2017 Underground Wine Project And Why am I Mr Pink

• By Stephen Tanzer
  Focus on Washington: The New Normal (Nov 2018), 11/1/2018, (See more on Vinous...)

  (Underground Wine Project Rosé Mr. Pink Washington Rosé) Login and sign up and see review text.

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Mr. Pink, 3/8/2018, (See more on Full Pull...)

  (Underground Wine Project Mr. Pink Rose) Hello friends. The phenomenon that is northwest rosé rolls on. Last year’s milestone: the first time we offered a Washington rosé in February; today’s milestone: the first time we have jumped in on a Washington rosé pre-sell:Yep, Mr. Pink has moved to a pre-sell model; the model more often seen for expensive cult reds. Basically, we agreed to pre-purchase a significant quantity of the wine, and in exchange, we received a) the ability to actually offer the wine before it sells out; and b) the ability to hit the same 11.99 TPU price point we’ve hit for this wine’s first two vintages. So this wine is in the warehouse and ready for immediate pickup or shipping, but what we have is what we’re going to get, so don’t figure on much reorder potential here. I’ve said it before; I’ll say it again: with the way the northwest rosé market is going, the only people who will be drinking the best Washington rosés in our glorious midsummer are those with the forethought to have ordered in the grips of gloomy early spring. And Mr. Pink has, in a very short period of time, moved to a place where it has to be considered one of Washington’s strongest rosés, especially when you factor in the modest price point. The pair of winemakers involved – Trey Busch of Sleight of Hand, Mark McNeilly of Mark Ryan – have a track record of producing excellent QPR wines; Trey with his Renegade label; Mark with Board Track Racer. Their rosé collaboration has quickly captured the imaginations of Washington rosé lovers, both for the Tarantino-inspired name and the nervy juice inside the bottle. As in past years, Mr. Pink is a Sangiovese-driven rosé. Sangio is a terrific choice for a pink mostly because of its naturally high acidity, and sure enough, this is bright and nervy as can be. It pours into the glass pale pink and opens with a nose combining fruit (cherry, cantaloupe), green notes (melon rind), and subtleties of Aperol bitters. The alcohol is moderate (12.5% listed), and the palate is mouthwatering from the minute it hits: a refreshing mid-summer glugger through and through. Because of all that bright acidity, Mr. Pink presents a versatile food-pairing option. If you’re a wine-at-brunch kind of person (raises hand), pour this next to your next corned beef hash or cheese omelet. Or watch it elevate a simple mid-week thyme-butter roast chicken into something special. On that poultry note, if for some reason you don’t chug all your bottles this summer, Mr. Pink makes a lovely Thanksgiving option. I can attest to that from personal experience.