Bedell Cellars

Art is necessary to sell wine as well. We've all picked up a bottle based on the label, and Australian wineries, perhaps more than anyone else, attempt to capture our attention with brightly colored labels featuring cartoon animals. Wines like yellowtail, Little Penguin and Blue Marlin are well-known examples.

That's the low brow way to stand out, however. In their quest to stand out, some Long Island producers are leaving cartoons on Saturday morning television and are turning to world-renowned artists to design their labels.

Bedell Cellars' 2005 Taste White features the artwork of Barbara Kruger on its label and is a barrel-fermented blend of Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Viognier and Riesling.

Its fruity, aromatic nose displays bright citrus, peach and spring flower aromas accented by a sprinkling of toasty vanilla oak. On the palate, it is medium bodied with vibrant acidity. The fore palate is dominated by just-ripe peach and citrus fruit that precedes toasty vanilla oak on the mid-palate and lychee-lime flavors and minerals on the finish. The ripeness of the 2005 fruit really shines through and each component variety contributes to a deliciously well balanced wine. Drink now or over the next three years.

Reviewed July 1, 2006 by Lenn Thompson.