Winery - Te Awa
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Despite this wine’s ample weight, it lacks a bit of generosity, instead leaving behind dry, minerally impressions of pencil shavings and citrus fruits.
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Te Awa Chardonnay - 2005
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Fresh and appealing, this unoaked offering from Te Awa doesn’t feature a lot of complexity, but pleases for its straightforward pineapple and citrus flavors.
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Te Awa Chardonnay - 2006
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This wine’s supple, silky mouthfeel is a treat, as is the impressively long finish, so if you can tolerate some pretty herbal Cabernet aromas and flavors, give this a shot. There’s plenty of chocolate and cassis, but also a distracting bell pepper nuance. Ready to drink, although it should also hold well for at least the next few years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is a supple, medium-bodied red wine that shows none of the green flavors that often mark Hawke’s Bay reds. Coffee and cola notes suggest plenty of ripeness, while the flavors are more red fruited, with a dark, earthy undercurrent.
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Te Awa Merlot - 2004
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
For all of this wine’s 14.5% alcohol, it’s not that rich, instead presenting a medium-bodied, elegant palate feel. Hints of violets and cracked pepper are attractive on the nose, easily marrying with the wine’s flavors of black olive, meat, sour plum and slightly pruny notes. Tasted twice, with consistent results.
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Te Awa Syrah - 2004
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A distinctly different style of Sauvignon Blanc than that found in Marlborough, this is riper and rounder, with more potential for evolution in the bottle. Notes of citrus custard mark the bouquet, while the flavors veer toward melon and fig, with hints of peach or nectarine. It’s velvety textured, and long on the finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The style of Te Awa’s Sauvignon Blanc has remained refreshingly true to its Hawke’s Bay origins, combining ripe fruit with a proportion of barrel fermentation to yield a wine with stone-fruit flavors, a rich texture and hints of vanilla. It should hold at least 3–4 years—unusually long by NZ Savvy standards.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Te Awa’s Bordeaux-style red is a blend of 68% Merlot and 16% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Dried herb, plum and mocha notes give an almost St.-Emilion flavor to the wine, but the fruit is definitively New World in style. Supple and creamy enough to drink now, but should also hold a few years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A lovely departure from most New Zealand Sauvignons, Te Awa’s version offers ripe fruit—peaches and nectarines—brushed with a touch of oak. Relatively full-bodied, with grilled-fruit flavors that bring summer immediately to mind.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Like many Hawke’s Bay producers, Te Awa is experimenting with Syrah; this bottling features bold blackberry fruit with just a hint of peppery spice. Big, round and lush in the mouth, it’s easy to drink and easy to like. Better still is the Zone 2 Syrah (aged in no new oak) that has been bottled separately—limited quantities of that wine may be available this fall.
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Te Awa Syrah - 2004
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