Villa Maria PB MerCabSav

Hawke's Bay suits Merlot, with plenty of sunshine and low rainfall. The grapes come from vineyards around the winery on free-draining gravel, a soil that holds back vine vigour and gives red wines more structure, flavour and colour. Merlot leads this blend with Cabernet Sauvignon behind it, and the proportions shift a little from one year to the next.

In the cellar the fruit is crushed and destemmed, fermented with several yeast strains and aerated during fermentation, which peaks at about 28 to 30 degrees. The wine then spends around a year in tank and barrel. Expect cassis, red fruits and dried herbs, with a rich mouthfeel, supple tannins and a smooth finish. Red meat, most cheeses and Mediterranean style cooking are the winery's suggested matches, and a lamb ragu or a platter of hard cheeses would sit well beside it.