Targus Creek Shiraz and Trincadeira 2011 (Portugal)

Nose:  There's quite a bit of oak in there - S smells nothing but 'pencil crayon.'  Almost no berries whatsoever.

Taste:  Very smooth, with some berry-like properties, but relatively light overall.  Spicy?

Finish:  Has a bit of a buzziness at the end, maybe pepper.  Almost semi-sweet, with moderate tannins.

What we say:  V - 'The nose is really unusual.' S - 'Is there pepper in the nose?  I don't know - I could just be making this up.  There has to be something other than oak right?  I mean, at the end of the day it's based on grapes...'  'Even thought I can't really pinpoint many of the flavours, it's still really nice - quite subtle, perhaps.  Like the quiet one in the room.  Still waters run deep.  Something about books and covers.'  'It's not like explosions in your mouth, but it's very good - I like it in its simplicity.'  'A decent wine to bring to someone if you don't know their preferences (unless they're wine snobs)'

What they say:  Medium body that combines red fruit characters with pleasant spiciness.

Rating: 7 

Price:  £5.99

Castillo de Anna Gran Reserva Valencia 2005 (Spain)

Nose: Strong and oaky. Red berries underneath, maybe blackcurrant or dark cherry. Dry. Pleasant.

Taste: A bit sweet at first. A little bit sweeter than expected, but follows through on the oakiness.  Well-balanced

Finish: A bit tart with medium tannins.

What we say: V - 'The oak is driving this in a big way in the nose.' S - 'There's some sort of berry in the taste. A purple berry? Not a blackberry, but like a cherry but not. A gooseberry? Maybe I'm making it up.' V - 'I think the tannins give it that one step up from what would otherwise be normal wine.  Otherwise it's not particularly remarkable.  It's solid though.'

What they say: Fruity and vanilla aromas. Supple and pleasant texture (raaar!).

Rate: 6.5 (V - 6; S - 7)

Cost: £8.99

Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages AOC Combe Aux Jacques 2011 (France)

Nose:  Light and definitely fruity, almost no oakiness.  Dry berries - maybe cranberry.

Taste:  Dry and cranberry-like.  A little tart but not in an unpleasant way.  Quite light overall.

Finish:  Very few tannins - somewhat tart.

What we say:  V- 'It smells like an upscale version of Crangrape.'  S - 'I hate when I almost sniff it up my nose.'  S - 'Is there something nutty about it?  Maybe I'm just hungry.'  'It's not bad, I enjoy it for what it is.'  V - 'My only problem with this is that it's so light that it's a little reminiscent of that terrible British wine we had.  But the more I drink it, the more I like it.'  'Whoa, it really doesn't go with garlic.'

What they say:  Succulent fruits with soft tannins and real depth.

Rating:  6.5 (S - 6; V - 7)

Cost:  £10.49

Calvet Roc Saint-Gilles Montagne Saint-Émilion 2011 (France)

Nose:  Reasonably light, but with noticeable oakiness with red berries, particularly cherry.

Taste:  A little watery at first, nothing really strong.

Finish:  Sour cherry, but not tart.  Definite tannins.  S - 'It kind of hangs out on the front of your tongue.'

What we say:  V - 'It smell a little bit like cough syrup, right?'  S - 'Yeah, a heavy berrish scent, but not uber-sweet'  V- 'the more I smell it, the more I lose the oakiness.'  S - 'yeah, but there's still a bit of wood-chips there.'  'It might be good with a dollop of cream, maybe ice cream.'

What they say:  Powerful nose with red fruits, black currents, strawberries and blackberries.  Long aromatic finish.

Rating:  4

Cost:  £12.99

Boschendal Lanoy Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (South Africa)

Nose:  A bit sharp; definitely on the fruity side. Dark berries. A bit oaky.

Taste: Starts off fruity, with spicy notes.

Finish: Medium tannin. Maybe pepper?

What we say: V - 'Smells a little bit like alcoholic fruit roll-up.' S - 'I love the smell of butter [as an aside].  I always think it's fish, but I realise that's just the state' V - 'I think it's ok over all. It's not spectacular, but you know...it's drinkable.'

What they say: Aromas of red berry, fruit and spice. Long finish. Excellent integration of wood and fruit with smooth tannins.

