ICAN by Mercer Wine 2018 Rosé, Washington State $7

The family behind Mercer Estates in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills rightly promotes their new ICAN line as a unique entry in the canned wine scene because this vessel is resealable and the plastic ring around the pour spout means there’s no metallic taste on your lips. That makes this slender and sturdy yet lightweight aluminum canister ideal for the beach, the pool, a backpack or golf bag. There’s thought to the rosé-friendly varieties in play, too, a Rhône-based blend of Grenache (68%), Cinsault (12%), Syrah (10%) and Counoise (5%) with a splash of bright Sangiovese, too. Light strawberry and lime zest notes show in its nose, with strawberry and watermelon in the mouth. There’s a bit of pear skin bite in the finish. The Mercer’s award-winning winemaker Jeremy Santo learned to party at Washington State University, but he proved that this is a serious pink wine by winning a gold medal in the rosé category at 2019 Cascadia International Wine Competition. Sip it with summer, and be on the watch for a Sauvignon Blanc and a red wine. At this point, the ICAN line is available across the Northwest and in Midwest states Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. The price listed here is for a 375-millilter canister rather than a traditional 750-ml glass bottle.

Rating: Outstanding!

Production: 2,600 cases

Alcohol: 12.5%

Winery website

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