A wine with no Cellartracker (Yay!): Picowines, Pico, 'PetNat', 2015 From the volcanic, lonely island of Pico, grapes are grown on Portugal's tallest mountain shielded from the winds along its slope. Even here, the local cooperative makes a petnat, imagine that. I'd like to say I liked it, but sometimes fortune doesn't shine. This is bracing, tangy, displaying elements of both volcanism and the sea, fitting, I guess. You can almost taste the sulfur fumaroles from Pico volcano... This is a "dare you" wine for those who love Muscadet and other acidic beasts, but this is on a whole 'nother level. Too bad it is a bit simple and without more body. 11% B/B-
Another year and this has blossomed. Perhaps one of my top 3 roses, Chateau Simone, Palette, rose, 2012 ranks as one of the great ones. Has the coolest color of orange-tinged salmon, looking like a live fire ember. Spiced orange skin and watermelon on the nose, in the mouth is like a clove-spiked orange stewing in fruit juices of watermelon, strawberry, and honeydew, with a limestone finish. Good acidity here, and even better than I remember from a year or so back. Beautiful! 14% but not showing, except a lithe fullness. About as complete a rose as you could find, or want. A
Another year and this has blossomed. Perhaps one of my top 3 roses, Chateau Simone, Palette, rose, 2012 ranks as one of the great ones. Has the coolest color of orange-tinged salmon, looking like a live fire ember. Spiced orange skin and watermelon on the nose, in the mouth is like a clove-spiked orange stewing in fruit juices of watermelon, strawberry, and honeydew, with a limestone finish. Good acidity here, and even better than I remember from a year or so back. Beautiful! 14% but not showing, except a lithe fullness. About as complete a rose as you could find, or want. A
