Hawkes Bay Private Bin Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
⏳ Drinking Window
Designed for early accessibility and immediate enjoyment, this wine is typically best consumed within 2 to 5 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Traditional roast lamb with rosemary, grilled beef burgers, or mature hard cheeses like Cheddar.
✨ Technical Specifications
Villa Maria, founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, has played a pioneering role in putting New Zealand's red wines on the global map. This Private Bin Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot showcases the unique terroir of Hawke's Bay, one of the country's oldest and sunniest wine-growing regions. Here, maritime breezes and diverse soils—ranging from clay-loam to alluvial gravels—provide the ideal conditions for ripening Bordeaux varieties. The blend combines the structural definition, dark cassis, and herbal lift of Cabernet Sauvignon with the fleshy, plum-forward richness of Merlot. Crafted in an approachable, fruit-driven style, the wine undergoes careful fermentation and modest oak aging to soften the tannins while preserving its vibrant, youthful energy and bright fruit character.
🍾 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.