Our New Release Single Vineyard Wines
On the 1st November, we are incredibly proud to release some highly anticipated wines from our Single Vineyard collection, the most regionally and stylistically diverse range of New Zealand wines.
These highly anticipated Single Vineyard wines take wine lovers on a journey through New Zealand, exploring the nuance of vineyard site and the impact of season. Each Single Vineyard site is chosen having long-produced our most exceptional wines, embodying the profound influence of diverse terroirs. The wines capture a moment in time, each imparted with a unique story of season, soil and growing environment. Every year is different, each is individual and their characteristics not only talk to a sense of place, they embody the pride, skill and passion of the entire Villa Maria team. These wines from the outstanding 2020 and 2021 vintages represent the culmination of over 60 years of winemaking experience in Aotearoa New Zealand.
This year’s release represent the best vineyards of the Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Auckland, and Marlborough. Read on to discover more about our exceptional Single Vineyard sites and the unique collection of new vintage wines unveiled.
Auckland
Ihumātao Vineyard
Located within a wind-protected volcanic basin on the edge of the Manukau Harbour in South Auckland, this ancient crater is estimated to be between 30,000 – 40,000 years old. The soil profile is diverse with deposits of calcified shell and ancient scoria on the edge of the basin, with heavier peat and clay soils toward the centre layered above a volcanic basalt rock base. The immediate proximity to the Manukau Harbour provides a cooling influence, favourable in the retention of fruit acidity during the ripening season.
Ihumātao Auckland Chardonnay 2021
Youthful in appearance, the Ihumātao Auckland Chardonnay 2021 has a precise and restrained array of aromas and flavours. The nose possesses white peach, apple blossom, and yellow citrus notes combining with fresh pastry, hazelnuts, flint and subtle toast. With layers of flavour, the succulent mid-palate mouthfeel reveals textural complexity and poised acidity leading to a long and elegant finish.
Settled weather conditions late in 2020 provided an optimum environment for flowering and even fruit set. The important ripening months of February and March were warm and dry, perfect conditions for berry flavour development and harvest.
Gisborne
McDiarmid Hill Vineyard
Home to expansive fertile plains framed by forested hills on one side and 200km of coastline on the other, the province has an abundance of natural resources. Gisborne’s climate is characterised by warm summers and mild winters. McDiarmid Hill is beautifully positioned on an elevated north-facing hillside slope in Patutahi. Taking full advantage of sunlight, drying wind conditions, slightly cooler temperatures and natural water drainage, the additional elevation provides a wonderful advantage for producing consistently outstanding wine. Small parcels of mature, dry farmed Mendoza vines provide ideal blending options for building complexity in the final wine.
McDiarmid Hill Gisborne Chardonnay 2021
Capturing the qualities of a spectacular vineyard, McDiarmid Hill Gisborne Chardonnay 2021 offers a medley of tropical fruit aromas, fig and smoky grilled nut. The palate is seamlessly textured, leading to a finish extended by fine acidity. Small parcels of mature, dry farmed Mendoza vines provide ideal blending options for building complexity in the final wine that will benefit from maturation, and will continue to develop intrigue.
The 2021 McDiarmid Hill harvest was highly regarded and followed a warm, dry summer that persisted long after the last grapes were picked. Having benefited from cooler evening temperatures in the lead
up to harvest which intensified flavour and acidity, harvest of these naturally low yielding vines commenced earlier than normal with beautifully clean and ripe fruit, paving the way for our Winemakers to capture a sensational vintage.
Hawkes Bay
The landscape of New Zealand’s second largest wine region, Hawkes Bay, is diverse and dramatic, with north-facing ranges running down to expansive alluvial plains that stretch out to meet the large curved coastline. Hawkes Bay’s long, hot summers and cool winters offer an ideal climate for grape growing.
Joseph Soler Vineyard
Villa Maria’s Joseph Soler Vineyard is planted in close proximity to Gimblett Road and the Albariño block comprises of silt loams with ridges of free draining gravel, ideal for the production of premium wines. This vineyard parcel produces fruit that is richly concentrated in flavour.
Braided Gravels Hawkes Bay Albariño 2021
Handpicked from a small area within the Joseph Soler Vineyard, whole bunches were gently pressed with the finest juice settled prior to being racked to our concrete ‘egg’ vessel for fermentation and 12 months maturation. The final wine displays beautifully pure and expressive characters of peach and lime entwined with subtle mineral complexities, leading to a textural palate and a long finish.
The 2021 vintage was highly regarded with a warm and dry summer resulting in one of the earliest starts to harvest in Hawkes Bay ever. The settled weather allowed picking to occur at optimum ripeness without any disease pressure. These vineyard and seasonal conditions have produced an Albariño with intense aromatics and flavours and lashings of the trademark acidity which the grape is famous for.
This unique wine has already received a phenomenal 93 points from wine critic Cameron Douglas MS.
