Snoqualmie Naked Merlot 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA (~£11.50 Stratfords Wines)
Starts with a pleasant leafy edge, a touch of tobacco and reasonable plummy fruit, but then goes rather dilute, with clunky oak coming through. C

Snoqualmie Naked Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA (~£11.50 Stratfords Wines)
Corked

Nostros Merlot Gran Reserva 2006, Casablanca, Chile (£6.39 www.qpwines.com)
Typical Chilean reduced blackcurrant pastilles and mint, with tangy blueberry flavours, but let down by reduction and rather raw, angular oak. C+

Botalcura La Porfia Carmenère Gran Reserva 2005, Rapel, Chile (£10.99 www.qpwines.com)
More of what you expect from a wine labelled Gran Reserva, has the polished plushness of good ageing, alongside notes of plummy berries, vanilla, five-spice and herbs. S(-)