2018 Underground Wine Project And Why am I Mr Pink

• By Stephen Tanzer
  New Releases from Washington: A Bonanza for Consumers (Dec 2019), 12/1/2019, (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, 2/3/2019, (See more on Full Pull...)

  (Underground Wine Project Mr. Pink Rose) Hello friends. We used to have a hard and fast rule about offering rosé—don’t even think about it before March 1st. But when that rule was written, Washington’s rosé scene was not what it is now. We started slinging rosé almost a full decade ago, and back then, we were all still living in the days of darkly hued bottles made from whatever grapes were laying around the winery. That is no longer the case. Washington’s winemakers are making thoughtful rosés across the spectrum to rival Bandol, Tavel, or Chinon. Quality this high means a shift in how we think about purchasing wine. Long gone are the days of walking into a wine shop mid-August to find your favorite producer’s bottle. In the current state of pink-induced madness, you better be ready for some astute buying during springtime if you want to drink Washington’s best rosé in the summer. But this ain’t even springtime! February is still decidedly winter. For the third year in a row we’ve offered our first rosé of the season around this time, which makes it an official trend: add February to your list of appropriate months to start stockpiling pink. It’s just what you have to do if you want to be drinking the best local juice in July and August. A number of wineries are releasing their 2018 bottlings now, but our first rosé of the season is one of our list-favorites. Washington rosé season. So it begins.Mr. Pink has, in a very short period of time, become 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. 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 bottle is bright and chock full of nerve. It’s decidedly Mr. Pink—Not Mr. Purple, or Mr. White, or even Mr. Salmon—pale, bright, and playful in color. It opens with a nose combining fruit (strawberry, clementine, summer melon), greens (mint, watermelon rind), , and subtleties of Aperol bitters . This is a refreshing mid-summer glugger through and through, with mouthwatering natural acidity surging along a refreshing 12% alcohol frame. Because of all that bright acidity, Mr. Pink presents a versatile food-pairing option. If you enjoy a glass of wine at brunch, pour this with your eggs benedict, gravlax, or ricotta pancakes. You can also watch as this bottle elevates a simple mid-week roasted chicken into something special. Or let it accompany a bowl of buttered popcorn as you finally get around to watching this year’s Oscar noms. There’s not really a wrong choice here—except for not enjoying a glass of wine at brunch, you monster.