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Buy OnlinePlatinum Trophy & 97/100 Points – Decanter World Wine Awards 2026
Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
“‘Ngakirikiri’ in Māori, refers to the unique gravel soils that define the Hawkes Bay, Gimblett Gravels growing appellation, a befitting name for this stony Hawkes Bay vineyard sited on what was an ancient riverbed. The Gimblett Gravels sub-region is a majestic site with a reputation for beautiful and thought-provoking wines.
This Villa Maria flagship wine is only made when exceptionally rare conditions produce truly outstanding wines for consideration. Our Icon wines represents the pinnacle of our winemaking achievements and a milestone in Villa Maria’s history.
Upon pouring, this deep purple coloured wine gradually yields notably intense and pure aromatics of cassis, black plum and anise, with ground coffee bean, graphite, fragrant thyme and cedar 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. This full-bodied wine will benefit and gain additional complexity from careful cellaring over the next 15-20 years”
5 Stars & 99/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, August 2024 (2021 Vintage)
“An exceptional offering, capturing varietal purity and the vineyard’s special sense of place, combined with skilfully crafted refinement, this is a compelling rendition showing cassis, rich floral, cedar, clove, and tobacco nuances on the nose, leading to an immensely concentrated palate exhibiting impressive depth and power. Wonderfully balanced and firmly structured with layers of chalky tannins, it is solid and robust yet harmonious and seamless with a sustained, engaging finish. At its best: 2030 to 2047.”
Rated Outstanding & 96/100 Cameron Douglas MS, August 2024 (2021 Vintage)
“Opaque appearance with dark almost inky hues of purples and ruby. The bouquet is concentrated and powerful, scents of blackberry and tobacco, smoky oak and pure new wood power. Roasted plums, blackberry and some dark cherry scents build as the wine opens out in glass. Complex and youthful. A dry, fruity and immediately varietal wine touches the palate first. Flavours of purple and blackberry, dark skinned orchard fruits, fresh tobacco and sweet bell-pepper all reveal themselves simultaneously. Firm tannins and plenty of acidity along with a concentration of fruit flavours ensure this wine will age well. Best drinking from 2032 through 2040.”
DWWA Judges’ Comments (2021 Vintage)
“Our fifth Best In Show wine from Hawkes Bay is also our second Gimblett Gravels Bordeaux-style blend to come through at this level, though in this case Cabernet dominates the blend to such an extent that it could legally be sold as a varietal wine. It’s also a fine testament to the quality of the magnificent 2021 vintage in this warm, North Island region. Expect a saturated black-red colour with diagnostic New Zealand pungency of aroma: ‘rose-buds and mocha’ for one taster, and ‘dark berries, meat, tobacco and boot polish on leather’ for another. There’s also a lively plant-sap note which brings added freshness. The palate is dark, dense and meaty yet oozing more sap, too. The tannins are ultra-fine yet taut (leather once again is a good analogy) and the acidity is buoyant; it’s a wine that will hold well, and keep all of its freshness as it does so.”
93/100 & Cellar Selection, Wine Enthusiast (2021 Vintage)
“Intense aromas of dried mint, pencil lead and baking spice sit atop sweeter fruit notes of licorice, violets and blackcurrant on this premium Hawke’s Bay Cab. Powerfully tannins are tightly wound. It’s too early to drink this now—it’s structured for the very long haul and should hold up for decades.”
