Villa Maria’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, Ngākirikiri 2021, has been named one of the world’s best wines at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). The wine received a score of 97/100 and a coveted “Best in Show” award. This is only given to the Top 50 wines at the show – selected from almost 17,000 entries. Only two New Zealand wines achieved Best in Show status this year, showing the significance of this result on the international stage.
Villa Maria Senior Winemaker Richard Painter says the recognition was a major achievement for the team. “To be named among the top 50 wines globally is incredibly rewarding,” says Painter. “It reflects the dedication of our vineyard and winery teams and reinforces that Hawke’s Bay produces wines that are truly world-class. The 2021 Ngākirikiri is both concentrated and refined, with pure fruit flavour and fresh acidity balanced with the richness and structure that can only come from this region.”
Ngākirikiri 2021 is grown in Hawke’s Bay’s renowned Gimblett Gravels region. The blend in this year is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot. 2021 rounded out a trio of outstanding vintages in Hawke’s Bay that started in 2019. Very similar to 2020, the Growing Degree Days (GDD’s) for the season were slightly above the districts long term average and the rainfall was slightly below which resulted in a superb growing season. The temperatures cooled noticeably over the harvest period which slowed down ripening and ensured the fruit carried a freshness and vibrancy through to harvest in late March and early April.
A dense, black and purple colour in the glass. The bouquet shows a lovely mix of New World and Old World expressions of ‘claret’, with dark cherry, cassis and plum fruit flavours highlighting ripeness; then graphite, tobacco and cedar showing a more savoury side. Youthful and tight, with concentration and structural tension. I decanted this, and slowly the wine unwinds, with the toasty oak softening and the crisp acidity taking over, to give a good line through the palate. There’s also a generous gloss to the texture, but a dry, peppery spice – often a signature of the Gravels – sits well here, stopping things getting too polished. Should age well in your cellar for over decade – but it drinks well (with decanting) at this point too. 95pts