Rating: 6

Cost:  £8.99

Pérez Cruz Winemaker's Selection 2010 (Chile)

Nose:  Fairly light oakyness, not particularly sweet - a bit spicy, maybe pepper?  Reasonably pleasant.

Taste:  Pretty dry, somewhat tart.  Maybe a bit of pepper.

Finish:  The finish 'goes on and on and on....'

What we say:  S - "Wow, there was something really familiar about that"  V - "I think the finish is the majority of what you're getting out of this wine"

What they say: Well balanced, complex and elegant.

Rating:  6.5 (S - 6; V - 7)

Grenache Vermentino Pays des cotes de Thau 2011 (France)

Nose: citrusy; grapefruit; vanilla

Taste: floral, quite tangy. Fruity, but not in a sweet way.

Finish: Pretty dry - it sticks on your tongue in the sour spot. Almost a bit bitter at the end.

What we say: S - 'It tickles.'  SS - A bit grapefruity-floralness. Maybe it's grapefruit blossom. It has a bite to the end of it that makes it not quite easy drinking.'

What they say: Nuttin'


Rate:  6.5 (V=6, S=7, SS= 6.5)

Mezquiriz La Mancha Tempranillo 2008 (Spain)

Nose: Strong and oaky, with a slight fruitiness.

Taste: Woody/oaky flavour, with a little bit of sweetness. Reasonably high in tannins.

Finish: Really light in comparison with the initial taste.

What we say: S - 'It reminds me of church. Definitely pencil-crayon.'

What they say: Strong and fruity bouquet.

Rate: 4

Marquis de St. Vincent Médoc Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (France)

Nose: Oak; dark red berries

Taste: Smooth; dry

Finish: Bitter - the tannins really bloom in the finish. Peppery. The finish really lingers.

What we say: It's so middle of the road, we have no comment.

What they say: Aromas of red fruit and cores. Well-balanced. Structured and fruity. Will seduce you (!).

Rate: 4

Indomita Reserva Pinot Noir 2011 (Chile)

Nose:  Really light, slightly berryish and sweet.

Taste:  Light, slightly sweet, definitely red berries, maybe blackberry as well?

Finish:  Relatively tanniny.

What we say:  V - 'It's like Kool-Aid with tannins' S - 'It's like a light, light, light cough syrup, or a really light carbonated cherry drink.'

What they say:  Scent of violet and blackberry.  Taste of cherry and woodspice.

Rating:  5

Viña Ecoyen Navarra Reserva 2002 (Spain)

Nose:  Sweet - definitely cherry.  With some type of spice, maybe cinnamon or nutmeg?

Taste:  Quite smooth, with Christmas spices - nutmeg or cloves?

Finish:  A little bit of tannins on the finish, maybe a little peppery?

What we say:  V - 'The nose almost reminds me of cherry pie.  It's quite nice.'  S - I like it, particularly the Christmassy bit.'  V - 'There's just the right amount of sweetness'

What they say:  Red cherry and black fruits mellowed by creamy vanilla.

Rating:  7

La Multa Catalana Old Vine Garnacha Blanca 2010 (Spain)

Nose:  Not really that fruity - maybe a bit of pineapple?  There's something else that's a bit more pungent, perhaps some type of flower?

Taste:  Really smooth with citrus flavours, maybe a hint of vanilla.

Finish:  Pretty big with definite floral overtones.

What we say:  V - 'There's something weird going on with the nose'  'The taste definitely blooms in your mouth'  'It's more sweet than I expected from the nose.'

What they say:  Subtle flavours of orange blossom, acacia and peach.  With a long, mineral finish.

Rating:  6.5 (S - 6; V - 7)

Roc de Lussac Lussac St. Emilion AOC 2010 (France)

Nose:  Sharp, with darker berries - maybe blackberries.

Taste:  Dry berries?

Finish:  Medium tannins.

What we say:  S - 'At the very beginning there are berries'  'It's quite not like sawdust, but what's another type of wood?'  V - 'I'm having trouble with this one - nothing really stands out.'

What they say:  Black fruit flavours and subtle tannins.

Rating:  4.5 (V - 5; S - 4)

Gloria de la Roche Touraine AOC Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (France)

Nose:  Citrusy, with something fresh in the end.  Reasonably light - maybe a bit of floral?

Taste:  Not dry; almost like a semi-sweet at first taste with a bit of floral at first.  Reasonably thick in in the mouth.

Finish:  Moves to citrus and dry.

