VinoDuo's got a crush on La Linda, a sweet (but not too sweet) juicy, cranberry-colored  Rosé Malbec (2008.) Our friends at Crushed Grapes in Lexington introduced it to us and we've gone back three times to buy more.  Always partial to the full-bodied Malbec from Mendoza, we'd never tasted a Rosé of the varietal. Turns out it lacks almost everything we love about Malbec—smokey, sultry, deep—but it has its own sly charms. A  strawberry nose gives way to a dry but, fresh flavor. Lots of fruit but not in your face.

We introduced it to friends last weekend and they flipped for it too. It was a lovely complement to a mild cheddar, eggplant dip, and tapenade served on the deck. For dinner (grilled sirloin) we switched to "real" Malbec—the Trapiche Broquel.

For $12, La Linda's  a fabulous summer wine. We're keeping a bottle chilled  just in case the sun actually comes out in MA sometime this month.