Olivares Rose 2010

As we barrel headlong toward Memorial Day weekend wondering what food to put on the grill which day, I can suggest a wine that will fill all your needs all weekend long - especially if it's hot. Yes people it's time to put away your old anti-rose bias and try some of these amazingly tasty, refreshing wines. Roses come in a broad array of styles, from spicy, herbal styles to strikingly fruity and bold. No they are not sweet. They are dry and quite captivating. I tend to gravitate toward the bold, fruity style which kind of goes against my old world bias but hey...everybody gets to drink what they want. They are kind of like reds you drink cold and they will go with whatever you put on the grill - from the burgers to the shrimp to the chicken. They'll even go with your more upscale sushi grade tuna. This beautiful $9.99 Spanish rose from Olivares is a blend of monastrell and syrah. It greets you with big aromas of strawberries, raspberries and a floral note or two and big mouth-filling red berry flavors. It finishes very smooth and long with just the right amount of balancing acidity. It's imported by the wonderful Rare Wine Co. When I have a summer party and I want to serve one wine, I serve something like this. Cheers and have a great weekend!