What we say:  S - 'I think it's good, but I don't know what to say about it.  It's more interesting than your standard white.  There is a clear development on the palate.'

What they say:  Fresh and zesty.  Very aromatic with citrus fruits notes.

Rating:  6.5 (V - 6; S - 7)

Toro Loco Tempranillo 2011 (Spain)

Nose:  A pretty standard woody-berry combo, with an emphasis on the wood.  Pretty medium - not overpowering, but not too light.

Taste:  There's a bit of sweetness in it.

Finish:  The tannins boom in your mouth.

What we say:  V - 'It's about as middle of the road as you can get, though perhaps a bit on the sweet side.'  S - 'It's pretty standard.  It's not bad, but I don't think i'd go out of my way to drink it again.  It wouldn't be missed.'

What they say:  Full bodied; fresh and juicy.

Rating:  4

Silver Bay Point Red (United Kingdom)

Nose:  Pretty fruity - maybe strawberry?

Taste:  Syrupy, almost cran-strawberry.

Finish:  Almost no finish, but really sweet.  Almost juice-like.

What we say:  S - 'It smells like cheap alcohol, like one of those mix drinks.'  'It almost tastes like juice.'  V -'I was uncertain whether I was drinking wine at first.  The wine taste hits you about five seconds later.'  S - 'I feel like it should be cold.  It's like a room temperature, alcoholic punch.  I want to put ice cubes in it.' 'I would never buy this as a wine.  Maybe to put in a punch, but never as a wine.'  V - 'It's shocking how bad it is.'

What they say:  Hints of juicy red fruits; soft and mellow.  GREAT FOR PARTIES (all caps in original)

Rating:  1.5 (V - 2; S - 1)

Sail Chardonnay 2011 (USA)

Nose:  Fresh and citrusy.  A sweet element - maybe pinapple or vanilla?  Really quite pleasant.

Taste:  Definitely citrusy, particularly towards the end.  Slight sweetness to it - again it might be vanilla.

Finish:  Pretty tart - almost lemon but not quite.

What we say:  V - 'There's something slightly desserty about the nose.  I almost think I smell meringue or something.  I can imagine this as a cake or a pie.'  'It's a bit syrupy in texture' 'It's not the most compelex wine we've had, but it's pretty decent.'  

What they say:  Crisp citrus fruit with weighty, melon flavors.

Rating:  6.5 (S - 6; V - 7)

Marqués de Valencia Gran Reserva 2004 (Spain)

Nose:  Hit of berry at the beginning, but the remainder is pretty woody.  Reasonably sharp; relatively unremarkable.

Taste:  Pretty bitter all the way through.  Definitely woody in the taste, maybe with a touch of fruit - super dry.

Finish:  Bitter

What we say:  S - 'My nose has issues today, I just smell sharpness'  V - 'The tannins are running wild'  'It has a consistent sharpness in the mouth that is only accented in the finish - this is about as dry as I think we've had it.'  'If you are into a tannin bomb then this might be your thing, but it's not mine.'  S - 'There's stuff going on here, but the finish is a killer.'  'Maybe it's a cheese wine - you certainly can't have it with cherries - the finish just beats you up!'

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  3 on its own, though 6 when paired with a strong cheese.

Monos Locos Valle Central Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (Chile)

Nose:  Citrusy, not a pineapple, but not quite tart enough for grapefruit.

Taste:  Pear at the beginning?  Definitely something sweet about it

Finish:  Sour fruit?

What we say:  S - Pear initially, but then it ends on something really familiar that we've had with whites.'  'Pretty smooth, with a bit of sharpness'  'It's above average, but not as good as other whites we've had.'  V - "I can't tell if the finish if more sour or bitter."

What they say: Nuttin'

Rating: 6

Kinniemuin Hilltops Chardonnay 2011 (Australia)

Nose:  Definitely citrusy and fresh, maybe a bit of vanilla
 
Taste: Slightly sweet or nectary, balanced with sour fruit.  Again, maybe a bit of vanilla

Finish:  Acidic, though not unpleasant.

What we say:  S - 'It's almost like there's a juice in it.  I think there might be grapefruit, but that might be the fish talking.'

What they say: Lightly oaked and fruit-driven.

Rating: 5

Colchagua Valley Carmenère 2010 (Chile)

Nose:  Very light, maybe something sweet at the very end.  Maybe spicy?

