Tesco Finest Awatere Valley Pinot Grigio 2011 (New Zealand)

Nose:  Light and citrusy, not that sweet - maybe a bit of green apple.

Taste:  Slightly sweeter than expected from the nose.  Still at the sweetness level of green apple though.

Finish:  Slight citrus sourness that balances off the apple.

What we say:  S - 'I was expecting some vanilla in there, but I don't think it's there'  V - 'It's a refreshing citrus nose - almost green apple as well though'  S - Yeah, I agree with the apple.'  S - 'For a second I almost thought I tasted black licorice, but that would be unusual, wouldn't it?'  V - 'I think it's simple, but it's well-done' S - 'This is a pretty dry Pinot Grigio - I've had sweeter ones, and I think I prefer this one over the others'

What they say:  Aromas of rose petals and honeysuckle with flavour of ripe pears and quince with a fruity, crisp finish.

Rating:  7

Price:  £9.99

Famille Perrin l'Oustalet 2012 (France)

Nose:  Deep cherry and oak, but perhaps more on the cherry side of things.  Not overly sweet.

Taste:  Smooth and berrish - pretty medium and nondescript overall.  Pretty drinkable though.

Finish:  Bloom of medium tannins at the end with a little bit of lingering sweetness.

What we say:  S - "Maybe those raspberries, but black?  What are they called?"  V - "Blackberries?"  S - "Yeah, those!"  V - "I keep going back and forth about whether it's predominantly cherry or oak" S - "It's kind of like typical French wine, isn't it?  They're all kind of like this."  V - "It's unremarkable but not bad."

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  6

Price:  £13.99

Tesco Finest W.O. Swartland Shiraz 2012 (South Africa)

Nose:  Cherries, dark berries, with definite oakiness.

Taste: Like a dark berry fizz. It's hard to pinpoint.

Finish:  Somewhat bitter.  Medium tannins that don't last particularly long.

What we say:  S - "I smell a little bit of gym sock" V - "I think it's a hint of cough syrup."  "Oh, I spilled it a bit.  I hope I didn't spill it on my thesis.  Can you imagine if I came into the viva with wine stains on my thesis?'  V - "The mouth feel is really liquidy."  S - "I don't think it feels as thin as other watery wines.  Do you think there's something bubbly to it, almost prickly?"  V - "The finish almost stays on your tongue" S - "Yeah, like you can scrape it off.  Like moss in a forest."

What they say:  Spicy, packed with dark cherry and bramble fruits.  A hint of vanilla and a smooth, elegant style.

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

Price:  £6.99

Westinghouse Chardonnay Viognier 2011 (USA)

Nose:  Very fresh with prominent citrus and a hint of vanilla.

Taste:  Somewhat dry and smooth

Finish:  Citrus finish with a hint of sweetness, but a bitterness as well that stays with you.

What we say:  V - 'Bananas?" S - 'It could be lychee fruit'  V - 'I still smell ripe bananas'  S - 'I can't really taste anything.  Maybe the aftertaste is a bit banana-y?' 'I find it really weird.  It's an odd flavour.  I can't place the little that I can taste.  It's not bad though.'  V - 'It's definitely a summer wine - might work well on a superhot day.'  S - 'Yeah, but not a British summer, a proper summer'

What they say:  5.5 (S - 6; V - 5)

Rating:  Fusion of citrussy, butterscotch-edged Chardonnay and floral, honeyed Viognier, with a touch of oak.

Price:  £9.99

Domaine les Herbes Blanches Ventoux 2012 (France)

Nose:  Quite potent with dark red berries and good bit of oakiness.  Almost a bit tart.

Taste:  Dry, with some dark berry flavour overall but not particularly distinct.

Finish:  A bit of spiciness at the end.  Lasting tannins.

What we say:  V - 'Almost licorice on the nose?'  S - 'Yeah, a bit bitter.  I can almost taste it in the smell.'  'I think I recognise the smell.  I want to say... grapes?  No!  Apple juice!'  S - 'There's a little bit of Christmas in the taste'

What they say:  Round, balanced, fruit-driven wine with spicy notes.

