White Navarra wine from Spain: 2012

Wine name: Viura de Azul y Garanza Producer: Azul Y Garanza Bodegas, Carcastillo, Navarra Vintage: 2012 Appearance: Slightly dark yellow, thick and slow on the glass. Aromatics: Citrus oil, a touch of fermented sultana. Attack: Round and full. Evolution: Good bite, white pepper, star fruit, pear drops Finish: Acid drops in the nose, white pepper on the swallow. Sweetness: 0.5 Acidity: 2.5 Tannin: 0 Texture: Very rough Length: Excellent Balance: Very well balanced – reasonable acidity and good body. Not a light wine. Closure: Cork Alcohol: 12.8% abv Notes: Delicious! Went well with sea bass and marsh samphire, nice lemony tang and interesting peppery flavour. Very nice, buy again! FrenchWineGuide score: 90 points. FrenchWineGuide is an offshoot of Naturally Sales Ltd, helping businesses around the world to be successful through improved sales, leadership, communication skills and Microsoft Excel. http://www.nsales.co.uk

Red South Australia wine from Australia: 2012

Wine name: Shiraz Producer: Bottled for Australian Vintage (Europe) Limited, London SW11 3TN Vintage: 2012 Purchased from: Present on NSPCC night for playing music Price: £0 Appearance: Deep red, thick and smooth on the glass. Aromatics: Lots of forest floor and juicy berries. Attack: Quite smooth. Evolution: A touch watery and lighter than I'd have liked. Finish: Cherries in the nose, quite an acidic kick on the swallow. Sweetness: 0 Acidity: 2 Tannin: 2 Texture: VERY smooth tannins Length: Quite good. A tiny gap behind the tongue tip Balance: Too watery for a 2012 Aussie Shiraz – I want something chewier. Closure: Screwcap Alcohol: 12.5% abv Notes: Note bad but too light for its type. FrenchWineGuide score: 80 points. FrenchWineGuide is an offshoot of Naturally Sales Ltd, helping businesses around the world to be successful through improved sales, leadership, communication skills and Microsoft Excel. http://www.nsales.co.uk

Red Côtes du Rhône wine from France: 2005 #organic: http://frenchwineguide.blogspot.com

Wine name: Crozes Hermitage Producer: M. Chapoutier, 26600 Tain Vintage: 2005 Purchased from: Leclerc Price: £10 Appearance: Slightly browny, slightly watery colour, very thick and viscous on the glass. Aromatics: Juicy black cherries. Attack: Firm but very smooth. Evolution: That single-variety Syrah juiciness which tastes really mouth-watering, forest floor, a touch of redcurrant. Finish: Black cherries in the nose, redcurrants on the swallow. Sweetness: 0 Acidity: 2.5 Tannin: 4 Texture: Smooth and rough at the same time. Length: Excellent and varied Balance: Lovely – smooth yet strong tannins, good body, nicely mature. Closure: Cork Alcohol: 13% abv Notes: Delicious and very good for the price – structured, smooth, juicy, interesting, and went well with Sausage Neopolitan! FrenchWineGuide score: 89 points. FrenchWineGuide is an offshoot of Naturally Sales Ltd, helping businesses around the world to be successful through improved sales, leadership, communication skills and Microsoft Excel. http://www.nsales.co.uk

Rosé Vendée wine from France: NV : http://frenchwineguide.blogspot.com

Wine name: Terre 85 Cabernet Franc Producer: Les Vignobles Mercier, 85770 Vix Vintage: NV Purchased from: Super U Price: £0 Appearance: Quite pale artificial peach colour, thin and receding on glass and crystal clear. Aromatics: Quite light, a touch of burnt orange. Attack: A little artificial with Tizer-like notes. Evolution: Mellow citrus Finish: Quite refreshing with a strong backbone. Only a touch of the usual rose bitterness. Sweetness: 0 Acidity: 2.5 Tannin: 0.5 Texture: Fine sandpaper Length: A little patchy Balance: Quite nice, although there's a touch too much water for my liking. Closure: Cork Alcohol: 12.5% abv Notes: Not unpleasant for a cheapy, quite drinkable. FrenchWineGuide score: 80 points. FrenchWineGuide is an offshoot of Naturally Sales Ltd, helping businesses around the world to be successful through improved sales, leadership, communication skills and Microsoft Excel. http://www.nsales.co.uk

White Vendée wine from France: NV : http://frenchwineguide.blogspot.com

Wine name: Terre 85 Sauvignon Producer: Les Vignobles Mercier, 85770 Vix Vintage: NV Purchased from: Super U Price: £0 Appearance: Pale sauvignon yellow, thick and viscous on the glass Aromatics: Grassy. Attack: Quite intense and fruity. Evolution: Hay, summer flowers, some minerals. Finish: Hay in nose, green apples on swallow. Sweetness: 0 Acidity: 4 Tannin: 0 Texture: Thick and a little syrupy! Length: Not bad Balance: Quite acidic and a lot of extraction, but a nice crispness. Closure: Cork Alcohol: 12.5% abv Notes: Nice summer drinking, went well with stuffed marrows. Not complex, but quite satisfying. FrenchWineGuide score: 82 points. FrenchWineGuide is an offshoot of Naturally Sales Ltd, helping businesses around the world to be successful through improved sales, leadership, communication skills and Microsoft Excel. http://www.nsales.co.uk

Red Languedoc-Roussillon wine from France: 2011 : http://tinyurl.com/3qjhotd

Wine name: Corbieres Producer: S.A. Trilles,Maureilhan, 34370 Vintage: 2011 Purchased from: Raffle at NSPCC night Price: £0 Appearance: Dark purple, medium and receding on glass. Aromatics: Black cherries and plums. Attack: Quite soft and light-ish. Evolution: Tobacco, black cherry juice. Finish: Black cherries in the nose, a touch of blackcurrant on the swallow. Sweetness: 0.5 Acidity: 3 Tannin: 3 Texture: Thick buffered water, very soft tannins. Length: A little patchy. Balance: Nicely balanced, went well with a medium Japanese curry. Closure: Synthetic Alcohol: 12.5% abv Notes: Not bad for a raffle prize! Nothing special, but quite smooth and tasty. FrenchWineGuide score: 80 points. FrenchWineGuide is an offshoot of Naturally Sales Ltd, helping businesses around the world to be successful through improved sales, leadership, communication skills and Microsoft Excel. http://www.nsales.co.uk

White Loire wine from France: 2012 : http://tinyurl.com/3qjhotd

Wine name: Sur Lie Producer: GAEC Bouchereau, L’Anesse, 44330 Le Loroux Bottereau Vintage: 2012 Purchased from: Stall in Notre Dame De Monts Price: £0 Appearance: Very pale pastille yellow, crystal clear, thick and viscous on the glass Aromatics: Quite light with a touch of candy cigarettes. Attack: Fresh and light. Evolution: Becoming more interesting – green grape skins, star fruit and green apple flesh. Finish: Star fruit in nose and a bitter rose-type taste on the swallow. Sweetness: 0 Acidity: 3 Tannin: 0 Texture: Thick and rough. Length: Patchy. Balance: Nice summery wine. Closure: Synthetic Alcohol: 12% abv Notes: “Cheap and cheerful” - it cost about 3 euros from a stall in the Vendee and is pleasant, light summer drinking. Nothing fancy but enjoyable! FrenchWineGuide score: 81 points. FrenchWineGuide is an offshoot of Naturally Sales Ltd, helping businesses around the world to be successful through improved sales, leadership, communication skills and Microsoft Excel. http://www.nsales.co.uk