The flagship wine of the Te Motu estate on Waiheke Island. This is a hand-harvested Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend with Merlot and Cabernet Franc in supporting roles. A dark garnet red in the glass, with some brick red to the rim, showing age to the colour. The bouquet has equal parts sweet and savoury – with cassis, cherry and dark plum fruits up front, then mushroom, loam and dried provencal herbs underneath. Very sleek into the palate, with an elegance and integration coming from the balance of supple tannin, sprinkling of oak and depth of fruit – honed by the quarter-century slumber in bottle. There is both precision and generosity here, and it shows in the harmony and length of flavour on the finish. 97pts
Te Motu 1997
