Villa Maria McDiarmid Hill Chardonnay 2020
A$54.00
A$51.30
In stock
750ml
Villa Maria
Marlborough, New Zealand
Description
George Fistonich made his first wine in 1962 under the name Villa Maria wines with grapes harvested from the five acres of land his father gave him in Mangere, Auckland. He made dry red and white wines by sourcing grapes from the greater Auckland region. George expanded the villa maria wines business by employing the staff in the 1970s. At present, the Villa Maria winery employs more than 250 employees growing 28 different grape varieties, and exports wine to over 60 countries worldwide. It is through the hard work and dedication of all the employees that villa maria winery is New Zealand's most-awarded winery.
McDiarmid Hill is Villa Maria's jewel in the crown Gisborne vineyard, 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 this consistently outstanding wine. Small parcels of mature dry-farmed Mendoza vines provide blending options, ideal for building complexity in the final wine. 228L French barriques, 47% New - 100% French, tight grain, M+ toast.
Rating
95 points
Decanter
"McDiarmid Hill vineyard in Gisborne, beautifully positioned in the remote and dramatic northeastern corner of New Zealand’s North Island, sits on an elevated north-facing slope. The region’s warm summers and mild winters provide average yearly sunshine of around 2200 hours, explaining why Gisborne has become popularly regarded as New Zealand’s Chardonnay Capital. Fermented in barrel, Villa Maria Single Vineyard McDiarmid Hill Chardonnay not only captures wonderfully ripe flavours of pure apple and nectarine but also introduces the intriguing dark, nutty notes, while a hint of toasty oak binds a firm palate."
