The weather has cooled substantially the past few days, but it’s been a typically hot, humid summer here on Long Island. It’s the kind of summer when liquid refreshment is important — preferably something under $20, with fresh flavors and food-friendly acidity.
Enter this week’s Wine of the Week, Bedell Cellars 2017 First Crush White ($18).
This blend of young vine riesling (50 percent), gewurztraminer(30 percent) and chardonnay (20 percent) offers pretty citrus and citrus blossom aromas with delicate notes of ocean breeze and green apple in the background.
On the lighter-bodied (10.8 percent abv) palate, the green apple qualities take center stage, joined by notes of gritty pear and more citrus. The gewurztraminer is surprisingly tame here, but there are some floral notes as it warms to room temperature. Most importantly, juicy acidity is well-integrated and lengthens the finish nicely — which ends with just the most subtle sprinkle of saline minerality.
The 2016 edition of this wine is still available, but it’s a completely different wine, made of 40 percent chardonnay, 30 percent gewürztraminer, 20 percent sauvignon blanc and 10 percent riesling. The new 2017 release should be available in early September.
At $18 it’s a nice way to enjoy what Bedell Cellars is producing. The wines often serve more as splurge-worthy, rather than every day wines.
