Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: New Zealand whites

Vintages focuses this Saturday on some vibrant whites of New Zealand. Find these choice picks via WineAlign.com/MargaretsPicks.

Dog Point Chardonnay 2009
$39.95 (92 Points)
From older vineyards of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley on the South Island, this medium-full-bodied white is quite Burgundian in character. It has a lovely, toasty, ripe fruit nose, which follows through on the fruity palate with notes of toasted nuts. It possesses great grip and a long crisp finish. This wine would bring a touch of class to any dinner.

Spy Valley Pinot Gris 2011
 $19.95 (89 Points)
Another Marlborough region beauty from low-yielding vines, this has an amazingly fruit-forward bouquet. Full bodied with ripe tropical and stonefruit flavours of mango, apricot and peach, it tastes just off dry with a honey-spiced finish. Plump and rich on the palate, it can handle dishes with spices and fruits.

Two Rivers of Marlborough Convergence Sauvignon Blanc 2011
$29.95 (91 Points)
Taking its name from the rivers that feed the wine-growing heart of Marlborough’s Wairau and Awatere Valleys, this has all the exuberance of a great New Zealand sauvignon blanc: a lovely forward nose with tastes of lime, gooseberry, passion fruit and other tangy flavours all in balance. Aged on yeast lees for three months in French barrels, this has complexity, intensity and elegance.