n.v. The Whole Shebang! by Bedrock Wine Co, Cuvée IV White, North Coast, California.
The non-vintage unique dry white wine, Shebang Cuvée IV, is sourced from some of Bedrock’s favorite and historic vineyards throughout the North Coast of California, making for an interesting alternative offering that is hard to put into any category, but reminds me a little of a Saint-Peray with an almost Marsanne like character with pear, apple and preserved lemon notes, bee’s wax, mineral tones, white flowers, tangy herbs, wet rock and honeycomb. This pale gold release is easy smooth and subtle on the medium bodied palate with soft acidity and a touch oily in nature, but still vibrant in the glass and comes to life with food, especially with creamy cheeses and light dishes. The Whole Shebang! is more famous for the mixed red blend, which has a bold personality and is a stellar value, like a California Côtes du Rhône, it maybe a bit more of a crowd pleaser than this white, but I still enjoy this and recommend it for outdoor parties, picnics and beach meals.
Bedrock Wine Company’s The Whole Shebang! North Coast White Cuvée IV is made from separate lots and years of an eclectic mix of varietals typically consisting of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, Semillon and Muscadelle. The aromatics tend to be slightly floral and taste crisply dry, though this release is pretty generous in flavor and a bit muted on the nose with a hint white flowers and a touch of bitter almond. If I try to compare this Shebang white to anything, I return to the Northern Rhone (Marsanne and Roussanne) and or even Loire Valley Chenin Blanc. Mostly tank rested, you don’t really get any oak influence, even though there seems to be a well rounded, almost, creamy feel when open in the glass. Both the red and white versions of Shebang are highly quaffable and value priced wines that offer a lot of bang for the buck. The Sonoma based Bedrock, led by Morgan Twain-Peterson MW, is mainly famous for their fantastic Zinfandel based Heritage field blend bottlings from some of the oldest and most historic vineyards in the state, and I am a huge fan of the whole collection of pure California efforts.
($16 Est.) 87 points, grapelive