Most exciting wines of 2017: Part two

A plush and luxurious blend of spicy red and black fruits alongside herbal characters and plummy maturity. Powerful and tannic with lively acidity, this has the potential to develop much further.

Macerated cherry and plum skins flow nicely against crunchy tannins and bright, mineral acidity. A fine advert for the benefits of the Frappato grape.

Tons of luscious, ultra-ripe dark berries combine with a lot of spicy oak but the acidity keeps everything fresh and lively on this well made, modern style with good ageing potential.

Aromas of blackcurrant leaf, spice and dark chocolate lead onto a palate of slightly fluffy rich red fruit and rosehip. It is vibrant and upfront, an appealing style which Malbec fans will enjoy.

Intense, fleshy fruit framed by assertive, drying smoky tannins. Cassis, blackberry, mulberry and prune are cloaked in blueberry leaf and sweet spice. Fragrant top notes of dried mountain herbs and rose petals add alluring nuance. Offsetting the broody depth, zesty blood orange and dried red-apple peel contribute welcome freshness and crunch. Lingering toast and dried thyme.

A young and aromatic wine with some peppery notes and a whisper of sous-bois. With its soft palate, ripe fruit and swish of herbs, it is a vibrant and refreshing example.

Full-bodied and rich, this is showing a torrent of coconut and vanilla oak merged with stewed plums and cherries. There is an intriguing herbal edge and a rough chew at the end.

A wine to age, this is smoky and meaty with a mild floral scent over the top of some rustic savoury nut notes. It is concentrated with powerful tannins and refreshing acid.

Quite primary in style with macerated cherries and plum skins over the top of a sappy, meaty undertow. There is high acidity but the tannins are a little furry at the moment so needs time.

Classic Chilean style of soft, generous blackcurrants, a hint of coal cellar and a minty intensity. The oak influence is intense, giving wood spice and creaminess and lovely ripe tannins.

A full throttle red with a fleshy, intense palate dominated by stewed black cherry, raspberries and a savoury edge. The oak is evident but well managed, giving a chocolatey spiciness and decent length.

Although this is labelled as Malbec, Aurelio Montes Jr revealed that the wine contains a tiny (2-3%) percentage of other grapes including Cabernet Franc and Semillon from the 125 year old Vistalba vineyard, which is farmed organically. ‘The vineyard was always co-planted with a tiny proportion of other grapes and I think it gives the wine an extra bit of complexity,’ he explained. This profound 2013 Kaiken Mai hails from another hot, dry summer, which again afforded ideal berry ripeness and concentration. The end result is a dense, polished wine very much in the generous Kaiken Mai mould with waves of morello cherry, blueberries, espresso, liquorice and spice with a creamy overlay of dense, succulent tannin. This is long, luscious and supremely hedonistic. It is almost approachable now but needs another couple of years to really hit its stride.

Charming cherries and cranberries intermingle with autumn leaves and a little kitchen spice. The palate is a bit baked but this is well balanced by the ripe tannic structure and fresh acidity.

This single-vineyard red, planted in 1970, is in the form of its life in 2014. Dramatic, brooding aromatics are followed by haunting briar, truffle and black olive flavours. It has impressive weight and a sumptuous texture, with fine and ripe tannins. Sheer class.

Ripe and sunny with squashy stewed cherry fruit laced with herbs and a thwack of pepper. Hints of cinnamon and liquorice play around the glass.

Strawberry and raspberry intensity fuses with smooth tannins and oak spice to give an elegant and lighter style. Pure acid drives through to the red fruit and toffee nut softness.

Ripe, luxurious black cherries and raspberries are backed up by tinges of anise and garrigue, bright acidity and freshness. The tannin is a little rough but will mellow.

An abundance of spicy redcurrants and plum skin with a touch of peppercorn and a herb bite. A medium length and some wafts of mountain flowers on the finish.

Cranberry and raspberry fruit to the fore, this has a sappy, waxy undertow. The tannins are silky and there’s a peppery bite for an enjoyable style.

A firm wine at 81IPT, the tannins are a little tighter than the grand vin, although nothing is masking those supple black brambly fruits. From a blend of 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, representing 25% of overall production., aged in 30% new oak. Following Dubourdieu, his long-term colleagues Valerie Lavigne, Christophe Olivier and Axel Marchal are consulting.

Fine florality, fragrance, length and grip from 78% Cabernet Sauvignon – this vintage is more airy than earthy and beautifully expressive.

A melange of vibrant cherry, leafy raspberry and herbal impressions; there is plenty of substance here and a lot of baked fruit.

Enticing aromatics here, with a smoked bacon edge to the grilled oak, liquorice and cassis fruits. Well muscled through the mid palate, with tannins that are fully integrated but still giving form and life to the wine. Enjoyable.

Full and plummy, this is a rich wine with bramble and pastry details, a cherry twist and some slightly raw tannins which may take a few years to break out.

Evolved in the glass with hints of development on the nose, this shows spicy, liniment, wet leaf characters and a herbaceous, poivron purity.

Ripe and rich with a myriad of black cherry, cranberry and strawberry fruit. It is a structured Pinot that would be a great accompaniment to food.

Refined in style and substance, this has berry warmth, a touch of raisin and a perk of florals. It is quite firm but has a lovely depth and a long finish.