Paul Mas Estate Malbec Gardemiel Vineyard 2009, IGP Pays d’Oc, France (£8.99 Majestic)
Juicy young beast, smells a little of raspberry cola, offering plenty of berry and blackcurrant flavour pepped up with Mediterranean herbs, a touch of cedar, and a firm but fresh finish. S(-)

Viñalba Patagonian Malbec Reserva 2009, Rio Negro, Argentina (£10.99 Sainsbury’s)
Has layer of chocolatey richness and toasty oak alongside the cherry and blackberry flavours, but while overall it’s fresh and lively, it could do with a little more fragrance and wildness. B+

Viñalba Malbec Gran Reserva 2008, Lujan de Cujo, Mendoza, Argentina (£13.99 Majestic)
Confident, quite voluptuous wine, loose, generous and juicy, with again some chocolatey warmth on top of the confident plummy berry and damson flavours. S-