Wine: Three bottles beyond the pale

By Yvonne Lorkin for Canvas magazine

Huia Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2015 $32

This is a wine I hanker for each year. Apart from being one of Marlborough's most dedicated pioneers of organic and biodynamic winegrowing, Mike and Claire Allan of Huia Vineyards are gewurztraminer nuts, which means they're my kind of people. With lashings of white pepper, lychee, musky, honeysuckle notes and gingery goodness on the finish, it's a sexy sip indeed.

Sip with: lamb saag.

Tyrell's Single Vineyard Steven's Hunter Semillon 2009 $45

Aged semillon from the Hunter Valley is one of the world's greatest things in my opinion. I love the straw, watercress, pepper, lemongrass, almond and biscotti aromatics that combine with nougat and summer flowers, green melon, baked apple, dried basil and almonds in this awesome 8-year-old example. Extra for experts: The Tyrells can trace their family lineage back to William the Conqueror (not sure if he was a wine fan).

Sip with: fish and fennel salad.

Tua Marina Marlborough Arneis 2015 $28

To buy, email contactus@tuamarinavineyards.co.nz

How brilliant to finally find an arneis specialist here in New Zealand. Franzi Grab is obsessed with this tricky little Italian number that has the nickname "Little Rascal" due to it regularly having hissy fits in the vineyard and not playing by the rules. Franzi's version is chalky, bone dry and limey on both the nose and palate and boasts zingy acidity, racy texture and excellent length.

Sip with: leek and mozzarella dumplings.

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