Stephen Brook: A bit cloudy—don’t they have filters in California? Powerful apricot nose, with some tropical-fruit aromas. Fat and bold, this is rather heavy and clumsy and surely has some residual sugar, as well as evident alcohol. Bitter and hot on the finish. This is already tiring, and couldn’t have had much freshness or vigor in the first place 12

Alison Buchanan: Cloudy—unfiltered; this does not make a particularly positive first impression. The nose equally smells like mid-ferment must with a focus of white currant. Getting past the look and smell, there is good wine to be had underneath it all—though a bit too much winemaking (barring filtering, of course). Rich, caramelized orchard fruit dominates the palate, layered with mocha and vanilla cream, with hints of caramelized macadamia nuts. Tiring, and could come from anywhere hot 12

Anthony Rose: This is worryingly cloudy, suggesting a lack of filtration (deliberate, presumably), which is all very well, but it’s not a great look in a wine glass unless you’re expecting it. There’s some smoky oak on the nose and a feeling of whole bunch-pressed Chardonnay with leesy solids aiming to bring a degree of complexity. It’s crafted, worked stuff, and the slightly bitter finish conspires to create an overall feeling of charmlessness 13