Vega Del Cega Valdepeñas 2010 (Spain)

Nose: Sweet, definitely fruity, full

Taste: Smooth, a little bit sweet, a little bit bitter, but not like the previous ones. Like red fruits.

Finish: A cherry finish?

What we say: S&V - "We're biased, we drink this all the time. Possibly the best value for money in the UK"

What they say: Balanced and fruity wine with a flavour reminiscent of red berries.

Rating: 7 (V - 6; S - 8)

Vineris Bordeaux 2010 (France)

Nose:  Citrusy, sharp, maybe woody

Taste:  Floral? More woodiness in taste.

Finish: Definite bitter finish

What we say: V- "It's smooth and drinkable, but that's about all you can say about it."

What they say: Rounded and full-bodied bouquet


Rating: 5.5 (V - 5; S - 6)

Namaqua Elephant River Reserve Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (South Africa)

Nose: Not very strong, but pleasant smell.  Smells like a big something - berries?  Cherry?

Taste:  Way more bitter than anticipated, and a sharp bitterness.

Finish:  The bitterness lingers...

What they say:  Rich and supple; flavours and aromas of spicy red and blackberries with vanilla oak.  Long and smooth finish.

What we say: V - "It's a fun colour" "Smelling it is like cocaine - a big burst followed by nothing." S - "The taste is a bit surprising, I was expecting it to be a bit more sweet and well-rounded."

Rating: 3.5 (V - 4; S - 3)

Cimarosa Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (Chile)

Nose:  Fruity in a sour way, like soured fruits. :)  Quite pleasant though.

Taste:  A little bit sweet, certainly not as dry as the previous Sauvignon.

Finish:  Sour but not poorly so.

What they say: Fresh and fruity.

What we say: S - "I'm having trouble smelling today."

Rating: 5

Sauvignon Blanc Touraine AOC 2010 (France)

Nose: Super fruity and sweet like pears. V says it smells like pear cider.

Taste: Dry fruitiness, pretty dry.

Finish: Weirdly bitter at the end. Aftertaste is a bit sharp.

What they say: Dry mineral character with citrus fruit flavours.

What we say: V - "Am I the only one who's getting distinct notes of soap on the finish??"

Rating: 4 (V - 3; S - 5)

Tronos Shiraz Reserva 2010 (Chile)

Nose: Strong smell - pretty aromatic.  Could smell it even before we poured it into the glass.  Sharp, definitely not berries.

Taste: Quite nice at first, maybe cloves or something similar?  S thinks it's floral.

Finish: Good lingering finish that's pleasant.

What they say: Aromas of blackberries, chocolate and vanilla. Full bodied aromatic wine with a long-lasting finish.

What we say: V - "Velvety from the taste all the way down. This is definitely the best we've had so far. This is a wine I'd buy again."

Rating: 6.5 (V - 6; S - 7)

Le Petiole Ventoux Rouge AOC 2010 (France)

Nose:  Smooth, light on the nose.  Sweet with some kind of berry.

Taste:  Hint of sweetness on first taste, but with a sharp tang.  Cherry, perhaps?

Finish:  Super-light on the end, almost zero.  This is particularly the case at first, though it seems to increase as time goes on.

What they say:  Ripe cherry aromas and delicious scent of crushed mulberry and black current.  Warm spices and long, elegant finish.

What we say:  V - "A simple wine that does its thing"  S - "Perhaps a bit boring."  "Almost a hint of flavour  but it disappears before it can evolve into anything."  "Might be ok with cheese in that it is so mild that if you had a strong cheese it could counterbalance it nicely."

Rating:  4.5 (S - 4; V - 5)

Faustino V Reserva Rioja 2004 (Spain)

Nose:  Smooth, but with a subtle sharpness

Taste:  At the edge of full-bodied, a bit bitter

Finish:  Unremarkable

What they say:  Extra smooth, silky and elegant

What we say:  V - "It's drinkable.  If you brought it to a party, no one would be disappointed.  It's a middle of the road wine.  It doesn't go for much, but is good at what it does."

Rating:  5 (V - 4; S - 6)

Lagunilla Reserva 2006 Rioja (Spain)

Nose:  Quite nice, definitely woody, possibly cherry

Taste:  Drier than expected.  Unsweetened berries.  Almost a bit sour, as if someone put lemon in it.

Finish:  Dies pretty quickly.  Finish not really distinct from palate - it just blends in.

What they say:  Cherry red in colour with tasty aromas.  Smooth and round with wild fresh fruit on the palate, soft tannins and notes of oak.

What we say:  S - "Tastes like berries and woods"

Rating:  5