Taste:  There's a sweetness to it, very smooth and velvity.

Finish:  Pretty smooth, maybe berries?

What we say:  V - 'It's a nice colour.  I think I smell cheese.'  S - Do you remember the book the Velvateen Rabbit?  It's so sad.'  'It's heavy, but not overpowering or in the tanniny headachy way.'  'You could bring this to a dinner party where you're not sure what people like - it's a safe dinner party wine'

What they say:  Deep red and black fruits with a gentle wild herb perfume.

Rating:  6

Ariki Reserva Cabernet Syrah 2010 (Chile)

Nose:  Dense, heavy, musky, woody.  Only the slightest hint of fruit.  It's interesting, but there's something else we can't put our fingers on.

Taste:  Reasonably powerful, sort of tart, definite woodiness.  Super dry.

Finish:  Definite tartness, lingering.

What we say: S- 'Oh! There's the pencil crayon smell again.  What is that supposed to be, oak?'  'The nose is almost sappy piney humid woods with a lot of foilage'  V 'I wonder if it almost smells like Christmas - not in a spicy way, but in a tree way.' S 'I don't know if I like it - it's just a bit to tart for me, almost sour.'  

What they say:  Red fruit aromas, blackcurrent flavours and a weighty finish.

Rating:  5.5 (S - 5; V - 6)

Château Tour Saint-Germain Cuvée Prestige 2010 (France)

Nose:  Sharp, red fruit

Taste:  Dry, with berries

Finish:  Light - a little bit woody

What we say:  S - 'It smells like a new batch of pencil crayons'  V - 'As soon as you get your initial hit of the nose, there is not that much going on'  S - 'Berryish - still a little bit of pencil crayon in the taste.  I've only chewed in the ends of them while  drawing but....'  V - 'I would buy this again just to drink'

What they say:  An intense nose with fruit.  A soft taste with a good tannic evolution.

Rating:  7

Château Bellegrave Cru Bourgeois Médoc AOC 2008 (France)

Nose:  Deep scent; dark red fruits, possibly cherry.

Taste:  Very smooth; initially pretty light, but the taste gets a bit more full as you go along.  Super dry cherry, like unsweetened cherry flavour.

Finish:  A bit unremarkable

What we say:  V - 'It's a standard wine.  It's not bad, but not something to write home about.'

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  5

Domaine du Gouyat Bergerac AOC 2010 (France)

Nose:  Sweet, powerful, but not unpleasant.  Just strong and particular.

Taste:  Has a sweetness to it - a semi-dry, but not noticeably fruity.

Finish:  Goes away pretty fast, doesn't linger - not like The Cranberries...

What we say:  V - 'The nose almost reminded me of the chlorine blast that you get when you go to the pool.  It obviously doesn't smell like chlorine, but it's the same instantaneous intensity.'  S - 'It smells like baby powder'  V - 'It's pretty drinkable, through not stunning.'  'It almost tastes like 'my first red wine.'  It's decent, but it's like an introductory red wine.' S - 'It's not grotesquely sweet, it's not syrupy.'

What they say:  Aromas of red fruits and spices

Rating:  6

Le Pinvert Rouge Pays d'Oc AOC 2009 (France)

Nose:  Oaky, woodiness, red berries, with slightly sweet overtones

Taste:  It's much sweeter than we expected, a medium red

Finish:  Bitter

What we say:  V - 'What the hell is that taste?' 'It's almost like a red wine version of cranberry juice, minus the initial sour hit.  Maybe it's like cran-grape?'

Them:  Nuttin'

Rating:  2

Mateus Rosé (Portugal)

Nose:  Sweet, floral, a bit of citrus - almost lemon

Taste:  Light, slightly carbonated, semi-sweet

Finish:  Almost nothing

What we say:  V - 'It's a nice scent.  It's pretty fresh.'  S - 'It doesn't taste like much, but its not bad either' 'Rosés are summery drinks and should be refreshing, and this is.  It's not sickly sweet and its not too heavy either'  V - 'It's a little bit too much like juice.'

What they say:  Young, fresh, fruity and versatile

Rating:  5.5 (V - 5; S - 6)

Prestige Cellier des Dauphins Côtes du Rhône AOC (France)

Nose:  Super light, sour and fruity, maybe a little bit of wood?

