Wine: Glory, hallelujah

Gladstone Vineyard
Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $27

Throwing themselves headlong into organic viticulture, Christine Kernohan and her team of Wairarapa sauvignon senseis are reaping the rewards right here. Softly, softly is how this super-floral example plays out, with hints of fresh lawn clippings, basil, sweet pea and some plucky, preserved lemon layers give it lusciousness, length and complexity.

Sip with: steamed snapper with lemongrass and coriander.

Akarua
Pinot Noir 2016 $43

Crafted from fruit sourced from their Felton Rd and Cairnmuir vineyards in Central Otago, after all the medals this wine has hauled in, it deserves to be given "national treasure" status, surely. Clove, mace, baked cherry, anise and buckets of bouncy, plush acidity and cuddly, furry tannins make this a "must try before you die" wine. Darn delicious.

Sip with: spicy lamb saag.

Vidal Legacy
Chardonnay 2016 $60

Oh lordy, what a wine! A Hawke's Bay stunner, with its alluring aromas of grilled grapefruit, roast peach, toasted almonds and a hint of smoke. I struggled to peel the glass away from my nose for long enough to actually put any in my gob! Thankfully I persisted, because it's ultra-fresh, beautifully layered with banging citrus and succulent stonefruit and follows through with a fat, fleshy finish. Glorious.

Sip with: mango and lime-drizzled chicken drums.

Yvonne Lorkin is co-founder and chief tasting officer of winefriend.co.nz and a Wine Writers of NZ member.