(2022) From elevated slopes in Maule, this is made in concrete eggs with natural yeasts and minimal use of chemicals in the vineyard. There's also 15% Cinsault in the blend. It has a lifted, floral and kirsch aspect on the nose, but quite herby too, all about red fruit beneath. The palate has so much juiciness and bursting berry succulence and freshness, lots of Amarena cherry and a bit of cherry-skin acidity to the finish.

(2022) The Criolla grapes of South America are ancestors of the grapes originally introduced by Spanish and other European settlers. This is a lovely expression, relatively pale and translucent in colour, with soft, Pinot-like autumnal aromas, then bright red fruit on the palate, but with an earthy and leafy softness that is attractively mellow and highly quaffable.

(2022) A Bordeaux blend aged six months with French oak staves, but the colour is a vibrant cerise/violet. Primary aromas, the 12 months in oak barely discernable. Some quite wild garrique notes comes through, a little herbaceousness that works well. The palate has juiciness to spare, the merlot adding extra creaminess and red fruit softness perhaps, into a gentle finish supported by good acids and moderate tannins.

(2021) Mostly Carignan with País and Cinsault, this comes from the Intrépido range, and from fruit grown in the Maule valley. Creamy and quite plush on the nose, there's some a nutmeg, perhaps tree bark note that adds a dimension to the warm berry fruit. The palate combines that ripe, fleshy plum and cherry fruitiness with nicely creamy tannins, a lovely juicy cherry-skin acidity, and again a background of spice and some vanilla. Very delicious drinking at a modest price.

(2018) Carmen was one of my first go-to Chilean producers, thanks largely to a wine called 'Grand Vidure', a real favourite of mine in the 1990s, and one of the first wave of Carmenere-based wines before the variety became established as Chile's 'signature' grape. Here we have Carignan, one of Chile's current superstar grapes thanks to old-vine plantings, this aged 12 months in French oak. There's an interesting melange of meat-stock cherry and vine fruit on the nose, a dark and savoury character. In the mouth it's very much about the fruit, quite sinewy and chewy, the oak well into the background, with a balanced savoury finish.

(2010) Whisper it, but Chile's neighbours across the Andes need to know that they don't have it all their own way with their signature grape. There are some fine Chilean Malbecs about. This comes from Cachapoal and has a certain meatiness on the nose, with baked plum fruit and quite a solid character. The palate delivers a flood of sweet and spicy black fruit, the chewy, grainy tannins, acidity and plum-skin bite of the fruit making a robust and full-throttle impact, though not without a little light and shade. A warming, spicy and authentic wine.