Villa Maria 2017 Cellar Selection Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Malbec Red (Hawke's Bay)

This affordable Bordeaux blend from one of New Zealand's biggest names once again hits the mark. There's a nice juxtaposition on the nose of perfumed raspberry and plum fruit alongside heavier notes like crushed rocks, savory spices, dusty oak and Cab-like tomato leaf and ground pepper nuances. Despite its bargain price, this is a serious, structured wine that's chiseled and precise on the palate, neatly balancing fruit, spice and minerals with tightly wound, leathery tannins. Drink now with protein–2028. Christina Pickard