Taste:  Pretty sharp

Finish:  A tannic finish, but not dry

What we say:  V - 'It's really not great, the sweetness and the tannins just don't work together'  S - 'There's just nothing going on with it at all'

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  3.5 (V - 3; S - 4)

Baron de Lafontade Bordeaux AOC 2010 (France)

Nose:  Super light, greasy chicken?

Taste:  Very light, indistinguishable flavours

Finish:  A bit bitter

What we say:  S - 'I'm having trouble smelling anything'  V - 'Smells like alcohol'  S - 'Unremarkable.  Kinda watery'   V - 'The taste blooms in your mouth after the wine is gone, but it's not great'

What they say:  Aromas of red fruits with the presence of tannins

Rating:  3

Château Edmond de la Fontaine Chardonnay Grand Premier Cru 2010 (Luxembourg)

Nose:  Citrusy, a little bit of vanilla?  Grapefruit?

Taste:  Definitely citrusy and grapefruit, quite dry

Finish:  A bit of sour grapefruit

What we say:  V - 'It almost smells like a citrus desert.  Very pleasant though.'

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  6.5 (V - 6; S - 7)

Les Combelles Côtes du Rhône Villages 2009 (France)

Nose:  Strong with red berries and oakiness.  It's definitely foresty.

Taste:  Sharp but not popping in flavours, almost pungent.

Finish:  Almost a mineral finish

What we say:  S - "The nose reminds me of a heavy forest"  "I'm a bit disappointed given the other Côtes du Rhône we had"  V - "It's one-dimensional with pungency that fades into bitterness"

What they say:  Subtle aromas of licorice and black fruit with an elegant mouth.

Rating:  4

Oltesse Cahors AOC 2009 (France)

Nose:  Sweet, pretty heavy.  Syrupy, maybe cherry?

Taste:  Slightly fruity, but definitely drier than expected.

Finish:  Pretty unremarkable, bit of sourness.

What we say:  V - "It almost smells like cherry syrup." "It's difficult to place a distinct flavour"  S - "I can't pinpoint a flavour either"

What they say:  Strong and elegant

Rating:  4.5 (V - 4; S - 5)

Albariño Valtea Rías Baixas 2010 (Spain)

Nose: Sweet; vanilla; pineapple? The nose isn't particularly strong.

Taste: The taste is a bit more tart. Reasonably dry. Flowers? Pear.

Finish: Dry apple in the finish. Pretty short lived. 

What we say: S - 'There's flowers in there because it almost tastes like perfume at points.' V - 'The taste really develops in your mouth. It started off being a bit tart, but then it really blossomed. There was a really blossoming of the taste a couple of seconds in and then it went to that dry apply finish.'

What they say: broad with a balanced acidity on the palate; aromas of good intensity with hints of fruit.

Rate: 8  (V=8; S=8)

Malbec Vino Tinto 2010 (Argentina)

Nose: There is very little that is immediately distinguishable about it. It isn't particularly strong. Maybe peppery? Mossy?

Taste: There's something initially berry-like to the taste, but then it goes to something less fruity. There's something earthy about it.

Finish: Well balanced, though not complex.

What we say: S - 'It smells red.'  'Weird....That was weird.' V - 'It's not the type of wine that you open, pour a glass and can smell from five feet away.' 'It's super drinkable, but I would have given it a higher rating if it had more complexity to it. It's on the level of the generic Châteauneuf-du-Pape one that we bought at the grocery store - a solid choice.'

What they say: Nuttin'

Rate: 7

Isla Negra Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (Chile)

Nose: Too weak to actually say.  A weak fruity smell - sweet.  Maybe a hint of vanilla?

Taste:  Sweet, grapefruit, tart.  Not nicely balanced - rather rough.

Finish:  Grapefruit acidity, even bitterness

What we say:  S - 'There's something to the nose, almost like Band-Aids or light plastic.'  J (guest) - 'Smells sort of like gummy bears?'

What they say:  Aromas and flavours of grapefruit, lime and gooseberry.

Rating: 3.7 (V = 4; S = 4; K = 3)

Vignato Gambellara Classico 2010 (Italy)

Nose:  Citrusy, maybe pineapple or grapefruit?  The nose is not that powerful.  Pretty fresh

Taste:  Slightly sweet, particularly at the beginning.  Pear.  Reasonably light.

Finish:  More tart in finish but nothing overpowering.  Reasonably well-balanced.

