| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | New Zealand > Hawkes Bay |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Villa Maria Estate
Ngakirikiri means “the gravels”. This is a new flagship label that in my view justifies its exalted price tag. It’s quite an extraordinary wine with dense berry, savoury/earth and spicy oak flavours. Long and linear it has power and structure but the tannins are surprisingly soft and pliable. The wine really opened up as it sat in the glass revealing interesting coffee, malt/peat and toasty characters together with a suggestion of violet. Definitely worth decanting. collectible and age worthy red.
A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot, the 2013 Ngakirikiri Cabernet Sauvignon (the first release of this new label) has a deep garnet-purple color, with intense cassis, blueberry and blackberry aromas over notes of pencil shavings, cloves, lavender and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, the taut, elegant palate has good ripe tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with lovely poise.
This has Villa Maria's trademark showroom finish. It's a flawless cabernet that delivers a vibrant cassis and redcurrant nose with violet-like perfumes and creamy, spicy oak. The palate's elegantly stated and has attractive roundness to it that makes it approachable, enveloping and handsomely balanced. This sits comfortably alongside the world's best cabernet wines. Drink now to 2025+.
