The Bedell Cellars Taste White 2013 is a blend of 50% Albariño, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Viognier and 5% Chardonnay sourced from sustainably farmed estate vineyards near the town of North Fork in Long Island, New York. Long Island has a maritime climate that cools the vineyards during the heat of summer and protects the vines from the extremes of cold in the winter. Many growing regions in the north of the US rely on hybrid grapes created to perform well in colder temperatures and a reduced growing season, but Long Island is able to successfully grow a wide variety of European grapes. Bedell Cellars was founded in 1980 and is a family owned. The label for the Taste White is very striking and was created by artist Barbara Kruger. The wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks and neutral oak barrels and are fermented with indigenous yeasts. The use of indigenous yeast means that only the yeast that naturally attached to the grape skins or floats in the air are used to induce fermentation, commercial yeasts are not used.
The color is pale wheat yellow. The nose is both crisp and mellow, with lemons, limes and tropical fruit notes. The Taste White has a sleek mouth-feel with balanced acidity. It starts with a slap of acidity then smooths out. It tastes of tropical fruit, crisp apple, lemon, guava and melon. There is an abundance of flavor, but nuanced and delicate, not bold. There is an appealing yin-yang to the crisp flavors and the smoother, softer tastes. The finish is subtle and lengthy.
I had never tasted a Long Island wine before, I barely knew Long Island wine existed, and boy, was the Bedell Cellars Taste White an eye-opener. This is an outstanding summer wine, nothing wrong with drinking a glass or two in the winter, but it’s crisp, refreshing, delicious nature calls out for a warm day and a cool breeze. Long Island wine can be hard to find, I think most of it is consumed locally, but if you come across a bottle or two, definitely try some, these are wine that are well worth seeking out.
