Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet Shiraz 2013, South Australia (£19.99 Waitrose)
Was looking forward to this, but it started off showing a slightly overripe sweetness, like jammie dodger biscuits. A little more time and a more serious earthy liquorice edge emerged, although the jammy side remained. The following day, it was still jammy, with a slight gawky awkwardness – the result of overenthusiastic acidification? I don’t know, but I didn’t like this as much as I wanted to. B

Ventisquero Grey Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Maipo, Chile (£13.49 Slurp.co.uk)
Really impressive style of wine, a minty edge but never to excess, and it’s the lithe blackcurrant and spice flavours and refined use of oak that impress. Tasty now, but has the freshness and intensity of fruit backed up by silky tannins to keep it going for at least another five years. S

Torres Gran Coronas Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2011, Penedès, Spain (£14.99 Majestic, Exel Wines)
Rich juicy red, with some of the dusty warmth of Spain alongside the classic blackberry and blackcurrant of ripe Cabernet, plus a generous, lightly spicy finish. S-

Warwick ‘The First Lady’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Western Cape, South Africa (£10 Sainsbury’s)
Concentrated and blackcurranty, with a minty edge, but let down by some of the tell-tale South Africa baked/volatile edge – some people will like this, I don’t… B-