Villa Maria, Ngakirikiri, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay 2018

Dark purple hues with an opaque appearance leading to aromas of concentration, power and finesse. Immediately captivating with scents of dark berries and brooding complexity. Iron and blackberry, crushed violets and spicy skinned plums. Toasty barrel scents suggest clove and baked vanilla pod, smoke and sweet wood moments. Compact, taut and delicious on the palate with flavours of dark berries and barrel spices, violets, stony soils and a savoury spice and tobacco edge. There’s a satin polish to the tannins, an abundance of acidity and additional flavours of bell-pepper and toasty baked goods. Lengthy, complex and very appealing. A wine that showcases everything that is exciting about Hawkes Bay.