Wine tasting note: 1995 Villa Maria Merlot Cabernet Reserve

1995 Villa Maria Merlot Cabernet Reserve

24th Jul 1999 GBP15 New Zealand Table Red

[Tasted Blind] Opaque purple/red with some fading to a pink/red rim - viscous. Lots of alcohol, mulberries and cassis with some green leaf notes on the nose - white pepper and vanilla point at new oak, possibly american? Medium bodied with warm, ripe, slightly sour cassis, pepper, plum flavours, firm tannins and good, balanced acidity. Nicely judged oak, peppery with a light char coming through on the dry finish. Now with a roast, but much better in 3/4 years. [The leafiness and cassis/plums point at Bordeaux, but the vanilla says no. Too leafy for Rhone. Guess: Amethystos Cava (Greece).]