***I received this wine as a sample***

The last four weeks at work comprised one of the busiest times I have had since I started working.  My days were full of internal discussions on how to move forward with one of my biggest projects this year, intense meetings with people from other offices who want to work on the project, internal and external phone calls with additional people who are interested in the project, and more emails than I know what to do with.  So, when my boss closed the office early on the Friday before July 4^th, I was ecstatic.  I wasn’t able to leave at noon when we officially closed, but I escaped a few hours early.   Since Hubby was going out with some friends, I made a few detours before coming home, where I ate some Thai takeout, opened a bottle of Rosé, and caught up on some trash tv.

The 2009 Montes Cherub Rosé of Syrah (winery, snooth) was made from 100% Syrah grapes and had a really dark pink color with hints of orange, particularly on the rim.  On the nose, there were bright red fruits with a hint of perfume.  In the mouth, there were strawberries, raspberries, violets, and something a little foresty on the finish.  The wine was very dry, with good acidity, and a light-to-medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely!  If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $17, this wine pushes the limit on what I’m likely to pay for a Rosé, as I am not generally a huge fan.  However, this wine surprised me.  It is slightly heavy for a Rosé, but that’s part of what I found intriguing about this bottle.  It had nice flavor and a touch of body, but was still refreshing, light, and flirty—what I expect from a good Rosé. Admittedly, my pairing with Thai was probably not the best choice, but the wine was quite enjoyable.

Overall: 3.5 Corks

**I would like to extend my sympathy to everyone at Viña Montes.
I’m sure that Mr. Douglas Murray will be missed by you all.***