Ramada Tinto 2009 (Portugal)

Nose: Sharp, maybe floral? Musky?

Taste: Sweet at the beginning.

Finish: Nice finish given the rather unremarkable beginning.

What we say: V - "I like the finish." S - "I don't know what to say about it, but it's not bad."

What they say: Dry, soft and smooth taste. Fruity aromas of fresh cherries and raspberries. Fruity aftertaste with a spicy note on the palate.

Rating: 5

Campo Rojo Gran Seleccion 2008 (Spain)

Nose: Sweet red berries, nice aroma.  Cherries, blackberries and strawberries? Definitely a hit of cherry at the beginning.

Taste: Pretty dry and almost a bit pungent, particularly towards the end.

Finish: Quite a long, bitter finish.

What we say:  V - "Not quite as sweet as I expected it to be from the nose - it's far more dry." S - "It started off better, but then it got bitter, and I don't know why."



What they say: Mineral notes with berry and licorice hints, followed by smokey aromas.

Rating: 3.5 (V - 3, S - 4)

Prestige and Calvet Bordeaux Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (France)

Nose: Pretty light, nothing distinguishable.

Taste: Pretty dry all the way through.

Finish: See quote below.

What we say:  V - "There's a finish to it, and it's long, but it's not really related to the first bit.... or maybe it's the opposite, that it doesn't change at all?" "There's just not that much to say about it, it's pretty boring."  S - "Smells a bit like pencil crayon!" "It's a shame about the taste, because the label is kind of nice."



What they say: Full and fruity with a long, smooth aftertaste.

Rating: 4

Matsu El Picaro 2010 Toro (Spain)

Nose: Heavy, but not strong. Dense.

Taste: Red berries, a bit sweet.

Finish: Almost no finish to speak of.

What we say: S - "It reminds me of the mulled berry punch. It's a punch of berries that doesn't do much." V - "The nose is definitely something more than wine, but I can't figure out what it is." "It's a one-hit wonder."

What they say: Full-bodied and powerful.

Rating: 6

Tarragona Gran Reserva 2005 (Spain)

Nose: Woody, with berries.

Taste: Full, smooth, with berries.

Finish: Very little bitterness.

What we say: S&V - "L picks out good wine, one of the better wines we've had to date."

What they say: Rich and full-bodied.

Rating: 7

Kumala Zenith Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz 2010 (South Africa)

Nose: Sharp, blackberries?  Maybe even blueberries.

Taste: Earthy, super well-balanced, smooth.

Finish: A little bit of bitterness. The finish is sort of unremarkable.

What we say: V - "It smells like strawberry fruit roll-up - a hint, right at the end .... it's totally strawberry fruit roll-up!" "The taste grows towards the middle and has a nice fade.  If there were a taste graph over time, it does what you want."

What they say:  Smooth, full-bodied with red berry fruit, plums, and a hint of spice on the rich, lingering finish.

Rating:  6.5 (S - 7; V - 6)

Sandpiper Carignan-Shiraz Reserve 2009 (France)

Nose: Sharp, possibly something sweet underneath.

Taste:  Tart, tastes like something familiar in the beginning, like cranberry maybe?

Finish: Bitter

What we say: V- "It's not really distinctively anything."


What they say: Soft and approachable

Rating: 4

Canyon Creek Merlot 2010 (USA)

Nose:  Definitely not oaky, more on the berry side of things.  Cherries/blackberries?

Taste:  Unremarkable.

Finish:  Bitter in the finish, almost sour.





What we say:  V- "It smells like a dessert." "It doesn't have any distinguishable taste to it. It just tastes like a standard tannin-y red, almost like what they would serve at Communion."

What they say:  Hints of vanilla, aromas of black cherry, vanilla and pepper.  Taste of blackberries and blueberries.

Rating:  3.5 (S - 3; V - 4)

Hacienda López de Haro Tempranillo 2009 (Spain)

Nose: Super light to non-existent.

Taste: Pretty unremarkable, maybe a little woody.

Finish: A tiny bit of bitterness, but almost nothing to it.

What we say: S - "There's nothing exciting about it. I wouldn't buy it again." V - "That's about as light as you can get in a wine. It's almost the opposite of full-bodied - it basically does nothing. I think the only good thing about the wine is that it's not gross and it will get you tipsy, but I can't say anything more than that."

What they say: Tastes like red fruits and licorice.

Rating: 3  

El Rastro Tempranillo (Spain)

Nose: Pretty light, woody. Berries? Definitely on the oaky side of things.

Taste: Medium body. It doesn't really overpower you. Drinkable.

Finish: Berries in the finish. A little bit bitter.

What we say: S - "There's something that tastes familiar, I just can't put my nose on it." "It's definitely unique, unlike anything we've had so far, and I like that. But even though it offers something new, I still think some of the other wines we've had are better." V - "It's weird, what the hell is that taste?" "As I keep drinking it, it gets increasingly generic."

What they say: Aromas of black currants and bilberries. Balanced palate. Soft, gentle and fruity.

Rating: 6

Mesta Tempranillo 2010 (Spain)

Nose: Sweet. Berries, but something more specific. Maybe green apple. A bit of an unremarkable nose.

Taste: A sweetness to it, but dry. Super smooth. Pretty light for a red.

Finish: The finish is really clean. A bit of bitterness at the end.

What we say: V - "It certainly doesn't hit you over the head with flavour. It's good, but is it a wine I could drink all night? It could get a bit sickly."

What they say: Nuttin'

Rating: 6.5 (V - 7; S - 6)

Mesta Chardonnay-Moscatel 2010 (Spain)

Nose: Citrusy?  Pear, maybe apple as well.

Taste: Pear, but not overwhelming. Dry.

Finish: A bit citrusy. Zesty sour? Totally grapefruit.

What we say: V - "An interesting flavour. A relatively complex wine given the whites we've had so far. Definitely worth bringing to a party."

What they say: Nuttin'

Rate: 6.5 (V - 6; S - 7)

Berberana Reserva 2006 (Spain)

Nose: Light and pleasant.  Berryish.

Taste: Sweet, you can taste berries. Smooth and drinkable.

Finish: Disappears very quickly, very light.

What we say: S - "It's quite gulpable.  The finish disappears like it's water." V - "This is the party wine that you bring that won't disappoint."

What they say: Red fruits, spices on the nose. Well structured with a long finish.

Rating: 6.5 (V - 6; S - 7)

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

Saint-Chinian Special Reserve 2009 (France)

Nose: Pretty sharp

Taste: Little bit bitter, but not upfront. Sort of nondescript.

Finish: Pretty bitter

What they say: Strong concentrated rich bouquet of wild fruits and berries. Well-rounded with silky tannins.

What we say: V - "I'm not down with the bitter aftertaste."

Rating: 5