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