Rating:  4

Price:  ‎£11.99

Tesco Finest Mendoza Malbec 2012 (Argentina)

Nose:  Cherries, some sort of spice (but not a Christmas spice), with a bit of oak.  Almost damp or like cheese.

Taste:  A little bit of spice, sort of Christmas, but only a hint.  Almost a bit caramelly.

Finish:  Minerals or pepper - not much in the way of tannins.

What we say:  V - 'It's almost like some type of green herb on the nose.' 'Almost like that weird M&S wine we had ages ago.'  S - 'It wouldn't be clover, right?  They don't put clover in wine' V - 'Cloves?' S - 'Yes, cloves.'  S - 'It's pretty straight-forward, and decent - it's not bad.  There is something Christmassy about it'

What they say:  Blackberry and plum flavours with lighter notes of blueberry and a dry yet fruity finish.

Rating:  5.5 (V - 6; S - 5)

Price:  £7.99

Vespertine Old Vine Zinfandel 2012 (USA)

Nose:  Originally pretty light, but it got heavier as things went along. Definite cherry, dark fruits and some oakiness, maybe with something spicy at the end.  Has an overriding earthiness/dampness.

Taste:  Pretty dry, cherries/dark cherries.  Small elements of sweetness.

Finish: A bit tart with medium tannins.  Minerals at the very end.

What we say:  S - "The nose is almost damp, or musty?'  V - 'Sort of like a spiced cherry cake?'  S -  'I just smell all kinds of weird things.  Like I just smelled meat, which I'm pretty sure is not actually in there.'  'Is there a smokiness to it, like hickory?' 'Now I smell wet dog - it changes all the time'  V- 'Definitely has the aftertaste of mineral water' 'It's dry, but the tartness is messing me up a bit.'  S - 'I taste hickory now'  V - 'Yeah, it's just a little bit smokey'  S - 'Every time I sip this I think it tastes like something different.  It's like the candy in Willy Wonka'

What they say:  A wine of immense charm and character. Fruit is at the fore - blackcurrant and classic raisin notes, supported by perfectly structured vanilla oak tones.

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

Price: £17.99

C4 Barossa Valley Chardonnay 2011 (Australia)

Nose:  Fruity, kind of a sweet citrus.  Maybe a bit of vanilla that gives it the sweet element.

Taste:  Almost like a really fresh grape, but not as sweet.  Pretty crisp.

Finish:  Somewhat bitter but not unpleasant - maybe minerals.

What we say: S - 'Wow, it's strong. I think I can smell it from here.... or is that just the flowers?'  V - 'The finish tastes like dessert.'  S - 'It's pretty fresh and refreshing'  V - 'I have no idea what that taste is.'  S - 'It's a bit tangy, or tart.'  V - 'It's sort of like mineral water without the bubbles.'  S - 'It's crisp, like when you have the first coating of ice on something.'

What they say:  Fresh and vibrant with tropical notes and a mid-weight body.

Rating:  7 (S - 8; V - 6)

Price:  £9.99

Tesco Finest Malbec Pays d'Oc AOC 2012 (France)

Nose:  Definitely on the oaky side of things, with a bit of dark berries and cherry.

Taste: Maybe blackcurrents?  Some sort of fruit.  A little bit watery.

Finish:  The tannins bloom quite quickly and linger quite a while.  A bit too much overall - it detracts from the experience.

What we say:  S - 'The nose is definitely pencil crayons and cherry.'  V - 'What else is going on there, is it more than just wood, something slightly harsh?'  S - 'The taste reminds me of some type of juice - something purple.  Maybe like my Dad's gløgg.' 'Do you think it will taste different after eating an olive?' V - 'Oh yeah, it tastes sweeter'

What they say: Rich aromas of plum, bramble and wafts of wild herbs.  A rich mouthfeel with dark fruit flavours with a smooth, plummy finish.

Rating: 4

Price: £6.99

ICONO El Boqueron 2009 (Spain)

Nose: A little sharp with dark woody berries.

Taste:  A little fuzzy on the tongue, a bit bitter, but smooth in the middle.  Pretty fruity overall, but dry.

