Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Reserve
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 12 years from the vintage release, as the robust tannins soften and complex tertiary notes of cedar, tobacco, and leather develop.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Classic roast leg of lamb with rosemary, grilled ribeye steak with garlic butter, or aged hard cheeses such as Cheddar or Gouda.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Villa Maria, founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, has played a pioneering role in putting New Zealand's red wines on the global stage. This Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is sourced from the sun-drenched, stony soils of Hawke's Bay, particularly the renowned Gimblett Gravels district. Here, ancient riverbeds of gravel absorb the daytime heat and radiate it back to the vines at night, allowing these late-ripening Bordeaux varieties to achieve optimal phenolic maturity. The blend typically marries the structure and cassis-driven profile of Cabernet Sauvignon with the fleshy, plum-forward character of Merlot. Aged in French oak barriques, this wine represents a harmonious balance of New World fruit intensity and Old World structural elegance, reflecting Hawke's Bay's reputation as a premier region for Bordeaux-style blends.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich in Auckland, Villa Maria has grown from a visionary one-man operation into one of New Zealand's most acclaimed and globally recognized wineries. The estate meticulously sources exceptional fruit from premier winegrowing regions across the country, including Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, and Gisborne, to craft expressive wines that reflect their unique regional terroirs. Renowned for its pioneering spirit, Villa Maria was a trailblazer in adopting screwcap closures to preserve freshness and remains deeply committed to sustainable and organic viticulture. Their diverse portfolio is celebrated for vibrant Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, elegant single-vineyard Pinot Noirs like Taylors Pass and Seddon, and rich, structured Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot blends from Hawke's Bay.