La Mascota Malbec 2012 (Argentina)

Nose:  Dominant oakiness with a hint of fruit

Taste:  A bit sweeter than the nose would suggest, reasonably full-bodied and velvety.

Finish:  Quite powerful tannins at first - this got better as we kept drinking.

What we say:  S - 'Pencil crayon!'  S - 'What's that taste?  It's almost smooth - chocolatey.  Caramel?  We've had it before'  V - 'The tannins are almost a little bit tongue-numbing at first - it took a bit to get used to it'

What they say:  Expresses and aroma of black fruit, jam, and vanilla with a subtle hint of liquorice.

Rating: 6

Price:  kr. 100

Fincas del Sur Malbec 2011 (Argentina)

Nose:  Rich, dark berries with definite oakiness.  Pretty nondescript in terms of most of the red we've been drinking.

Taste:  Really smooth, with something a little bit sweet.  Maybe a bit caramelly (but only slightly).

Finish:  Pretty balanced tannins, but not much else.

What we say:  S - "It's a little tickly in the nose at the end.  Is that pepper?  I dont' know if it's pepper, but it's tickley in the nose..."

What they say: full bodied with powerful aromas of plum, cocoa and blackcurrants; long finish dominated by soft, sweet tannins.

Rating: 6.5 (S - 7; V - 6)

Tesco Finest Mendoza Malbec 2012 (Argentina)

Nose:  Cherries, some sort of spice (but not a Christmas spice), with a bit of oak.  Almost damp or like cheese.

Taste:  A little bit of spice, sort of Christmas, but only a hint.  Almost a bit caramelly.

Finish:  Minerals or pepper - not much in the way of tannins.

What we say:  V - 'It's almost like some type of green herb on the nose.' 'Almost like that weird M&S wine we had ages ago.'  S - 'It wouldn't be clover, right?  They don't put clover in wine' V - 'Cloves?' S - 'Yes, cloves.'  S - 'It's pretty straight-forward, and decent - it's not bad.  There is something Christmassy about it'

What they say:  Blackberry and plum flavours with lighter notes of blueberry and a dry yet fruity finish.

Rating:  5.5 (V - 6; S - 5)

Price:  £7.99

Tesco Finest Malbec Pays d'Oc AOC 2012 (France)

Nose:  Definitely on the oaky side of things, with a bit of dark berries and cherry.

Taste: Maybe blackcurrents?  Some sort of fruit.  A little bit watery.

Finish:  The tannins bloom quite quickly and linger quite a while.  A bit too much overall - it detracts from the experience.

What we say:  S - 'The nose is definitely pencil crayons and cherry.'  V - 'What else is going on there, is it more than just wood, something slightly harsh?'  S - 'The taste reminds me of some type of juice - something purple.  Maybe like my Dad's gløgg.' 'Do you think it will taste different after eating an olive?' V - 'Oh yeah, it tastes sweeter'

What they say: Rich aromas of plum, bramble and wafts of wild herbs.  A rich mouthfeel with dark fruit flavours with a smooth, plummy finish.

Rating: 4

Price: £6.99

Malbec Vino Tinto 2010 (Argentina)

Nose: There is very little that is immediately distinguishable about it. It isn't particularly strong. Maybe peppery? Mossy?

Taste: There's something initially berry-like to the taste, but then it goes to something less fruity. There's something earthy about it.

Finish: Well balanced, though not complex.

What we say: S - 'It smells red.'  'Weird....That was weird.' V - 'It's not the type of wine that you open, pour a glass and can smell from five feet away.' 'It's super drinkable, but I would have given it a higher rating if it had more complexity to it. It's on the level of the generic Châteauneuf-du-Pape one that we bought at the grocery store - a solid choice.'

What they say: Nuttin'

Rate: 7