Wine Review: Phoebus Malbec Rosé 2023 – Mendoza, Argentina Producer: Bodegas Fabre | Alcohol: 11% | Price: $12

First Impressions

This 2023 Malbec Rosé from Mendoza pours a delicate amber-copper hue—darker than it often appears online, where it’s usually shown as a pale rosé. Aromas of raspberry invite you in, while the palate reveals light-bodied flavors of cherry, orange, pear, and a subtle hint of watermelon.

Wine Review: Trivento White Malbec Reserve 2023 Mendoza, Argentina | 11% ABV | $11.50

When you think Malbec, you probably picture deep purples, bold flavors, and a rich red wine poured alongside a hearty steak. But Trivento’s White Malbec Reserve (2023) flips that expectation on its head—and gives you something completely different: a clear, crisp wine that looks more like water than red.

I still remember when I was sticking mostly to whites—light Pinot Grigios, crisp Sauvignon Blancs, maybe a Rosé on a sunny day. Reds just felt like… a lot. Too bold, too dry, too heavy.  If you’re just starting to explore red wines, let me save you some trial and error and point you straight to a gem: Thousand Lives Malbec.

Wine Review: Angelica Zapata Malbec 2021 Mendoza, Argentina | 13.5% ABV | $50 at Total Wine

Angelica Zapata Malbec 2021 is a bold and expressive wine that showcases the quintessential character of Argentine Malbec. With a deep purple hue, it opens with inviting aromas of ripe cherry, plum, oak, chocolate mint, and delicate violet—each note unfolding gracefully in the glass.