Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Wine Review

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Community Score:86/100

Community Reviews: 10

Add My Review

Price: $16.95

Drink: 2013-2018

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: 89/100

The Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand tends to be warmer than Marlborough (especially the nights are not as cool), thus it's better known for later ripening grapes such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Villa Maria demonstrates this amply in the glass with a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet grapes. A special area known as Gimlet Gravels provides most of the fruit for this wine and yet it's only 800 hectares in total, with old soils of fractured rock that are free draining which means the vines suffer as they should to produce great wine for you. In fact, you can go down 20 to 30 feet here and still find gravel as this was an old river bed that became exposed in the 1880s after an earthquake. This wine is amazing in that it delivers far more heft, weight and dark fruit flavour than you'd expect from just 12.5% alcohol. Yay!

Best Beef Wine

This Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 was reviewed on February 1, 2015 by Natalie MacLean

Pricing & Stock Information

LCBO
310300
$16.95
Check Stock

BCLDB
85308
$11.61
Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Lots of ripe dark berries on the nose. Lovely smooth palate shows ripe red fruit, vanilla and touch of baking spice. Silky finish.

Jennifer Havers - WSET Level 3 rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

A fragrant blend, light to medium bodied. Aromas of cherry and dark berries, oak and vanilla is present but subtle. On the palate - bright cherry, slightly tart. Very fruit forward, oak is subtle, but lingers a bit. Slight vanilla undertones. A really nice wine, great value too!

Courtney Flood rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Aroma has a lot of anise, smokiness, and some slightly dried fruit characteristic. A bit peppery on the palate. Good for a peppery steak.

Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Oct 5, 2014: Medium ruby, delicate nose of red currant, cherry, plum, dried herbs and light wood spice. The palate shows cherry, red berry, dusty mineral and gentle spice and faint green herb. Medium bodied, framed with good acidity and soft tannins. Pleasant lighter style of cab/merlot that would work with Thanksgiving turkey along with sausage infused stuffing.

Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

A lighter Bordeaux style blend of Merlot and Cab Sauvignon from Hawkes Bay New Zealand. Mild berry and spice notes with a soft mouthfeel that helps to highlight the tasty fruit in this tangy blend. Recommend pairing with game meats, lamb, or even turkey. Tasted October 2014. 87 points. Matt Steeves @QuercusVino

Marco Giovanetti rated this wine as 83/100 with the following review:

Ripe red and black fruits with sweet thai basil and menthol notes. In the mouth, medium to full body with leathery and earthy nuances. Dry finish with a beef stock and dry tomato paste.

Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 80/100 with the following review:

Tart and sweet cherry, new leather, and a touch of vegetal aromas. The taste The taste is similar, with a thin mouth-feel and a tart finish.

If you liked the Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, you might also like these wines:

Add bottle and/or label shots for this wine
Wineries and agents: Add notes for this wine
Find this wine in other stores

Recipes for Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

SAVE MY SEAT!

Wine of the Week

As featured on

The Tragically Hip Red Wine
2021,
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 327,312 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources. learn more

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 327,312 strong:

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 89/100

Pricing & Stock Information