Marlborough
Marlborough sits on the north eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand, surrounded by the inland Kaikoura Ranges to the south and the Richmond Ranges to the north. These rugged mountains are responsible for New Zealand’s driest and sunniest climate with an average of 2,435 hours of sunshine, regulated by the cooling ocean influence, elongating the ripening period. Marlborough is composed of three sub-regions, each with their own distinctive characteristics and nuances, which are experienced in every taste.
Taylors Pass Vineyard
Located on the northern bank of the Awatere River, the average vine age in our Taylors Pass Vineyard is between 14-19 years old. Sheltered from prevailing cool easterly winds, each terrace of the vineyard has varying soil types, stony gravels are nearest to the river, whereas the mid-terrace has silt over gravels and the highest terrace is deeper silt over clay-papa base. This patchwork of soil types provides the vineyard with dramatically variable ripening patterns.
Taylors Pass Marlborough Chardonnay 2021
This is a mineral-driven style of Chardonnay, showcasing complex aromas of brioche, gun-smoke and ripe lemon rind that are distinctive from the stony Taylors Pass Vineyard. This elegant Chardonnay expresses flavours of grapefruit, fig, quince and roasted almonds with a restrained and focused acidity on the finish.
Summer was dry and mild with Marlborough’s signature high sunshine hours and cool nights delivering fruit in the best possible condition. The early autumn season in 2021 provided Marlborough with very stable weather conditions therefore fruit was able to reach optimum physiological and flavour ripeness. The fruit was impeccably clean and the lower yields meant that the grapes packed a punch in flavour and concentration
Taylors Pass Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020
This wine is a single vineyard expression of the Taylors Pass site, showcasing an intense bouquet of ripe juicy blackberries and blueberries with hints of baking spices. A harmonious palate delivers liquorice notes intermingled with black cherries, subtle dried herbs and finishes with round velvety smooth tannins.
A near-perfect growing season led up to 2020 harvest with fruit in pristine condition. The summer was dry with high sunshine hours during the day and the cooler nights that are typical for Marlborough. Yields were at their optimum level and the stable autumn weather allowed us to extend the hangtime of the fruit on the vines to achieve physiological ripeness.
This exceptional Marlborough Pinot Noir has received incredible acclaims from some of New Zealand’s most influential wine critics including 93 points from Cameron Douglas MS and 91 points from James Suckling.
Seddon Vineyard
The Seddon Vineyard is located on the southern bank of the Awatere River, sheltered from the cooling weather patterns which results in a warm meso-climate. The loam soils have a distinctive soft clay “papa-rock” base allowing grapes to easily achieve physiological ripeness and fruit concentration.
Seddon Marlborough Pinot Gris 2021
This Pinot Gris is sourced from our iconic Seddon Vineyard on the southern bank of the Awatere River. This is a rich, textural wine with a creamy palate from spending extended time ageing on yeast lees. Aromas of fresh honeycomb intermingle with juicy summer peaches. The fleshy palate is framed by a soft but balanced acidity with a lingering textural finish.
Summer 2021 was dry and mild with Marlborough’s signature high sunshine hours and cool nights delivering fruit in the best possible condition. The early autumn season provided Marlborough with very stable weather conditions therefore fruit was able to reach optimum physiological and flavour ripeness. The fruit was impeccably clean and the lower yields meant that the grapes packed a punch in flavour and concentration.
This Marlborough Pinot Gris has received worthy acclaims from some of New Zealand’s most influential wine critics including 93 points from Cameron Douglas MS.
The Attorney Vineyard
The Attorney Vineyard is situated in the Southern Valleys sub-region of Marlborough, on a northern facing block on the dry foothills of the Wairau Valley. This sub-region receives minimal rainfall in the growing season and its deep clay soils provide perfect conditions to apply organic farming principles. Villa Maria began its organic program in 1999 and we achieved our first Biogro certification in 2007. The Attorney Vineyard was fully BioGro certified as organic in 2012.
The Attorney Vineyard is situated in the Southern Valleys sub-region of Marlborough, on a northern facing block on the dry foothills of the Wairau Valley. This sub-region receives minimal rainfall in the growing season and its deep clay soils provide perfect conditions to apply organic farming principles. Villa Maria began its organic program in 1999 and we achieved our first Biogro certification in 2007. The Attorney Vineyard was fully BioGro certified as organic in 2012.
The Attorney Marlborough Rosé 2021
This delightful Marlborough Rosé has aromas of bright red cherries intermingled with delicate rose petals and fresh culinary herbs. The palate is bursting with ripe strawberries with a creamy texture on the finish.
Summer 2021 was dry and mild with Marlborough’s signature high sunshine hours and cool nights delivering fruit in the best possible condition. The early autumn season provided Marlborough with very stable weather conditions therefore fruit was able to reach optimum physiological and flavour ripeness. The fruit was impeccably clean and the lower yields meant that the grapes packed a punch in flavour and concentration.
This wine has received worthy acclaims from some of New Zealand’s most influential wine critics including 93 points from Cameron Douglas MS.
