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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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