Le Champ d’Orphée IGP Côtes du Tarn 2009, South West France (N/A in the UK)
Lively, wild and off-the-wall wine, with savoury blueberry fruit backed up by earthy notes and chewy tannins – cassoulet would seem appropriate… S-

Clos Poggiale Vin de Corse 2007, France (£12.45-16.50 Jeroboams, Planet of the Grapes, Wine Story)
Firm but fragrant, with almost minty, heather-like aromas, smoky berry, black cherry and plum fruit and touches of mocha and iron. Very tasty, and again, on the wild side… S

Jean-François Mérieau Touraine Malbec ‘Cent Visages’ 2007, Loire, France (£13.95 Caviste, Carte Blanche Wines)
Oh yum, a witch’s brew of a wine, with smoky herby damson, pomegranate and citrus peel flesh backed up by tangy acidity; forget top-heavy Argie Malbec, this is refreshing and moreish. S

Santa Carolina Specialties West Andes Malbec 2008, Cachapoal, Chile (RRP £12.99)
Ripe and intense, but rather obvious, with typical Chilean reduced blackcurrant pastille flavour, and slightly clunky tannins. B(-)

KWV Chocco Chino Shiraz 2008, Coastal Region, South Africa (£7.99 Tesco)
What seemed like quite delicate fragrant red berry flavour has been submitted to an OTT oak regime, resulting in a wine that tastes of chocolate wafer biscuits – not a style I want to encourage. C+