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