9 Big Reds From South Of The Border

As winemakers south of the equator get ready for their 2015 grape harvest, let us sample some red wines from recent vintages produced in Argentina and Chile.

Here are nine, mainly produced from malbec and cabernet sauvignon.

Terrazas de los Andes "Cheval des Andes" Mendoza 2010 ($81). A big but refined wine that is quite delicious with ripe, concentrated, dark-cherry flavors, sweet tannins, and lingering fruit on the finish.

Decopas Mendoza malbec 2013 ($9). A good hamburger red, but not yet ready to graduate to steak. Nice cherry flavors with only modest acidity.

Luigi Bosca Mendoza malbec 2010 ($18). A traditional-style wine, already wood-aged, with a well-balanced blend of ripe cherries, mellow oak, and acidity.

Trivento Argentina malbec reserve 2013 ($11). A dark wine with lots of young, red fruits; still somewhat aggressive. A little age will help it.

Trivento "Golden Reserve" Mendoza malbec 2012 ($20). Tangy cherry flavors with walnut-accented tannins. Ripe fruit but with good acidity — a very nice food wine.

Trivento "Amado Sur" 2013 ($14). A blend of malbec (70 percent), bonarda (20 percent) and syrah (10 percent), it has nice purple fruits with good acidity to balance. Pleasant barrel notes and good tannins.

Trivento Argentina cabernet-malbec reserve 2013 ($11). A good hamburger wine — tight, tangy, and tannin with lots of brambly berry flavors.

Concha y Toro "Casillero de Diablo" Chile cabernet sauvignon 2013 ($9). Young and plain red fruit with some green-stem flavors in the finish.

Concha y Toro "Casillero de Diablo" cabernet sauvignon 2012 ($9). Ripe cherry flavors with an enjoyable, savory finish and some pleasant green stems.