Blaxland Estate Verdelho-Chardonnay 2012 (South Eastern Australia)

Nose: citrusy, maybe a very light floral.

Taste: sweet. Melon-y. Exotic fruity and not citrusy at all. Pear maybe?

Finish: a bit of a sour finish, but it doesn't really linger and it's not overpowering.

What we say: V: 'It's quite nice. I like it, which is good 'cause it's in the risotto!' V: 'I think this is one of the better whites we've had.'

What they say: Notes of lemony-citrus on the nose and a palate of tropical fruits, citrus peel, and a well-balanced acidity.

Rate: 7 (S=7, V=7)

Price: £5.50

Planeta Alastro Grecanico 2012 (Italy)

Nose:  Fresh and citrusy, a little bit sweet - maybe honey?

Taste:  Honey and a bit of floral.  It's pretty fresh though, not sickly sweet at all.

Finish:  Citrusy, with kind of a sour/bitter finish, but it doesn't linger

What we say:  V - 'Maybe a bit of green apple or melon in the nose? Because it's sweet with that tinge of sour.'  S - 'I think it tasted like black liquorice for a second there.' V - 'I find the nose even more bizarre now that I've tasted it.'

What they say: Fruity with a sense of white melon, fresh citrus and white flowers.

Price:  £14.99

Rating:  6

Dragon Hills Chardonnay (Romania)

Nose:  Pretty fruity, but not citrusy.  Maybe apples or pears with vanilla.

Taste:  Dry and peary but definitely with some honey - but it's not syrupy.

Finish:  Finishes a tiny bit bitter with lingering dry honey.

What we say:  S - "I like the yellow colour of it - it's almost neon!"  "Do you think it has flowers in it?  I mean, it comes from Romania, it's not like they have pineapples."  V - "I quite like the nose, whatever it is"  S - "This is a really weird wine.  Did you taste a little bit of black liquorice in the end, or am I making that up?"  V - "I think I like it more the more I drink it"  S - "Yeah, and particularly given that it's so honeylicious, you'd think you wouldn't be able to drink a lot, but it's not sickly sweet."

What they say:  Crisp, with ample ripe tropical fruits and a light refreshing finish.

Rating:  5.5 (S - 5; V - 6)  We debated over this.  It's one of the more interesting wines we've had, and fun to try, but we're not sure under what circumstances you'd drink copious amounts of it.

Price:  £7.99

Tesco Finest Awatere Valley Pinot Grigio 2011 (New Zealand)

Nose:  Light and citrusy, not that sweet - maybe a bit of green apple.

Taste:  Slightly sweeter than expected from the nose.  Still at the sweetness level of green apple though.

Finish:  Slight citrus sourness that balances off the apple.

What we say:  S - 'I was expecting some vanilla in there, but I don't think it's there'  V - 'It's a refreshing citrus nose - almost green apple as well though'  S - Yeah, I agree with the apple.'  S - 'For a second I almost thought I tasted black licorice, but that would be unusual, wouldn't it?'  V - 'I think it's simple, but it's well-done' S - 'This is a pretty dry Pinot Grigio - I've had sweeter ones, and I think I prefer this one over the others'

What they say:  Aromas of rose petals and honeysuckle with flavour of ripe pears and quince with a fruity, crisp finish.

Rating:  7

Price:  £9.99

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

C4 Barossa Valley Chardonnay 2011 (Australia)

Nose:  Fruity, kind of a sweet citrus.  Maybe a bit of vanilla that gives it the sweet element.

Taste:  Almost like a really fresh grape, but not as sweet.  Pretty crisp.

Finish:  Somewhat bitter but not unpleasant - maybe minerals.

What we say: S - 'Wow, it's strong. I think I can smell it from here.... or is that just the flowers?'  V - 'The finish tastes like dessert.'  S - 'It's pretty fresh and refreshing'  V - 'I have no idea what that taste is.'  S - 'It's a bit tangy, or tart.'  V - 'It's sort of like mineral water without the bubbles.'  S - 'It's crisp, like when you have the first coating of ice on something.'

What they say:  Fresh and vibrant with tropical notes and a mid-weight body.

Rating:  7 (S - 8; V - 6)

Price:  £9.99

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

Spitalkellerei Konstanz Müller-Thurgau 2011 (Germany)

Nose:  Fresh, lively, and citrusy, on the grapefruit side of things - a bit sweet, maybe a hint of vanilla?

Taste:  A bit tart at the beginning, but only a medium-dry overall - there's a hint of sweetness.

Finish: Interestingly, honey - but not overly sweet at all - just a touch.  Perhaps honeysuckle?

What we say:  S - "It's a bit sweet, what is it?"  "It's almost floral, but it's not - definitely honey."  "I think it's good - it's a good summer wine."  V - "This is reasonably unique from what we've had before in white wine - a good combination of citrus with a smattering of sweetness - I like it."

