World Malbec Day? Malbec World Day? Whichever way round it is, this is the third year on which April 17th has seen celebrations for all things Malbec-y – more info here. Here’s me setting into eight examples, all from Argentina, unless specified.

Château de Chambert Cahors Malbec 2008, South West France (£16.99 Bennetts Fine Wines, Cooden Cellars, Harrogate Fine Wine Company, The Vine Shop, Leamington Wine Company, Shills of Station Street, Winearray, Pallant of Arundel, No2 Pound Street, Ake & Humphris, Carruthers & Kent, The Drinkmonger, Winedirect.co.uk)
Violet scented dark plum and loganberry set in a framework of chewy tannin and smoky oak, and with some earthy chocolate notes in there too. Mature but still has some rustic grip in the best sense of the word. S

Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Clasico 2012, Mendoza (£11.99 Whole Foods Market, Cooden Cellars, Tivoli Wines, The Jolly Vintner Too, Bentley’s Wine, Corks of Cotham, Worth Brothers Wines, Blacker Hall Farm Shop, The Fine Wine Company, WoodWinters, Giacopazzi, Winedirect.co.uk)
Joyous, youthful style, brimming with fresh crunchy blackcurrant, blackberry and violet flavours and a touch of toasty (but never too toasty) oak. S

Pablo y Walter Malbec 2012, Mendoza (£9.99 All About Wine, Vagabond Wines, Jolly Vintner, The Wine Warehouse, Bakewell, Winos, D Byrne & Co, Great Grog)
Another juicy youngster, plush and plummy, maybe just veering a little towards the blackberry jam-y, but still a decent glug. B(+)

Pulenta Estate La Flor Malbec 2012, Mendoza (~£11.50 Berry Bros & Rudd, The Wine Alley, Butlers Wine Cellar, Bottle Apostle, Formula Wine, The Good Wine Shop, The Quince Tree,
Upton upon Severn Wines, Uncorked, Woodwinters Wines & Whiskies, James Ward)
Another buoyant young wine, with bold plum and berry fruit and a fragrant earthy finish. Delicious style, and a toss-up as to whether I prefer the crisper the style of the Altos Las Hormigas or the more polished fleshier style of this. S

Bodega Renacer ‘Punto Final’ Malbec Clasico 2011, Mendoza (£10.99 Philglas & Swiggot, Highbury Vintners, North & South Wines, Askewine, The Colchester Wine Company, The Butlers Wine Cellar, The Vineyard, Cooden Cellars, Pallant of Arundel, Grape & Grind, Leamington Wine Company, Tivoli Wines, Nickolls & Perks, D Byrne & Co, The Flying Corkscrew, Reserve Wines, Wined Up Here, Conwy Fine Wines, Gwinology, Luvians, Peckhams, House of Menzies, The Fine Wine Company, Aitken Wines, Santangeli, TheWineReserve.co.uk)
Soft gentle dark fruit flavours pepped up by notes of vanilla and sandalwood. Good caught between stools – neither youthful and exuberant, nor old and profound. B(+)

Bodega Colomé Estate Malbec 2010, Salta (£16.99 Waitrose, Hedonism Wines, Planet of the Grapes, The Hampstead Butcher & Providore, Theatre of Wine, Noble Green Wines, The Wine Chambers, Dalling & Co, Noel Young Wines, DeFine Food & Wine, Reserve Wines, Chester Beer & Wine, Carruthers & Kent, Gwin Llyn Wines, Lockett Bros, The Fine Wine Company, Winedirect.co.uk)
Rich, rounded and earthy, with hearty, spice-tinged berry and plum flesh and a proud, fleshy finish. My only concerns are that the warmth of the region comes through in slightly jammy liquorice notes, while the slight skin-y character – damson skins, plum skins – speaks of grapes picked a little too late. S(-)

Valentin Bianchi ‘Famiglia Bianchi’ Organic Malbec 2010, Mendoza (£13.99 Whole Foods Market, The Secret Cellar, The Jolly Vintner Too, Hanging Ditch Wine Merchants, The Wine Chambers, TheWineReserve.co.uk)
Massive style weighing in at 15.5% alcohol. The hearty liquorice, plum, berry and damson flavours will appeal to many, but I miss fragrance and freshness. S-

Trapiche Viña Federico Villafañe Single Vineyard Malbec 2008. Mendoza (£24 Laithwaites)
Maturing gently, but still with some perfumed freshness to the dark berry and damson flavours, held together by gentle chocolatey tannins and earthy, iron-rich minerality. S(+)

Haven’t had time to do the stockist links – would have ended up posted after Malbec World Malbec Day had finished…