Tasted 05/07/11

Tesco Finest* Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc 2010, 7.99, Tesco
Not a great nose. Full-flavoured and tangy. Quite a lively flavour. Just about redeems itself.

Tesco Finest* Denman Sémillon 2010, 9.99, Tesco
Just a hint of semillon on the nose. Light taste. It's perfectly pleasant but I remember it being more Hunter Valley.

Tim Adams Clare Valley Sémillon 2009 , 11.29, Tesco
Some pithy, waxy semillon aroma. Texture, pith, dryness. It needs some time. I suggest that the next time there's a 25% offer running you buy 6 bottles and hide them. Don't come back for 5 years. It'll be a whole different beast.

Tesco Finest* Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011, 9.99, Tesco
Wow, this is very, very strongly, almost asgtringently, catty. On the nose I'd put it in Chile. Ripe, sweet, tangy and with a very catty taste. It's OK, but the competition is stiff for this sort of wine and it doesn't quite cut it.

Tesco Finest* Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2011, 7.99, Tesco
Fragrant and appealing although not screaming sauvignon. Very tangy taste. Savoury, tart and wakes you right up.

Tim Adams Clare Valley Riesling 2009, 10.29, Tesco
Lovely riesling nose. Any riesling nut would just sit and sniff at this for hours. My *goodness, it's beautiful. The taste is pithy and very, very tart. Not for beginners, but it really is excellent.



Tesco Finest* Tingleup Riesling 2010, 9.29, Tesco
Petrol and something floral on the nose. Just off-dry. Light and easier than the Tim Adams but lacking the nervous energy.

Tesco Finest* Marlborough Autumn Picked Riesling 2010, 9.99, Tesco
Very little on the nose. Lovely though. Sweet, with bright riesling tang. Very likeable for me, but my friends would struggle with the sugar.

Bellingham The Bernard Series Grenache Blanc Viognier 2010, 10.99, Tesco
Nice smell! Seems like there's a touch of oak - it leads with vanilla. Full, textured and fragrant taste. Lovely. The alcohol is warmish, at 14%, but I do like it very much.



Sketches Chardonnay Sémillon 2010, 7.99, Tesco
The semillon leads on the nose. Some bitterness and a lack of life, unfortunately.

Encantado by Tabali Chardonnay Reserva 2011, 8.99, Tesco
Smells fruitily of chardonnay, but isn't promising. A touch of CO2 and too much texture, sadly.

Morse Code Chardonnay 2010, 8.99, Tesco
Love the label. Appealling nose. Nicely tangy and bright. Good, actually.

Tesco Finest* Sonoma County Chardonnay 2009, 8.99, Tesco
An attractive hint of oak on the nose. Very oaky taste and the alcohol is warm. It says 13.5%. Hmm. I almost like it, but the alcohol leads.

Zalze Chenin Blanc 2011, 6.99, Tesco
A little of the expected wet wool, but also some cattiness. I would have definitely thought this was Sauvignon. It reeks of elder and box hedge.

Tesco Finest* Boranup Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon 2010, 9.99, Tesco
Very light on the nose. Nicely peapoddy taste. Gooseberry finish. Nice.

B Crux Sauvignon Blanc 2010, 13.49, Tesco
Lightly fragrant nose. Bone dry and light/medium in body. It's OK. Whoah, just seen the price. A tenner, perhaps, but that's it.

Emiliana "O" Viognier 2010, 7.99, Tesco
Deep golden colour. Quite a musty nose. Hot, bitter and not very pleasant.

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mel