Lean, dry, a bit soapy. Neutral fruit and marked acid verging on the tart, but just about resolved in the end. I wonder if this is how the early German experiments with fully dry styles in the 1980s tasted? (Much improved by some crab toasts)

One of the newest estates in the region, this is closer to an Australian style of riesling than anything Germanic with its pretty, slightly floral nose. Thankfully it lacks the rubber and lime of the rieslings of Clare and Eden and although the palate is a little dilute, it is ultimately fresh and elegant and just off dry. Unsurprisingly it showed rather better with some sushi.

One of the more compelling entry level rieslings of the Finger Lakes, this felt like it had some relation to its German heritage but was equally capable of existing in its own right. There's some peach and melon to the palate and a nice, brightly fruited quality that was refreshing and stimulating with a pleasingly juicy finish. A respectful nod to the Mosel?

While this was my wine of the night, I confess it was because it was the most Mosel in style and for me the most succulent, fruity (flat peach and mango) and balanced, particularly on the crucial criteria of acid against sugar. Given my experiences of presenting Mosel riesling to those who are not already keen on them, and on the opinions of other tasters who were not already enthusiastic about sweeter riesling, this is unlikely to appeal to those who aren't positively disposed to those styles since it will come across as lacking in acid when in fact it is simply 'lacking' in dryness. However it must be said that there is no way I would pay the going UK rate of £20+ for this wine as you can get equally good wines for about £12 from Germany.

Labelling this as a late harvest is slightly confusing, I have to say, since the European wines labelled this way tend to be significantly sweeter. This is about twice as sweet, if you like, than the semi-dry riesling of the same vintage, so it's the Spatlese to the latter's Kabinett. It's good, but quite closed with some peach and apricot just emerging from the elastoplast on the nose. Perhaps it will come round with time.

Contributed as a joke bottle, the packaging is dreadful and it's actually bottled in a vinegar bottle with a screwcap rather than a wine bottle with a stelvin closure. I'm afraid that's where the interest ends however as this wine is devoid of any flavour.

Simple and fruity on the nose - I'm surprised this is mainly cabernet sauvignon and franc since it smells very merlot-led. The palate has good freshness and vigour, then obvious oak quickly followed up with an offputting sweetness exhibiting itself as white chocolate and cherryade which rather spoils it for me I'm afraid.