Te Mata Estate Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2020

Te Mata is the oldest legal winery in New Zealand and have been making wines off their estate vineyards since 1896. This wine is drawn from one of those ancient estate vineyards in Hawke’s Bay. We’ve offered their Sauvignon Blanc before, but unlike most wineries in NZ, Te Mata is actually known for making the best Red wines in the country.

Their ridiculously high quality across the board is what earned them statements such as Decanter calling them, “New Zealand’s First Growth” and Robert Parker, Jr. calling them “New Zealand’s greatest winery.” Then there’s wines like today’s Hawke’s Bay Syrah, a highly rated, super fun drinking Syrah that are so good that Jancis Robinson even called Te Mata, “a national treasure.”

Using mainly Syrah from their famous Bullnose Vineyard in the revered Bridge Pa Triangle, and the now famous Gimblett Gravels, this one comes roaring right out the gates. It’s powerful, yet not clunky – it’s structurally sound and well balanced with red and black fruits and spicy notes.