What we say:  V - 'I have a floaty...'  'It's like uncarbonated perry' 'A decent summer-weather drinking white.'  

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rate:  5.5 (V = 5; S = 6)

Comets Tail Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2011 (Australia)

Nose:  Citrusy, a little sweet, maybe some pear.

Taste: Definitely citrusy, maybe some pear in the background.

Finish:  Rose?  Somewhat floral.

What we say: K (guest) - 'It smells like white grapes' 'Definitely strong at first, with a bit of oak barrel bitterness' 'The front is a nicer taste than the finish. The finish is too alcoholy' V - 'The finish creeps up on you.  You think it's done, but then it's not.'  S - 'The finish is like a refreshing fruit of some sort.' 'There is floral in the finish because it's soft, soft like petals.'

What they say: Bright and fragrant

Rate:  6.5 (S/V = 6; K = 7.5)

Cepa Lebrel Rioja 2008 Crianza (Spain)

Nose: Sharp; fruity. A bit syrupy - it has some sweetness to it.

Taste: Quite tart. Monodimensional. 

Finish: A bit of a woody finish, but it's not persistent. It's pretty shallow. A little acidic.

What we say: SS (guest star) - 'It smells like summer fruit pudding. And it kind of looks like Ribena.' 

V - 'It's like, boom! Tart! Hey!....and then it's gone.' SS -'It's like Ribena but with lemon put into it, but it's not as nice as lemon or lime. It's a bit weird.'  'No, it's more like a bit of grapefruit juice and grapefruit zest pimping up some Ribena.'

What they say: Full of character, structure and body.

Rate: 3.5 (S=3; V=4; SS=3.5)

André Brunel Côtes du Rhône 2009 (France)

Nose: Rich; syrupy, but not sweet. Definitely berries. There's something that hits you at first - is it flowers?

Taste: Definitely berries, but there's something else as well. Pretty dry. Maybe a bit of pepper - there's something a bit pungent to it and the pepper seems to carry through to the finish.

Finish: Pretty medium finish on it.

What we say: V - 'Does it smell like avocado?' V- 'We've had finishes that have lasted a lot longer and others that have gone away pretty much instantaneously. This one is just like, "I'm there, dooodoo doo dooooo...I'm gone.'

What they say: nuttin'!

Rate: 6.5 (V=6, S=7)

Six Hats Shiraz 2010 (South Africa)

Nose: sweet; berries - black currant? A bit of woodiness to it as well.

Taste: Dry; a bit of sweetness or berriness to it, but it's dry and gets kind of tart.

Finish: Super powerful finish.

What we say: V- 'It smells a little like the one you (S) thought was like cheese.' V - 'We've had something similar before. It isn't as strong as the other stuff, though, which was more pronounced.' S - 'It's like jam almost.' S - 'Packs a powerful punch...'  - V- '...that you don't even see coming.' V - 'It's like the berries unripen in your mouth.'

What they say: Aromas of cracked pepper, spice and juicy red fruit flavours combined with a rich texture.

Rating: 4.5 (S=4; V=5)

Reina Mora Special Selection Torrontes 2011 (Argentina)

Nose: Citrus. Super, super light nose. Slightly sweet, citrusy.

Taste: Floral with a lemon taste - lemon and rose.

Finish: Slightly acidic finish to it that doesn't really linger that much.

What we say: V - 'It's a bit like rose water or Turkish Delight.' 'It smells a little bit like lemonade, but just a tiny bit.' 'I'm not quite sure what you would pair this with because at the end of the day, it's pretty acidic.' S - 'The rose bit is interesting.' V - 'On one level, it's interesting because the rose and lemon is not like anything that we have had before, but on another level I don't really like it that much so it would really depend on your taste.'

What they say: Floral aromas and ripe, honeyed citrus and exotic fruit flavours. Long and elegant finish. Makes a fine apératif.

Rating: 6 (V=6, S=6)

Burra Brook Merlot 2010 (Australia)

Nose:  Medium nose, slightly oaky.  Not really sweet enough to be berries.

Taste:  Like red wine - seriously generic, but drinkable.

Finish:  Lingering and slightly bitter.

What we say:  S - "Raisins?  I think I smell raisins" "I can almost taste the water in it, and then the bitterness kicks in, and that's it"  V - "It's pretty underwhelming given the other wines we've drank recently"

What they say:  Flavours of red fruit and peppery, smokey notes.

