Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet/Merlot 1990 NEW Zealand reds finally are coming of age. The suggestion that New Zealand, while capable of producing great sauvignon blancs and chardonnays, simply did not have the terroir for red wines is proving to be unjustified.
It is true that New Zealand winemakers took longer to come to grips with their red wines and that those produced were at first overshadowed by the spectacularly successful white wines such as Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc.
This week's wine comes from a team of winemakers led by Kim Milne, a young graduate from Australia's Roseworthy College.
With the backing of vineyard head George Fistonich, it is producing increasingly impressive reds.
Its colour is deep red, almost crimson. On the nose it has clean cherry hints. It is well balanced and beautifully combines the understated aristocratic strength of cabernet with the softness of merlot.
Area: North Island, New Zealand.