Finish:  Nice balanced tannins  - well balanced overall.  We recommend for Christmas dinner

What we say:  V - "I'm getting a lot more oak on the nose on the second go around"  S - "Is it peppery?"  V- "I quite like the nose.  It's good balance between berries and wood."  S - "It's a forest.  In the fall.  But not soggy.  Like a fresh, crisp day"  "I can smell the greens - like parsley."  S - "The taste is not caramelly, but it's something like that.  Like thick, dark, berry juice."  "It's well-balanced... I think... I'm not even sure what that terms means, but I'm going to use it anyway.'  V - "There's a tiny hint of festivities."  S - "Do you think it's cinnamon?"

What they say:  Shows an array of ripe fruits, swathed in dense and sweet-cured oak flavours.  A polished nose of black cherries and cassis, the same on the palate with hints of cocoa and molasses and hints of mineral to finish.

Rating:  7.5 (S - 7; V - 8)

Price:  £11.99

Hardys Stamp of Australia Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2012

Nose:  Definitely dark red berries and a little oaky, but in a damp way.

Taste:  Pretty tart overall, with a quick smoothy-sweetness at the beginning.  But the tartness lingers in your mouth.

Finish:  Some tannins, but pretty thin.

What we say:  V - 'The nose is a bit mossy?'  S - 'Yeah, a little bit of moss at the end.'  V - 'Moss is kind of a funny word.'  S - 'The taste is pretty generic, a little sweet, but not too much, a bit sour, but not too much.'  'There's not much to the finish....  Aaaahhkkk.' V - 'The tartness of the wine doesn't really go well with the tannins in the finish. It's not a great transition from sour to bitter.'  'Is Hardys Australian for wine?'

What they say: This vibrant wine displays ripe berry and plum fruit flavour, complemented by a soft, sweet vanillin oak background.

Rating: 3.5 (S - 3; V - 4)

Price:  £6.00

Aldi Côtes du Rhône AOC Cuvée Réserve 2012

Nose:  Somewhat light, mostly on the oaky side with a touch of fruit.

Taste:  Medium dry, based mostly on cherry but not overpowering or sweet.

Finish:  Medium tannins on the finish that are reasonably long.

What we say:  S - 'Definitely woody in the smell, but I can't really tell much except that.  Seems dry'  V - 'I think I'm liking the nose more as I smell it.'  V - 'It tastes like the opposite of a sun dried cherry - as if they just sucked a bit of the sugar out of it.'  S - 'Yeah, it's not like cough syrup.'

What they say:  Bright, fresh and packed with juicy, fragrant fruits.  A great food wine.

Rating: 5.5 (S - 5; V - 6)

Price:  £3.59

Hagnauer Burgstall Spätburgunder 2011 (Germany)

Nose:  Sort of fruity, maybe a bit of pepper or spice.  Definitely has a bit of a punch.  Just a tiny bit of wood.

Taste:  Reasonably dry with dark berries prominent.

Finish:  Medium tannins

What we say:  V - "It almost smells like dessert, or Christmas, or something"  S - "The finish seems a bit metallic or minerally, but I don't know if that's just because of the pesto we ate"  V - "It's similar to the one last night, but has a tannin finish instead of just being sour and a more interesting nose" "The problem is that it's still not that great"

What they say:  A full-bodied red wine with deep berry and cherry scents.  Strong stature, soft tannins, and dry.

Rating:  4 (a real four, unlike the previous wine that got a bonus point for the wolf...)

Price: €8.99

Schwarzer Wolf Spätburgunder 2010 (Germany)

Nose:  Heavy, with a lot of berries.  Maybe a bit pungent?

Taste:  Tiny bit of sweetness at the beginning.  Maybe a small red berries?  Definitely a bit of wood.

Finish:  Pretty sour on the finish, again with the berry overtones.

What we say:  S - "It's sort of light in colour, almost like a dark rosé colour-wise"  "I suppose it would make sense if it were berries - like the fox would eat'  V - "You mean wolf?"  S - "It almost tastes like there's a touch of carbonated water in it"  V - "It's like a heavy rosé, I almost feel like it should be chilled"  S - "This isn't spectacular, but it kind of matches the label.  Besides, how can you not buy a bottle of wine with a wolf on it with Schwarzer Wolf in gold letters?  It's like the 90s equivalent of the wolf tshirts.  It's what you would expect of these wolf tshirts, except in wine form."

