Pegasus Bay 1998 Maestro Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Waipara)

Country: New Zealand / Maestro
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Waipara
Winery: Pegasus Bay /

This blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc is ambitiously priced, but the quality is in the bottle. Next time you need a ringer for a right-bank Bordeaux tasting, here’s a perfect candidate. Dried spices and a smooth, rich texture are the only hallmarks left from two years of barrel aging—the mocha and black cherry fruit is rich and luscious, developing tobacco nuances on the moderately tannic finish. Drink now and over the next 10 years.