REVIEW: Unusual reds from South America

This week's tasting came from Chile and Argentina and ranged from simple drinkable reds to stylish concentrated, showy wines, velvety smooth, with lush fruit and a firm grip. Unusually for a tasting these days, 14 of the 15 bottles had corks.

Chile grows a wide range of grape varieties, but a special one is the red carmenere, once thought to be a type of merlot. Argentina is becoming famous for its malbec, a red grape that can make powerful wines. Both carmenere and malbec originally came from the Bordeaux area of France.

Trapiche of Argentina includes in its wide range of malbecs a handsome series of single-vineyard wines worth exploration.

Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations. charmian.smith@odt.co.nz

• BEST UNDER $15

Aliwen Reserva Cabernet Syrah Chile 2006 (about $14) has a hint of toast and spice, sweet, dark red fruit, full-bodied with firm tannins. Good with spicy meat and barbecues.

3 stars (out of 5)

Good Value

Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec Argentina 2005 (about $15) is fragrant with lush dark fruit with a hint of spicy oak and dark chocolate, mouth-filling with a firm grip on the finish. Ideal for an Argentine asado (barbecue).

3 stars (out of 5)

Good value

Undurraga Chile Carmenere 2007 (about $11) is perfumed with a hint of pepper and herbs, sweet fruit and smooth finish.

Simple, cheap and cheerful.

2 stars (out of 5)

Average value

Montes Classic Series Chile Malbec 2006 (about $20) has lots of spicy oak, hints of chocolate and toffee and dark, rich berries: this firm, lush wine is easy to like.

Lovers of rich Australian reds will enjoy this.

3 stars (out of 5)

Average value

Trapiche Broquel Argentina Malbec 2005 (about $20) is full of dark fruit with a hint of blackberries, spicy oak with a suggestion of coffee, and a firm finish. Match with well-flavoured red meats.

3 stars (out of 5)

Average value

Trapiche Tributo Felipe Villafane Argentina Malbec 2003 (about $49 Rating) is the top of Trapiche's range, this intense rich wine oozes dark berries, cherries and blackcurrants, with a hint of dark chocolate, and oodles of spicy oak all cushioning big, gripping tannins, and finishing with a lingering aftertaste of rich fruit.