Wine: Tsunami for the senses

Imagine if your taste buds had ears and a rock track for the first time. Such an assault is what a great blended white will provide the tongue …

Yealands Single Vineyard Marlborough P.G.R 2015 $23

This is absolutely one of my favourite blended whites of the moment. Perhaps it was the musky, super-spicy first impression, or the deep, honeyed, lychee-laden mid-palate texture, or even just the wave of synth music and foggy effects on the sci-fi TV show I was watching when I tasted it that swayed me. Whatever the reason, this is a benchmark blend of pinot gris, riesling and gewurztraminer.

Sip with: classic sweet and sour pork.

John Forrest Collection 'The White' 2010 $35

With a "the whole is often greater than the sum of its parts" philosophy, Dr John Forrest has stitched together small parcels of viognier, gewurztraminer, riesling, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, chenin blanc and chardonnay from his vineyards around the country to create a master blend, which has spent the last six years quietly maturing into this rich, aromatically alluring, citrus and stonefruit-laden lovely.

Sip with: a spicy pad thai.

Pyramid Valley Hutchinson Family Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc 2015 $35

Pinot pioneers Tom and Fiona Hutchinson know how to grow absolutely gorgeous pinot gris and pinot blanc better than most, evident in this dangerously tasty blend.

Organically grown and produced by Mike and Claudia Weersing at their winery in Waikari, this is a delicious mashup of lime, quince, manuka honey, baked pear and strudel spices. Deeply textural, it erupts with flavour.

Sip with: aged gouda studded with fenugreek seeds.

Yvonne Lorkin is a wine retailer, wine writer and member of the Wine Writers of NZ.