What they say: Nuttin'

Rating:  7

Price:  €7.29

Meer-Secco Perlwein Weiss (Germany)

Nose:  Citrus and bananas, together at last.  Maybe a little bit of pear as well.

Taste:  Medium-dry and citrus fruity, in a 'multivitamin banana' way.

Finish:  Slight sour aftertaste

What we say:  S - "It smells weird.  Like cough syrup... no, like that banana flavoured medicine you'd get from the doctor when you were ill - but just a touch of it, not to the point that I'm instantaneously disgusted with it."  "I think it almost tastes like Flintstones multivitamins, but not necessarily in a bad way"  V- "It's sort of refreshing and interesting, and the vitamin overtones makes you think it's healthy."

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  5.5 (S - 5; V - 6)

Price:  €6.79

Les Audrelles Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (France)

Nose:  Super light.  Maybe a hint of citrus and a hint of vanilla?  Definitely pear after a while.

Taste:  Really dry and orchardy.  A little bit of sour apple juice.

Finish:  A bit perfumy in the finish?  But there's a lingering sour fruit.

What we say:  S - 'there's somethign sweet by orcahrdy to the smell.'  V - 'It's like it you have a basket of sour fruits.  That's what it takes like.'  S - 'I think it's pretty subtle  but I like it.  It's a relaxed wine for when you want to chill without the over the top flavour explosions.'  V - 'I'm less impressed.  I find it a bit dull.'

What they say:  Citrus fruit with a streak of minerality and gooseberry aromas.

Rating:  5.5 (V- 5; S - 6)

Price:  £9.99

Star & Vine Viognier 2010 (USA)

Nose:  Citrusy and vanilla.  Maybe grapefruit or lemon on the citrus end.

Taste:  Reasonably dry with lychee fruit or starfruit.  Could have some vanilla as well.

Finish:  Quite tart, couldn't decide whether there was floral or just citrus and vanilla.

What we say:  V- 'Banana??' SS - 'Definitely fruity!'  S - 'Maybe a bit like window cleaner at first, or a citrusy household cleaning product.'  J - 'Can something smell 'vigorous'??'  S - 'What was that other wine we thought tasted like lychee fruit?'

What they say:  Characteristic rose blossom, lychee, and ripe pear note, with a zingy lemon-edged acidity.

Rating:  6.6 {SS - 7.5; J - 7; S - 6; V - 6}

Price:  £9.99

d'Arcana Pinot Grigio 2011 (Italy)

Nose:  Very light but citrusy

Taste:  Fairly dry, maybe pear

Finish:  Somewhat tart

What we say:  V - 'The nose is so light I can't really tell what's going on.'  S - 'You can't put cucumber in wine, can you?'  V - 'There's just not a lot going on here.'

What they say:  Fresh, dry and delicate with floral and citrus aromas

Rating:  4

Price:  £7.49

Le Dolci Colline Prosecco (Italy)

Nose:  Light, vaguely citrusy and sweet.  Fresh.

Taste:  Citrusy in initial flavour.  Medium-dry.  A bit of bitterness to it, like lemon rind.

Finish:  Minerally, with baked lemon rind.

What we say:  L - 'It smells like pee, but just my pee, because I pee Prosecco.'  V - 'Is there liquorice in the smell?'  L&V - 'No!'

What they say:  Oodles of apple and peach on the nose and an interesting soft finish.

Rating:  7

Price:  £8.99

Seraph Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (France)

Nose:  Quite citrusy, possibly pineapple, reasonably light.  Maybe vanilla, we weren't quite sure - something slightly sweet.

Taste:  Pretty light and smooth overall - not particularly sweet.  Definitely has citrus going on.

Finish:  Floral finish - still pretty smooth.

What we say:  S - 'Almost apple juice in the initial smell - or... coconut?'  'Yep, it's apple juice (when tasting)' 'Ah - it's flowers, it's not vanilla.  It's like perfume in the finish.'  V - 'Yeah, but you get a dominant citrus punch initially.'  S - 'Yes, but the floral finish is the second layer.'  V - 'It's true.  This is just complex enough to be more interesting than the usual wine we've been drinking.'

What they say:  Fine and minerally with intense fruit.

Rating:  6.5 (V - 7; S - 6)

Price:  £9.99

Freehand Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (New Zealand)

Nose:  Quite fragrant, slightly citrusy and sweet, possibly lychee fruit or melon.  Very fresh.

Taste:  Medium, not sweet, and possibly melon.  Reasonably light in flavour, but developing in the finish.

Finish:  Slightly sour, but pretty quick.

What we say:  S - "Wow, what is that?  It's like a sweet melon or lychee fruit or something."  V - "Yeah, the nose is strikingly different.  I'm afraid that the taste might only disappoint from this point."  S - "It really strikes the balance between sweet and dry."

What they say:  Fresh grassy and stonefruit notes on the bouquet and a luscious palate of ripe peach and passion fruit.

Rating:  6.5 (S - 7; V - 6)

Price:  £10.99

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)

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)

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)

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)

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