Casillero del Diablo Merlot 2010, Rapel, Chile (£6-£8 widely available)
Quite a flashy, fleshy style, with rich ripe blackcurrant and blackberry plus touches of vanilla, but there’s also a more restrained leafy, cedary edge to add some freshness. B+

Groote Post Merlot 2010, Darling, South Africa (£11-13 Francis Fine Wines, The Southwell Vintner, everywine.co.uk, sawinesonline.co.uk, yourfavouritewines.com)
Smells a little too fleshy and jammy, but still with a touch of leafy freshness. When you taste it however, the alcohol pokes out, giving a ‘hot’ feeling, and there’s also that smoky/ashy character still found in too many Cape reds. C

Tesco Finest* Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina (£6.49 Tesco)
Rich plummy blueberry and blackcurrant fresh is pepped up with some spice, a leafy tang and a touch of violet, and there’s even some earthy minerality on the finish. S-
Tesco is holding its annual Wine Fairs this autumn in Edinburgh (15/16 Oct) & London (22/23 Oct). Tickets are normally £10, but Drinking Outside the Box fans can get 4 Sunday tickets for the price of 3 at any Fair. Book now – call 0845 330 5072 or visit www.tescowinefair.com and quote TWF-SW-11

Clos de los Siete 2008, Mendoza, Argentina (£12.99 Waitrose, Majestic)
Much more polished and grown-up than the Tesco wine, but while the smooth plummy berry fruit with its vanilla sheen is quite appealing, it’s just a little bit too glossy for my liking. B+

Trapiche Colección Roble Malbec 2007, Mendoza, Argentina (£9.99 Fareham Wines, The Wine Shop, Nidderdale Fine Wines, Mr Lawrence Wine Merchant, everywine.co.uk, vintagemarque.com)
Back to more of a sense of the soil here, with earthy edges to the violet-scented dark fruit flavours. Almost very good, but the slightly clunky, not especially well-seasoned oak lets it down. B(-)