Errázuriz Estate Merlot 2010, Aconcagua, Chile (£8.99 Tesco, Sainsbury’s Asda, Majestic, Wine Rack, Taurus Wines, Booths, Matthew Clark, wine-studio.co.uk)
Reasonable strawberry and blackberry with a touch of chocolate, but some of the fruit verges on the baked and raisinny, and it lacks freshness. C(+)

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (£10.99, Majestic, nzhouseofwine.co.uk, Matthew Clark)
Juicy, round, dark berry and blackcurrant flesh, with a fresh, slightly leafy edge, but let down by a medicinal/chemical note on the finish. B-

Domaines Paul Mas Vignes de Nicole Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2010, Pays d’Oc IGP, France (£9.99 Majestic)
Boisterous young wine, still a little on the oaky side, although as it opens up, this fades into the background, allowing the joyful berry and blackcurrant flavours tinged with a fresh leafy/earthy character to shine through. Ripe and full bodied but not OTT, tasty now, but better in a couple of years. S

Errázuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Aconcagua, Chile (£11.50 Waitrose, slurp.co.uk, Wine Rack, Hailsham Cellars, Matthew Clark, wine-studio.co.uk)
Classic Chile blackcurrant pastilles to begin with, but has extra layers of interest in the form of dusty berry flavours and a light touch of mint. Maybe a touch simple, but lots of good honest flavour. B+

Korta Gran Reserva 2009, Lontué, Chile (₤21.50 Symposium Wines)
Don’t be fooled by the body-builder bottle, this is actually quite gentle wine, with a smoky edge to the juicy blackcurrant and damson fruit. A touch of skinniness – damson skins, blackcurrant skins – suggests that some of the fruit was maybe picked a touch late, but while the wine is fairly rich, the finish is still fresh. S-