Owned by Ager Sectus, a private investment company, Southbank Estate was established in 2000 and the Estate extends to around 340 acres of vineyards, in both Hawkes Bay and Marlborough. This classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is made using grapes from their Kereru Road vineyard, an estate which covers some 150 acres in Mangatahi, Hawkes Bay, overlooking the beautiful Ngaruroro River. The two varietals are vinified individually and aged in new and seasoned French and American oak barrels for 12 months prior to blending, at which point the blended wines are further aged in oak for 12 months to ensure sound integration and maturation prior to bottling.

The wine is a lovely, dark ruby red in colour, with blackcurrant fruit on the nose, combined with the oak-derived vanillin and sweet spice. On the palate, it is quite complex, with spicy oak and full, red berry fruit flavours with well balanced tannins and a long, smooth finish.