Cascina degli Ulivi, Semplicemente Vino Bellotti Rosa, Piedmont

This is another reminder as to why I stopped buying natural wines. Very funky nose upon opening. Blows off after a few minutes. There’s no ability to discern that this is merlot. Off dry, slightly fizzy. Tastes and smells like bruised pit fruits and ripe strawberries. 21 minutes after opening I finally got a hint of plum on the nose. First sign this could indeed be merlot!

Deep salmon in the glass. Sweet-fruited nose, sweet-fruited palate. Moderate alcohol and acidity. Off-dry. Quite forgettable.

Grassy. Sticky with maraschino pits. Minty, praline, bitter roasted roots. Strawberry cordial, swept into a vortex of sour stone and earth. The smell of hail before it arrives. Darkly colored; in fact, it allows just a little bit more light transmission than the Rosso that belongs to this series.