FRANZESE MALBEC, Armenia

Really impressed with how smooth this Malbec is for the price—definitely not just a gimmick bottle. The backstory gave it some character, but the wine itself stands on its own.

Opened this expecting a novelty bottle, but the malbec itself holds its own—deep, dark fruit with a smooth finish that doesn’t need food to shine. The Armenian origin gives it a character I haven’t found in more mainstream bottles.

The backstory of a phoenix rising made me curious, but the wine itself is what sealed it for me. Those dark fruit notes and the smooth finish had me reaching for a second glass before dinner was even over.