What was great about all of these was that the producers were looking to make red wine rather than black wine – I find many Argentine Malbecs are just too big and loud, impressive but not all that drinkable.

Viu Manent Estate Collection Reserva Malbec 2010, Colchagua, Chile (£8-£9 The Grocery, Eaton Wine Company, Wines of the World, Wine Connect (Lanarkshire), slurp.co.uk)
Friendly young wine, with bouncy strawberry, blackberry and cherry flavours backed up by mocha oak, ripe and forward but still refreshing. B+

Neethlingshof Malbec 2010, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£9.01 Waitrose)
Reasonable cherry and blackberry flavours are marred by a touch of volatility and that disturbing South Africa smoky/ashy character. C

Los Dos Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina (N/A in the UK)
There’s almost a Burgundian feel to this. Refreshing and moreish, with a floral edge – more roses than violets – to its plush wild strawberry flesh. S(-)

Los Dos Corte d’Oro 2009, Mendoza, Argentina (N/A in the UK)
More of those rose-tinted strawberries, but the inclusion of the Cabernet Sauvignon gives this both a touch of darker fruit and a firmer structure. There’s some smoky oak too, but it’s still manages to be lively and appealing. S