Babich Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet 2024

Babich Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet combines the plush fruit of Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon's darker, more savoury character and a small touch of Malbec. The 2024 is warm and generous, opening with plum, boysenberry and blackberry before notes of cinnamon, chocolate, vanilla, cedar and leather emerge. It is full-flavoured yet easy-going, with freshness, fine tannins and a lingering hint of red liquorice. A dependable Hawke's Bay red from one of New Zealand's longest-established family wineries, it is well suited to lamb shanks, a meaty casserole or an antipasto spread loaded with salami and smoked meats.

What the winery says:

The fruit was selected from Babich's estate-owned vineyards across Hawke's Bay. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a touch of Malbec were fermented on skins with careful cap management to build colour and flavour without extracting harsh tannins. A period in tank after fermentation helped the tannins integrate. The finished wine shows ripe plum, blackberry and berry fruit alongside cinnamon, chocolate, vanilla, cedar and leather, with a soft, fresh palate and fine tannins.