'Ngakirikiri' in Maori, 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. Their Icon wines represent the pinnacle of Villa Maria’s winemaking achievements and a milestone in the winery's history.
Upon pouring, this deep purple colored 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 flavors 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.