The top-tier red wine from Villa Maria – according to the producer, “Ngakirikiri is only made when great vintages produce truly outstanding wines for consideration. This flagship wine represents the pinnacle of our winemaking achievements”. 2019 was a great vintage for the Gimblett Gravels in Hawke’s Bay – where this wine originates.
A dense, black-claret-red in the glass. The perfume is as brooding as the colour, but shows a pure and typical style of Cabernet Sauvignon, with blackcurrant, dark cherry, damson plum, roasted spices, graphite and lavender on the nose. At this stage, and youth, the structure is very tight. It starts medium-bodied, with the fruit flavours framed by a gentle seasoning of toasty oak. Slowly blooming in the glass, concentration builds, with a grip of fine tannin becoming the spine on which many layers hang. There is a glossy texture, sweetness of cocoa, tartness of morello cherry, savoury notes of nori and espresso; but has a refined harmony at the finish as those myriad elements come together. Still a pup, this will age well for over decade – but I must say it was a pleasure to taste at this stage as well. 95pts