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  4 (and this might be generous because of the wolf.  Aaooooooo....)

Price: €7.99

Hagnauer Burgstall Müller-Thurgau Kabinett 2012 (Germany)

Nose:  Initially pretty citrusy, but there's something else going on there. A bit of lemon meringue? There's something.

Taste:  Dry. There's something a tiny bit sweet in the very beginning - something that slightly sets it apart from a normal dry white.

Finish:  A bit mineral-y in the finish.

What we say: V - 'Is there banana here again? A bit of 'spargel'? Or have we just been in Germany too long?'

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rate:  5

Price:  €5.95

Spitalkellerei Konstanz Müller-Thurgau 2011 (Germany)

Nose:  Fresh, lively, and citrusy, on the grapefruit side of things - a bit sweet, maybe a hint of vanilla?

Taste:  A bit tart at the beginning, but only a medium-dry overall - there's a hint of sweetness.

Finish: Interestingly, honey - but not overly sweet at all - just a touch.  Perhaps honeysuckle?

What we say:  S - "It's a bit sweet, what is it?"  "It's almost floral, but it's not - definitely honey."  "I think it's good - it's a good summer wine."  V - "This is reasonably unique from what we've had before in white wine - a good combination of citrus with a smattering of sweetness - I like it."

What they say: Nuttin'

Rating:  7

Price:  €7.29

Meer-Secco Perlwein Weiss (Germany)

Nose:  Citrus and bananas, together at last.  Maybe a little bit of pear as well.

Taste:  Medium-dry and citrus fruity, in a 'multivitamin banana' way.

Finish:  Slight sour aftertaste

What we say:  S - "It smells weird.  Like cough syrup... no, like that banana flavoured medicine you'd get from the doctor when you were ill - but just a touch of it, not to the point that I'm instantaneously disgusted with it."  "I think it almost tastes like Flintstones multivitamins, but not necessarily in a bad way"  V- "It's sort of refreshing and interesting, and the vitamin overtones makes you think it's healthy."

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  5.5 (S - 5; V - 6)

Price:  €6.79

Budavár Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (Hungary)

Nose:  Pretty fruity.  Little bit of oakiness, but mostly fruit.

Taste:  Black currents, kind of a medium red with some sweetness.

Finish:  Very little tannins - pretty unremarkable.

What we say:  V - "It's certainly not unpleasant on the nose, but almost a bit syrupy."  S - "There's something here, not necessarily sweet.  Caramel?  There's something to it - a sort of thickness you'd get from chocolate or caramel - but it's not caramel."  "It's not bad as a very simple wine."  V - "I agree, it doesn't do much, but it's drinkable."  S - "It's very middle of the road.  It's not absent flavour, but it's not particularly exciting."  V - "This is the wine that a 5 was made for."

What they say:  Supple and smooth with natural fruit flavours.

Rating:  5

Price:  £3.49

Finca Los Principes El Rihuelo Rioja 2011 (Spain)

Nose:  Grapey, quite sweet, maybe with blackberry?

Taste:  Sweet in the beginning, but it gets dry.  Either cherry or blackberry.

Finish:  Medium tannins flourishing in the mouth, maybe pepper as well.

What we say:  V - "Maybe cranberries on the nose?"  S - "I don't know.  Maybe those red hard berries?  What are they called?"  "There something lingering and spicy in the end."

What they say:  Intense aromas of blackberry and licorice assembled with roasted coffee and vanilla.  The palate is fresh, long and velvety.

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

Price:  £12.99

Araldica d'Aria Pinot Grigio Rosé 2012 (Italy)

Nose:  Citrusy, though nothing too sweet.

Taste:  Maybe something floral, or strawberry?  But not overpowering.  Pretty dry.

Finish:  A bit tart.

What we say:  S - "I don't know if it's floral, or it just tastes like flowers"  "I've had some bad rosés, but this is ok."

