Te Mata, Estate Vineyards Cabernets Merlot, Hawke's Bay

Plums. Red currant. Bit of tobacco & spice.

Nothing te mata with it. Give it an hour. Food wine.

Plums and morello cherries on the palate. Not very long or complex though and is not going to develop much more, so drink up. There is a huge difference between the Te Mata labels.

Nose of blackcurrant, mint. Medium weight, juicy and fresh. Cassis, raspberry, beetroot. Still very juicy and primary.

Dark intense garnet with edge fading. Opaque but bright. It's got an interesting nose - mint, must, blackcurrant leaf - which i guess comes from the two cabs working together. The attack is juicy and fresh at first, with a good tannic follow up. Cassis, raspberry, beetroot, teabag, nettle. Spice on the finish, which is longish. Good. And plenty time yet. Like it.

Pleasant. Opens up in the glass but perhaps needs more time.

Decent red wine. Quite fresh and elegant. Black fruits, some redcurrant. Fine acidity. Bit short and lacking excitement.

Lots of black currant & plums. Some tobacco notes. Smooth mouthfeel. Slightly dusty but well integrated tannins.

Agree with Oneforthestairs' comments. Big blackcurrant and plum flavours lifted by acidity. Tannins well-integrated. Finish is almost creamy/caramel but not too sweet. Very moreish, quite long and good value

Dense and bright with a purple rim. Nose is attractive - dusty leaves and currant, some smoke. In the mouth, medium to full. Tannins are fine. Tastes strongly of blackcurrant, plum, with a sprinkling of herbs and a bit of tarry liquorice at the end. Drying. Juicy and moreish: the fruity attack seems to demand a good swallow rather than a sip. No hurry, I am interested to see how it develops.

First impression too alcoholic, after some aeration, the wine gained some body and a bit of fatness, but stayed a bit too skinny and missed personality/character to become really charming.