Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2018

Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 201891 100 Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate Villa Maria's 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 8% Malbec, all aged 16 months in 35% new French oak. At this stage, it's cedary on the nose, but there's ample cassis and dark chocolate notes in support. It's medium to full bodied and expansive on the palate while being crisp and firmly structured, with the concentration and tannins required to age for a decade or

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Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate

Villa Maria's 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 8% Malbec, all aged 16 months in 35% new French oak. At this stage, it's cedary on the nose, but there's ample cassis and dark chocolate notes in support. It's medium to full-bodied and expansive on the palate while being crisp and firmly structured, with the concentration and tannins required to age for a decade or more.

This is a classic blend is a stunning example from the Gimblett Gravels region. This densely coloured wine shows lovely aromatic with layers of red and black plum and casis. mingling with smokey roast coffee bean, dried thyme and complex cedary spice nuances. The palate is soft yet concentrated, beautifully focused with wonderfully fine-grained tannins and integrated oak. While approachable in it's youth, this wine will benefit and gain additional complexity from careful cellaring over the next 10 - 15 years.