What they say:  Has all the zest and verve of a Pinot Grigio, with some of the flavour and colour from the pink skins squeezed into it.

Rating:   6

Price:  £7.99

Arc du Rhône Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011 (France)

Nose:  Definitely on the oaky side, with underlying dark berries.

Taste:  Thick and almost a little syrupy, dry.

Finish:  Medium-light tannins, a little bit tart

What we say:  V - "It was mostly oak on the nose at first, but I think I'm getting some of the berries now."   S - "There was a flavour I had initially, maybe dark cherry?"  V - "I don't know, I don't think there's a lot more to say about it" S - "Yes, it's certainly not a flavour explosion.  It's solid for what it is, but a bit boring."

What they say:  Ripe, full flavoured with black cherry, plum, black pepper, tapenade, and kirsch.

Rating:  5.5 (V - 6; S - 5)

Price:  £19.99

André Brunel Vin de Pays de Vaucluse 2011 (France)

Nose:  Quite oaky, almost a bit pungent, with dark berries underneath.  Certainly dry.

Taste:  Sweeter than we expected it to be, almost a little bit caramelly.

Finish:  A little tart, not a lot of tannins, but with a little bit of a bite.

What we say:  V - "It's almost like wasabi in your nose."  S - "There's something tingley on your tongue at the end - is that pepper? Or is it just because I have garlic on my fingertips?"

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  6

Price:  £9.99

Cuvée Émile Fleurie 2011 (France)

Nose:  Pretty light, but with some oakiness

Taste:  Dry with berries, most likely cherry or the darker red berries.  Maybe a bit sour.

Finish:  Medium tannins that linger.

What we say:  V - 'It's hard to get much from the nose.'  S - 'Maybe it will be better with food?'  'This is drinkable, but might not be our taste.'

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  5

Price:  £6.00

Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2011 (Chile)

Nose:  Good balance between dark berries and oak, maybe some spiciness or pepper?

Taste:  Definitely red berries, with a little bit of sweetness.  Sort of a medium-dry.

Finish:  Medium-light tannins

What we say:  S - 'Ah, it's one of those smells we've had before.  I always forget what this is!'  V - 'The nose is sort of dessertish'.  V - 'There's a bit of sourness in the finish.' S - 'Yeah, almost like you want to chew on something?'

What they say:  Aromas and flavours of cherry, plum, and strawberry, finished with subtle spiciness.

Rating:  6

Price:  £7.49

Alianca Dão Quinta Da Garrida Reserva 2005 (Portugal)

Nose:  Smoky wood with sweet berries.  Definitely smokey wood - the wood predominates, actually.

Taste:  Dry.  Smokiness comes through in the flavour.

Finish:  Medium tannins with a lingering smokiness.

What we say:  V - 'It's a nice combination with the smoky wood and the cherry.'  S - 'It's that familiar flavour again that I can't place.'  'It's like a bonfire.'  'It reminds me of whiskeys.  It has that sophistication about it.'  'The colour is like thick, fresh blood.'  'If you feel like a smoky wine, I say this is the one you take.'  V - 'I imagine it would be good with beef and stuff.'

What they say:  Subtle balance between fruit flavour and elegant tannins with a long finish.

Rating:  7

Price:  £8

Carmelo Ortega Saxa Loquuntur Rioja 2010 (Spain)

Nose:  Pretty dry, maybe a bit more fruity than oaky

Taste:  A little fruity, but nondescript.

Finish:  Medium tannins

What we say: S - 'Whoa!  The smell is strong - it almost punches you in the nose!'

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  4

Price:  £6.99

Leroy Chevalier Puisseguin Saint-Émilion 2011 (France)

Nose:  Really light, with a tiny bit of oak

Taste:  Definitely oaky and dry

Finish:  Medium tannins, but nothing else of note

What we say:  S - 'The nose has a tiny hint of wet dog.'  V - 'This is possibly the lightest nose we've had.'  S - 'Tastes a little bit lie smokey wet dog.'  V - 'It's pretty unimpressive.  This is why we don't drink French wine.'

