Merlot, Syrah / Arinto dos Açores, Terrantez do Pico, Verdelho / Merlot, Syrah
White Wine, Rosé Wine, Red Wine, Low Intervention
What The Fellas Say
Terras de Lava, Rosé
Ilha do Pico, Açores, 2022
Ok, we admit, wine tasting can be a bit of a magician’s trick. You ask someone if they taste apricot and that’s what they taste. But seriously, this rosé from Ilha do Pico really really does taste of the sea and the volcano and of strawberries and raspberries and wet stones. It’s layered and blended and full and round like sucking on a pebble. Drink slightly chilled, with or without food.
Pair with itself as an aperitif, a warm goat cheese salad, fresh Setúbal oysters with a single dash of hot sauce, pork sausage grilled on the barbecue.
Belgium is famous for beer brewed by Trappist monks. Well, what else are they going to do between masses? If they were in the Açores they’d definitely switch to making wine like this and be damn proud of it too. Complex, rich and layered, it’s like a Gregorian chant wrapped in gold leaf and sprayed with mermaid’s tears and lemon zest.
Pair with a risotto al sepo nero with grilled shrimp, some strong, creamy cheeses, or a fresh-baked cherry pie with vanilla ice cream.
It’s pretty hard to find a wine from Pico Wines that we don’t like and this Merlot is no exception. It’s bloody good. Subtle, deep and light all at the same time, it perfectly balances this classic French grape with the rugged landscape and ocean winds of the island. Savor it on your palate. Drink in those vulcanic afternotes and hear the waves crashing on the rocky shore
Pair with white or red meats, mature cheeses, or break the rules and surprise yourself by pairing with a citrus fish or ceviche.
