Villa Maria Estate Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Wine Review

Villa Maria Estate Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 8

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Price: $36.95

Drink: 2016-2022

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 12.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Villa Maria

Agent: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 91/100

A savoury, meaty red wine blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from New Zealand. Some tannic grip here will smooth out with a few more years in the cellar and then decant 1 hour when you open it. Enjoy with hearty meat dishes.

Best Beef Wine

This Villa Maria Estate Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 was reviewed on November 11, 2016 by Natalie MacLean

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Reviews and Ratings

Rachelle O'Connor rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Deep red in color, with lots of aromas of blackberry, cherries, violets, herbs and hints of oak and spice. Full flavored and showing supple tannins. The 2014 is fabulous, the region had a prolonged warm growing season. The cooler nights translated to full flavor development and although wine critics applauded the 2013 Vintage - 2014 was thought to be as good if not better. Perfect accompaniment to braised beef, slow and low.

Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

This award-winning Hawkes Bay Merlot - Cab Sauv blend also has 8% Cab Franc. 2014 was an excellent vintage thanks to a warm growing season with sufficient rainfall. Fragrant aromas of dark berries, dried herbs, violets and oak are repeated on the palate together with mocha/oak. Well-balanced, supple tannins and a touch of mocha with fruit on the lingering finish. Will cellar up to 8 years. A great match for red meat and cheese.
Tasted Nov. 2016

Lori Kilmartin WSET3 - WSET3 Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

It's no wonder this blended wine from Villa Maria has won many awards and accolades. 60% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc - these are varietals typically found in Bordeaux wines. This is a layered, complex blend with lots of pure ripe dark fruit, undertones of smoke and tobacco and tannins that are still a bit edgy. The Cabernet in Hawks Bay consistently ripens and is usually low in yield lending the wine to further fruit concentration. Viticulturist Ollie Powrie @olliepowrie says this is a pairing for "braised, melt in your mouth beef" and I have to agree! Tasted November 15, 2016.

Lynn van der Linde - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Beautiful gift wine!

Villa Maria winery demonstrates that organic grape growing doesn't need to cramp winemaking perfection. Since 1999, Villa Maria has been producing organic grapes, and while they have their sights set of a 50% organic production by 2020, they manage to produce award winning wines like this Cellar Section Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon year after year.

Heady aromas of cassis, black pepper, eucalyptus and cedar carry through to a long peppery finish. Wonderful with red meats and hard cheeses. Priced north of $30, this makes a perfect gift!
Tasted Nov 2016.

Pamela Chiles rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Both the Merlot and Cab Sauv grapes for this wine are grown in the renowned Gimblett Gravels of the Hawkes Bay region. According to viticulturalist Ollie Powrie, the 2014 vintage is turning out to be a showstopper and this wine is a great example. Delicious aromas of black berries, leather, spice and herbs waft from the glass to be replayed on the palate; this is quite a full-bodied confection, with fine tannins and a great seam of acidity in support. Try it with herb-crusted lamb chops and roasted garlic mash.

Sylvain Segard rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

With discrete aromas of red fruits, plums, eucalyptus, and mint, this Bordeaux style blend has a soft entry in the mouth, which displays rich dark fruits flavours, gentle smoke and leather, a juicy balanced acidity, and a slightly bitter finish. This full bodied wine should be decanted before a meal to give time for its strong tannins to mellow. Score 89. (Reviewed Nov. 2016)

WINEMAKER’S COMMENT
This deeply coloured wine displays perfumed aromas of dark berry fruits, violets and
dried herbs, with complexing oak spice characters. A smooth and approachable palate
follows with sweet fruit, supple tannins and moreish acidity.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Merlot-Cabernet blends are particularly good when paired with robust, full flavoured
dishes, red meat and cheeses. Drink now or hold for up to 5-8 years when the wine
will develop further complexity.
VINEYARD & WINEMAKING
2014 in Hawkes Bay was superb, following on from what was a wonderful 2013. The
region was treated to a growing season even warmer than the drought vintage
immediately prior, but experienced intermittent rain fall events, enough to encourage
vine health and flavour development without bringing on disease. Typically cooler
nights moderated warm daytime temperatures and allowed for steady sugar and flavour
accumulation across vineyards

Source: Winery (Villa Maria Estate)

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Villa Maria Estate Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 91/100