Triangle, Havelock Hills and Woodthorpe Terraces sub-regions of Hawke’s Bay.
WINEMAKING
The individual parcels of each variety, from each plot, were de-stemmed before a traditional warm fermentation, followed by extended maceration on skins. The resulting wines were pressed, returned to tank for malolactic fermentation, then run off to a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels for 8 months’ maturation before blending. The wines were regularly topped and racked, throughout maturation, blended and traditionally egg-white ned before bottling. The nal blend is 50% merlot, 27% cabernet sauvignon and 23% cabernet franc.
TASTING NOTE
Estate Merlot/Cabernets ’14 is an intense deep crimson with fragrant boysenberry, blackberries and dark fruit. Notes of vanilla and cedar, rich plum and cherry unfold in re ned, complex layers. A core of ripe sweet fruit runs through this classic blend. Mouth- watering and sophisticated, the soft ne espresso tannins give his stunning wine considerable ageing potential.
FOOD MATCH
Estate Vineyards Merlot/Cabernets ’14 is a wonderful accompaniment to hard cheeses and anything that once lived in a eld.
CELLARING POTENTIAL
Estate Vineyards Merlot/Cabernets ’14 will continue to evolve in bottle for three to six years from harvest.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS AT BOTTLING
pH: 3.60
Total acidity as tartaric: 5，7g/l
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: Dry