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Summer in Miami is a hot time, and one when Rosé becomes the topic of local wine articles, wine shop promotions, and the rage on the radio. I've not been a big fan of Rosés, but recently, I've found several that are quite nice, especially in our sub-tropical heat.
Susana Balbo is best known for her Crios line of wines, especially her Malbecs. The winery, Dominio del Plata, is located in Luján de Cuyo, in Mendoza, Argentina. She's been making wine since about 1981, first for others, and then in 1999, for herself.
Her Rosé of Malbec is made from Old vine Malbec grapes, the same grapes used for her Malbec wines. The wine is made using the saignée process (see below), which results in a rich, flavorful wine. The wine is a lovely dark pink rose color. The aroma is rose petals, white pepper, slight herbal notes, and a little ginger. The flavor on the first sip reminded me of strawberries macerated in sugar - tart, sweet, delicious, with red raspberries, rose water, and a very slight herbal flavor. The wine has a medium finish, with a slightly sweet, slightly vegetal aftertaste. It's very nice. It usually retails for under $15.00.
Chilled, this is a great barbecue wine, drinking on the patio, watching tv - just about any summertime activity you can think of. It has enough body to pair well with a variety of foods, including mild cheddars, burgers, spare ribs, roast chicken, even salads - I tried it with a spring salad mix, with a light dressing, and some chunks of Tyson's Buffalo Chicken strips mixed in. Yum! (Dressing: 3 parts olive oil, 1 part white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, and a splash of sirachi for fun).
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