Rating:  4.5 (S - 4; V - 5)

High Dive Chardonnay 2010 (USA)

Nose:  Sweet, with vanilla and citrus, maybe grapefruit.  Smooth and fresh.

Taste:  Bold flavour.  Pineapple, maybe grapefruit, definitely citrusy and acid.  Pretty dry

Finish:  Somewhat acid citrus finish, but not in a bad way, though quite pronounced.

What we say:  V- "It's a really nice combination on the nose."  S- "It's like a heavy white." "Every time you put your nose in the glass, you get a hit of vanilla."

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  8

Can Rafols dels Caus Gran Caus 2003 (Spain)

Nose:  Quite strong and sharp, maybe moss, woody, or damp wood?

Taste:  Tangy cherry at the beginning - pretty full flavoured.

Finish:  Lingering, slightly sweet, with cherry

What we say:  S - "Smells like nothing I've ever smelled before." "Maybe sewer, but not in a bad way."  "When I smell deeply it's like greasy chicken."

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  6.5 (V - 7; S - 6)

Star & Vine Shiraz 2010 (USA)

Nose:  Sweet, maybe syrupy.  Nutmeg or cloves - smells like Christmas - maybe lingonberry?

Taste:  Remarkably close to the nose - spicy or lingonberry.

Finish:  Smooth - not really different from the taste.

What we say:  S - "It's interesting, because it has some sweetness, but only slightly.  I feel like I know this flavour - that we've had it before, but I can't place it"  "It's certainly good and unique, but maybe not something you would want to drink all evening."

What they say:  Rich and full, with ample briar-fruit.  A lingering finish with luscious vanilla-edged hints.

Rating:  7

Hardy's Crest Cabernet-Shiraz-Merlot 2010 (Australia)

S&V, with special guests S's Mom and Dad!

Nose:  Sharp, maybe liquorice?  Pretty generic.

Taste:  S's Dad - 'It's just dry enough so that it doesn't impede the aftertaste.  It doesn't have anything that comes back and haunts you.'

Finish:  S - 'Sweet finish,' S's Mom - 'Really, I think it's quite dry.'  V- 'I think the finish is sweeter than the taste'

What we say:  S's Dad - "I don't know what it smells like, red wine!"  "In Norway we had a liquor monopoly that was a big purchaser of wines from Europe.  They would sometimes have good bottles, and then the standard Norwegian bulk wine.  This reminds me of this.  With some wines you have a fruity bouquet, here it's just red wine.  In a positive way, nothing really fancy, but just good'

What they say:  Soft, round, full bodied with plum and dark berry flavours with undertones of oak.

Rating:  6.25 (S's dad/mom - 6.5, S/V - 6)

Casa Leona Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (Chile)

Nose:  V - "Whoa, that's strong, what is it?" S - "Smells like sharp cheese"

Taste:  Less harsh than you would expect from the nose.  Really quite unique.

Finish:  Relatively smooth

What we say: Unique, you might like its style or might hate it.  S - "I think it still tastes kind of like ripe cheese"

What they say: Ripe and intensely fruity ... smooth and easy-drinking, packed with cassis and blackberry flavours.

Rating: 5.5 (V - 6; S - 5)

Côtes du Rhônes Villages 2010 (France)

Nose:  Fruity and and particularly spicy, maybe cardamom?

Taste:  Initially pretty light, but gets pretty sharp and peppery in the mouth.  Pretty dry.

Finish:  Definitely peppery

What we say: S&V - "Decent and drinkable, and the peppery bit is interesting - this kicks it up a notch from what we might otherwise give it."  Tom Waits - "The piano has been drinking....."

What they say: A wonderful combination of soft peppery Grenache and spicy Syrah.  A warm combination of white pepper and silky dark plums.

Rating: 5

Belle Tour Chardonnay 2010 (France)

Nose: Definitely fruity, maybe warm tropical fruits.  Sort of like a ripe pineapple, pear, maybe some grapefruit?

Taste: Slightly sweet, but not sickeningly so. Has a bit of carbon to it.

Finish: More bitter than the taste, but not in a bad way.

What we say:  S - "The initial taste is almost the syrup of canned fruit, but just not as sweet."

What they say:  Blend of ripe peachy fruit and subtle creaminess with a touch of oak.

Rating:  4.5 (S - 4, V - 5)