Villa Maria Private Bin Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Description

Mocha, Oak, Plum

This blend of predominantly Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon has fragrant aromas and flavours of black doris plum, red berries and mocha. A rich mouthfeel is balanced with supple tannins leading to a deliciously smooth finish.

The fruit for this wine was sourced from vineyards located across the Hawkes Bay region. An array of soil profiles including free draining alluvial gravels, combined with high sunshine hours make Hawkes Bay an ideal place to grow the red grape varieties of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2023 vintage was cooler than normal in Hawkes Bay with frequent summer rain keeping the vines growing well. The result is a medium-bodied wine with a vibrancy and freshness to the palate.

The fruit was harvested, destemmed, and crushed to stainless steel fermentation vessels. Daily cap management ensured a gentle infusion of fruit flavours and colour from the grapes into the wine. Once dry, the wine was pressed off skins to undergo maturation in tank and barrel for at least 12 months before blending and bottling.

Food Pairing: A great pairing with all red meats, hard cheeses, and Mediterranean inspired cuisine.