Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3 to 8 years from the vintage release, allowing the tannins to soften while retaining its vibrant fruit character.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roast leg of lamb, grilled beef steaks, and aged hard cheeses.
✨ Technical Specifications
Villa Maria, founded by Sir George Fistonich in 1961, has grown from a pioneering one-man band into a globally acclaimed icon of New Zealand winemaking. The Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic expression of Hawke's Bay, one of the Southern Hemisphere's premier regions for Bordeaux-style blends. Here, ancient riverbeds and a warm maritime climate yield grapes with exceptional depth. This blend is Merlot-dominant, offering plush plum and dark cherry notes, structured by the firm, cassis-scented backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French oak barriques, the wine marries vibrant New World fruit with elegant Old World structure, paying homage to the region's rich viticultural heritage.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, Villa Maria stands as one of New Zealand's most celebrated and pioneering wine producers. From its historic roots in Auckland, the winery has established extensive vineyard holdings across the premier winegrowing regions of Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, and Gisborne. Renowned for its steadfast dedication to sustainability and quality innovation, Villa Maria played an instrumental role in shaping modern New Zealand viticulture and championing regional expressiveness. The estate's diverse portfolio ranges from the globally recognized Private Bin series to site-specific single-vineyard and Reserve wines, excelling in vibrant Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, refined Pinot Noir, complex Chardonnay, and structured Hawke's Bay red blends.