Hawkes Bay Private Bin Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Designed for early accessibility and immediate enjoyment, this wine is typically best consumed within 2 to 5 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Traditional roast lamb with rosemary, grilled beef burgers, or mature hard cheeses like Cheddar.
✨ 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 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.
🍾 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.