Bedell Cellars' 2005 Musee Gets 90 Points from the Wine Specator

I've been tough on the Wine Specator in the past (and I'll likely continue to do so) but maybe they are coming around to Long Island wines. One can certainly hope, can't he?

Cellarette beat me to the punch, but it appears that the September issue of the magazine rates Bedell Cellars' 2005 Musee a 90 on their 100-point scale. The review itself says:

This juicy red delivers cherry, cranberry and smoke flavors backed by gentle tannins. It’s full but plush, with lively acidity and a spicy finish. Generous and vivacious. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2010. 400 cases made. –TM

Obviously a 90-point score is quite a win for Bedell Cellars and those trying to sell this wine. Congratulations to the folks at Bedell.

It's also a big deal for a region that hasn't seen many WS 90s over the years (though I think as more 2005s come to market we'll see scores that equal and better this one).

I noticed a week or two ago that Bedell has increased the published price on this wine from $65 to $75, which says to me that they knew this score was coming and hope to reap the benefits, which is absolutely what they should do. With only 400 cases, and much of that probably already sold, this wine might be difficult to find very soon.

I reviewed this wine back in early April, and I gave it a 3.5 (which works out to an 88-89 if you want to convert to the 100-point scale.) It's still such a young wine. I think it's best days are ahead. I think it will last beyond 2010. At least I hope so. Do people buy a lot of $75 wine that they have do drink within a year or two?

I know that many of my readers have tasted this wine. Share your thoughts in the comments. And, what other Long Island reds do you think warrant a 90+ point breakthrough?

Comments

[r. olsen-harbich]

It's long overdue. Congrats to Kip, Dave and Donna and the rest of the Bedell crew on a job well done.

[dan]

I believe this wine deserves the praise it receives. I also believe that LI produces other 90 pt. wines if you had to rate them. I've tasted wines from Roanoke, Wolffer, Paumanok, Grapes of Roth, Channing, Lenz, Shinn, etc, that warrant those scores. Plus, I have not tried all of LI's wines so there might be more I don't know about.

[Peter]

For New York wines to start poking their corks into the 90's is great. I have not tasted the Musee but have heard some nice remarks about it from trusted friends. I have long loved the wines of Paumonak, Channing Daughters, Bedell and Lenz and have no doubt that I have tasted some "90's" from these producers in the past. I haven't always been able to afford their choicest bottles so keep that in mind the nest time you come over. Uncork New York!

[RichardA]

As I have said before, though I think the Bedell Musee is very good, I don't think it is good enough to warrant its high price.

[Jason Feulner]

It's nice to see that WS is willing to break through their 89 ceiling for NY wines, at least in this case, but of course once you celebate the distinction it opens the whole can of proverbial worms as to what a 100-point score means and how it really reflects both the quality and value of a wine.

[Mark]

Are you kidding? This wine is better than California and Bordeaux wines twice the price.

[Bryan]

I wonder if a LI advertorial section will be in the spectator for October. It's great news for all of NYS wineries though.

[Paul]

I was able to have a glass (or 2) of this wine last night. I thought it was exceptional. But... I think Bedell is making a mistake by pricing it so high. I guess from an economic perspective it makes sense. But from a marketing perspective, and with an eye towards the long run exposure of LI wine to the masses, this only hurts LI Wine Country in my opinion. Why would you finally get to a point where you're making wine that the critics are taking notice of, and then price it so that nobody anywhere thinks its a value? This was a $40 wine in my opinion (which is still not cheap), and to ask wine lovers, people who usually drink decent bottles from the big boys (France, California), to shell out $70 for a wine made in a region they've always been skeptical of is asking a lot. Not to mention, I personally think many California wines in the $50 - $75 range are better than this. That's not a knock on the quality of the Musee, just on the value it brings.

[Jeff]

I have a bottle of musse, but haven't tried it yet (found it at a liquor store for $60 I think and took a gamble on it after Lenn's initial review).

A bunch of wineries are going north of the $50 mark. Bedell, Grapes of Roth, Paumanok, Wolffer, Macari, probably others all have $50+ wines. If you like the LI Merlot style, and you're willing to pay $50+ for CA, what's the problem with LI hitting the same price point? For my palette, as a whole, I greatly prefer LI Merlot's to CA Merlot's. I haven't had many of the higher priced ones, but i've had the GOR Merlot, and the Macari Alexandria, and haven't regretted spending the money on either.

One would assume that at least some market research has gone into the pricing, and if this many wineries are putting out bottlings over $50, they're selling.