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

Carmelo Ortega Saxa Loquuntur Rioja 2010 (Spain)

Nose:  Pretty dry, maybe a bit more fruity than oaky

Taste:  A little fruity, but nondescript.

Finish:  Medium tannins

What we say: S - 'Whoa!  The smell is strong - it almost punches you in the nose!'

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  4

Price:  £6.99

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)

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  

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