New Zealand Pinot Gris: best buys under £20

Framingham's Rieslings are among New Zealand's best and that Alsace style extends to this classy Pinot Gris. Partially fermented in large-format old oak vessels before seven months on lees, it is concentrated and weighty – like honeyed peaches and cream in a sweet pastry case – cut through by bright, cleansing acidity.

Kumeu River may be famous for its world-class Chardonnays but winemaker Michael Brajkovich MW is clearly a dab hand with Pinot Gris too. This is superb value for the quality (Wine Society members can pick it up for just £9.99!), offering a juicy, creamy mouthful of spiced pear and custard, zesty acidity and a long nutty finish with a lingering floral perfume.

Very pretty onion skin colour thanks to time on skins, and while these are still young estate plantings, there is impressive depth and concentration. Aromas of baked apple, quince, and ripe peach and pear leap from the glass, continuing on the rich palate where baking spices and creamy lees notes join brisk, cleansing acidity.

An average vine age of 25 years brings real depth and intensity here. Pretty, lifted apple, pear and blossom aromas continue on the rich, off-dry (9g/L residual sugar) palate, which shows a more honeyed stone fruit character. Crisp acidity ensures it remains elegant, not heavy. Good value.

A generous and rich Pinot Gris very much in the Alsace style, with 12g/L of residual sugar and some gentle oak spicing. Sourced mainly from the Seddon and Taylors Pass vineyards, it is wonderfully creamy on the soft, round palate, which boasts flavours of mango, custard apple and baked pears.

Appealingly smoky and spicy with notes of ripe melon alongside the juicy pear. More of a tropical style, with a creamy, leesy undertone to the round, rich and quite weighty palate and a bright lemon acid line running through the finish.

There's a sprinkle of baking spices and white blossom on this bright and breezy Pinot Gris that shows nice balance between refreshingly crisp green apple acidity and fleshy, juicy pear and white peach fruit on the round medium-bodied palate.

This offers a generous, weighty mouthful of ripe nectarine and fresh pear along with creamed honey and sweet baking spices. Teetering on the edge of off dry, the crisp orange-juice acidity keeps the palate refreshed.

A straightforward example with aromas and flavours of juicy pear, honey, jasmine and warm spice tones. It's not particularly complex, but the fruit is generous, the palate round and there's enough sweet citrus acidity to balance.