Ngakirikiri 2013

Upon pouring, this deep ruby coloured wine yields notably intense and pure aromatics of cassis, red and black plum and floral violet scents, with fresh ground coffee bean, fragrant dried thyme and cedar spice nuances also vying for attention. Layers of concentrated flavours emerge and flow beautifully across the palate from start to finish, with optimally ripe fruit, fine-grained tannins and supportive oak enhancing overall texture and richness at each point along the way.

We are very proud to present the first vintage of ‘Ngakirikiri’ (the gravels). From the ‘once in a lifetime’ Hawkes Bay vintage of 2013, this flagship wine represents the pinnacle of our winemaking achievements and marks a milestone in Villa Maria’s 53 years of history. This exclusive, age worthy red wine featuring Bordeaux varietals (in 2013 predominantly Cabernet-Sauvignon), sets a new benchmark for quality and will be positioned at the top of Villa Maria’s portfolio, only to be bottled when exceptional vintages produce truly outstanding wines for consideration. Ngakirikiri is the Māori word for Gravels, a befitting name for this stony Hawkes Bay vineyard sited on what was an ancient riverbed. The Gimblett Gravels subregion is a majestic site with a reputation for astonishing, beautiful and thought provoking wines.