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  3

Price:  £6.99

Les Audrelles Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (France)

Nose:  Super light.  Maybe a hint of citrus and a hint of vanilla?  Definitely pear after a while.

Taste:  Really dry and orchardy.  A little bit of sour apple juice.

Finish:  A bit perfumy in the finish?  But there's a lingering sour fruit.

What we say:  S - 'there's somethign sweet by orcahrdy to the smell.'  V - 'It's like it you have a basket of sour fruits.  That's what it takes like.'  S - 'I think it's pretty subtle  but I like it.  It's a relaxed wine for when you want to chill without the over the top flavour explosions.'  V - 'I'm less impressed.  I find it a bit dull.'

What they say:  Citrus fruit with a streak of minerality and gooseberry aromas.

Rating:  5.5 (V- 5; S - 6)

Price:  £9.99

Star & Vine Viognier 2010 (USA)

Nose:  Citrusy and vanilla.  Maybe grapefruit or lemon on the citrus end.

Taste:  Reasonably dry with lychee fruit or starfruit.  Could have some vanilla as well.

Finish:  Quite tart, couldn't decide whether there was floral or just citrus and vanilla.

What we say:  V- 'Banana??' SS - 'Definitely fruity!'  S - 'Maybe a bit like window cleaner at first, or a citrusy household cleaning product.'  J - 'Can something smell 'vigorous'??'  S - 'What was that other wine we thought tasted like lychee fruit?'

What they say:  Characteristic rose blossom, lychee, and ripe pear note, with a zingy lemon-edged acidity.

Rating:  6.6 {SS - 7.5; J - 7; S - 6; V - 6}

Price:  £9.99

Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (South Africa)

Nose:  Light and oaky, not a lot of fruitiness.  Maybe a bit smokey?

Taste:  The berries come out, unlike in the nose.  Dark red berries, but not sweet.  Still tastes a little smokey.

Finish: Some tannins, but mostly just a bit sour at the end.    

What we say:  S - 'Smells like red wine that you cook with beef - there might be a little beef in there, in fact.' 'Might be good cooking wine for beef?'  V - 'It almost has a hint of forest fire...'  S - 'I still think this would go well with beef.'  'It's not bad, nothing spectacular, but decent - slightly about average.'  V - 'Yeah, it isn't bad, but not great.'

What they say:  Wild berry, chocolate, mocha notes and a waft of vanilla on the nose.  On the palate a burst of ripe fruit complimented with delicate oak spice flavours.  Full bodies with firm yet approachable tannins.

Rating:  5.5 (S - 6; V - 5)

Cost:  £8.99

d'Arcana Pinot Grigio 2011 (Italy)

Nose:  Very light but citrusy

Taste:  Fairly dry, maybe pear

Finish:  Somewhat tart

What we say:  V - 'The nose is so light I can't really tell what's going on.'  S - 'You can't put cucumber in wine, can you?'  V - 'There's just not a lot going on here.'

What they say:  Fresh, dry and delicate with floral and citrus aromas

Rating:  4

Price:  £7.49

The Black Pig Shiraz 2010 (Australia)

Nose:  Both berry and oak, maybe with some cinnamon or cloves?  A bit of sweetness, and definitely something spicy.

Taste:  Fruity with spiciness and a bit of oak.  But still dry.

Finish:  Pretty smooth, a small hit of tannins.

What we say:  S - 'Smells like pig... hehehehe.... just joking.'  V - 'The nose is pretty balanced between the fruitiness and the oakiness.  There's also something somewhat bakey about it.'  S - 'It is sort of bakey - almost like you could eat some raw dough.'  'I think my taste buds are failing me...'  V - 'Wow, that's pretty f*cking well balanced.'

What they say: Compared their wine to their pigs, but they clearly love their pigs....

Rating: 8

Price: £10.99

Caminito Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2011 (Argentina)

Nose:  Potent and oaky.  Slightly sweet, some kind of berry, possibly black current.

Taste:  Oaky throughout - pretty heavy.

Finish:  Relatively tart

What we say:  L - 'Oh no, I just gave myself a mustache...'  'I like it for the TO, like Toronto!'  S - 'Oh, there, there was something there.'

