A pinot blanc derivation and very enjoyable, this starts with a buttery shortbread and strawberry character. Something floral too, lilies? Peppery, broad palate. Real minerality too.

Slightly corked, I think, although not horrendously so. Something funky on the nose for sure. Otherwise some gamey interest. Palate a little short.

Oaky nose, forest floor some very subtle Bakewell notes. Later some freshly sliced mushroom. Beyond these aromas which dominate the nose also has a sweet / umami thing going on at the intersection of Worcestershire sauce and HP sauce. Palate a little tight. Decent.

Plum and mulled spice nose, later some blueberries a spot of polish and some cranberry juice tartness. Palate compact but not as drying as some. Later some sweet cherry comes through. Good effort by 4th favourite of the night.

Paler with initially some trodden tomato, red fruits too with a twist of ground white pepper. Later a faint citrus notes like someone has dropped a pipette of grapefruit juice into the glass. Sweet, lightweight and modern. Palate has some savoury, meary notes with some bright fruit. A tad clunky.

Reduced nose to start with lots of dissolved CO2. Some celery stick later some old school slightly sweet date spiciness comes through. Palate a little short and out of balance for me.

Slow out of the blocks but when it does emerge there is a high pedigree wine here. Some beef carpaccio in basil oil. Some white pepper and pineapple stalk too. Palate starts fairly tight but opens up, real depth. Good but not mind blowing.

On pouring in addition to the red fruits there is subtle sweetness that reminds me of childhood grilled ripe banana with brown sugar, with air some lovely tertiary autumn leaves and some crushed walnut emerges. Something meaty and in the aniseed spectrum, reminds me of crumbled Camisa fennel sausages. Palate, like a few others, a little short and one dimensional. Final sip has a subtle raspberry jam sweetness to it.

Flawed - not poured.

Muscular and dark fruited, a lovely tart / sweet / sour kumquat character, later some star anise emerges. Palate is dark fruited and peppery, really interesting nose leaning towards rosehip puree. Yum. My 3rd favourite wine of the night.

Nose has sous bois, red currants and a clove / candied orange zest that reminds me of a hot cross bun. Once again takes time to show much on the palate but some spicy interest in time, tannins fine and correct.

Iodine and brine on the nose here. Some almond puree too and Morello cherry. Palate is classing and giving (phew!) spicy and perfectly balanced. My wine of the night. Cracking.

Leafy blackcurrants and a sweetness that nods to hazelnut praline. Palate is bracing with a cherry squash character. With air it pulls itself together to a degree but doesn't move me.

Nose has a saline caper quality with some icing sugar dusted blueberries. Later some lemon and lime sherbet boiled sweets in the distance. Palate once more not the most giving with some tartness on pouring that resolves a little.

This opens with a quince jelly sweetness that complements the sliced plums providing the fruit interest. There is some talcum powder too and some redcurrants. With time a hint of classy Montelimar nougat as well. Palate has more of the fruits above but doesn't quite deliver what the nose suggests. My second wine of the night.

Deeper, darker and more brooding that the Engel. There is some polishes walnut dresser and cherry fruits. Palate shorter than one would hope.