What they say:  A beautiful, fragrant wine with vibrant red fruit.

Rating:  7.3 (V - 7; S - 7; L - 8)

Price:  £9.99

Le Dolci Colline Prosecco (Italy)

Nose:  Light, vaguely citrusy and sweet.  Fresh.

Taste:  Citrusy in initial flavour.  Medium-dry.  A bit of bitterness to it, like lemon rind.

Finish:  Minerally, with baked lemon rind.

What we say:  L - 'It smells like pee, but just my pee, because I pee Prosecco.'  V - 'Is there liquorice in the smell?'  L&V - 'No!'

What they say:  Oodles of apple and peach on the nose and an interesting soft finish.

Rating:  7

Price:  £8.99

Lateral Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (Chile)

Nose:  Sweet berries, a little bit of wood

Taste:  Medium-dry, kind of non-discript.  Not particularly exciting.  Borderline light 'smooth drinking' wine.

Finish:  Minerals?  Almost no tannins.

What we say:  V - 'What's the nose?  It's a bit unusual.  There's something there that we've had before that's almost earthy.  It's almost like that weird M&S wine we had ages ago.'  S - 'Maybe something damp and wet?  Like salt water or seaweed?'  S - 'There's a mineral finish that I think is linked to the dark wet.'  'This certainly isn't one of my favourites.'  'Maybe it has Llama in it?  Could that be the wet damp?'

What they say:  Fruity and deep  with smooth tannins and a chocolatey finish.

Rating:  4.5 (S - 4; V - 5)

Price:  £6.79

Billy Bosch Pinotage-Shiraz 2012 (South Africa)

Nose:  Reasonably sweet and juicy, almost no oakiness.  Cherries

Taste:  Definitely cherry, but with something else.  Slight sweetness.

Finish:  Quite tart with long lasting tannins.

What we say:  V - 'It almost smells like dessert, or maybe cough syrup'  'Well, that's a finish that keeps going.'  S - 'What's the fuzziness of it?  It's sort of tickley on the tongue.'  'It is a bit cough-syrupy in the taste.'  V - 'It's pretty easy drinking once you get into it.'

What they say:  Perfect balance between upfront spicy red fruit flavours and wonderfully warming notes of liquorice and cherries.

Rating:  5

Price:  £8.49

Seraph Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (France)

Nose:  Quite citrusy, possibly pineapple, reasonably light.  Maybe vanilla, we weren't quite sure - something slightly sweet.

Taste:  Pretty light and smooth overall - not particularly sweet.  Definitely has citrus going on.

Finish:  Floral finish - still pretty smooth.

What we say:  S - 'Almost apple juice in the initial smell - or... coconut?'  'Yep, it's apple juice (when tasting)' 'Ah - it's flowers, it's not vanilla.  It's like perfume in the finish.'  V - 'Yeah, but you get a dominant citrus punch initially.'  S - 'Yes, but the floral finish is the second layer.'  V - 'It's true.  This is just complex enough to be more interesting than the usual wine we've been drinking.'

What they say:  Fine and minerally with intense fruit.

Rating:  6.5 (V - 7; S - 6)

Price:  £9.99

Pérez Cruz Single Vineyard La Miguera Block 2010 (Chile)

Nose:  Quite woody with a hint of dark berries.

Taste:  Definitely berries, maybe cherries.  Definitely a medium-dry, but not too sweet.

Finish:  Very light tannins, super smooth.

What we say:  S - 'Oh, the taste is definitely berries!'  V - 'I think I like my wines to have a bit more bite at the end.' 'It's really drinkable, but maybe a bit boring?' S - 'Yeah, but it's not bad.'  'There's really not too much to the finish.'  'I don't think it's too boring, because you do get that taste of berries - it's not 'generic' red, but it's not that complex.  It's just a decent, drinkable wine.'  'It's a wine you could certainly enjoy just sitting, typing away, and sipping from time to time.'

What they say:  Tremendous structure, concentration, and fruit expression.

Rating:  6

Price:  £19.99

Freehand Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (New Zealand)

Nose:  Quite fragrant, slightly citrusy and sweet, possibly lychee fruit or melon.  Very fresh.

Taste:  Medium, not sweet, and possibly melon.  Reasonably light in flavour, but developing in the finish.

Finish:  Slightly sour, but pretty quick.

What we say:  S - "Wow, what is that?  It's like a sweet melon or lychee fruit or something."  V - "Yeah, the nose is strikingly different.  I'm afraid that the taste might only disappoint from this point."  S - "It really strikes the balance between sweet and dry."

What they say:  Fresh grassy and stonefruit notes on the bouquet and a luscious palate of ripe peach and passion fruit.

Rating:  6.5 (S - 7; V - 6)

Price:  £10.99

Piccini Memoro (Italy)

Nose:  Juicy berries, possibly blackberries or dark red berries.  Definite oakiness as well.

Taste: Slightly sweet, heavy and thick.

Finish:  Reasonable tannins that don't linger, with either a vanilla or cinnamon (we disagreed on this) finish afterwards.

What we say:  V - 'It's a bit strange - it was all oak on the first go, all berry on the second.'  'The berry scent is a bit different, but I can't figure out what it is - maybe cherry pie?'  S - 'It's almost syrupy without being sweet like a syrup.'

What they say:  Plenty of rich black cherry flavour, with coffee and tobacco on the nose, and hints of dried figs and prunes.

Rating:  6

Price:  £9.49

Beneficio McLaren Vale Shiraz 2010 (Australia)

Nose:  Juicy and reasonably oaky, overall medium.

Taste:  Very berry, possibly dark cherries, pretty dry through.  Relatively heavy.

Finish:  Quite bitter - some serious and long lasting tannins.

What we say:  V - 'I'm just getting a whole pile of oak, the nose is quite dry.'  S - 'The tannins are sticking on the roof of my mouth'  'It feels kind of French to me - heavy and tanniny.'  V - 'Except better than the French wine we've had.'  'It's pretty drinkable, but not particularly remarkable.'

What they say:  Elegant and balance in weight with structured velvet tannins, underpinned by dark berry fruit, liquorice and hues of cassis.

Rating:  6

Price:  £17.99

Villa Taurini Piemonte DOC Barbera 2010 (Italy)

Nose:  Quite oaky at first, which is reasonably heavy, followed by red berries, probably cherry or other types of bittersweet berries.  Dry.

Taste:  Definitely berryish and quite tart.

Finish:  Somewhat of a sour finish, very little tannins.

What we say: V - 'I think the red berries are pretty pronounced in the nose.' S - 'I can't really smell the fruit past the woodiness; maybe I'm just terrible at smelling.'  'The taste isn't as woody as I would have expected from the nose.'  V - It's a little bit of a letdown after the nose.' S - 'Yeah, I'm not a big fan of it.  It might be a wine that you need to pair with food.'

What they say: Full of luscious fruit flavours and some subtle spicy notes, it is a fresh and vibrant wine.

Rating:  4.5  (S - 4; V - 5)

Price:  £6.99

Il Corvo Nero d'Avola 2010 (Italy)

Nose:  Predominant dark berries with a slight oakiness.  Somewhat sweet.

Taste:  Somewhat tart and light, although we were eating some strong cheeses at the time.  Definitely smooth. Lighter than expected with definite red berries.


Finish:  Bloom of tannins in the finish, but not really overpowering.

What we say: V - "The nose is berries all over the place."  S - "What is that taste?  We've had it before.  Is it berries?"  "Yeah, it's like a flower blooming with the tannins.  Not like a firecracker, which is all like 'boom,' but a gradual pffffffssh.'  'It's a good wine, but nothing spectacular - it's not particularly complex.'  'Did they say leather?  Is there horse?  "Oh no, not the wine too!!"' L - 'It stings your nostrils a little bit.' V - 'It's ok, kind of watery in the finish.'

What they say: Bursting with dark fruits, black cherry, plum and blackberries, with savoury notes of leather and black peppercorn slowly emerging with a hint of liquorice.

Rating: 6.3 (S - 5; V - 6; L - 8)

Price: £8.99