Without question, one of the most exciting young new winemakers on the scene on the east coast is Marin Brennan, the new head winemaker at Bedell Cellars. She has now made two of my favorite bottles of wine in the most exciting of ways. She is of course proficient at making elegant wines, having been working under the tutelage of Bedell Wine Director and Eastcoast legend Richard Olsen-Harbich.
“Marin's time at Bedell has been marked by her unwavering dedication and remarkable aptitude,” says Olsen-Harbich. “Her consistent work and the exceptional quality of the wines she has produced over the years have set a high standard. Marin will not only uphold but further enhance our tradition of crafting outstanding wines of consistent quality.”
Firstly, she produced one of my favorite Chardonnays, Corey Creek Coqillage, a 100% estate Chardonnay on local sea shells for two months before racking. She first introduced this wine with the 2021 vintage. The 2023 will the be the third vintage of the wine.
The Coquillage 2021 Chardonnay Aged on North Fork Shells is something to be tried. It starts with a nose full of apple, pear, and tropical notes, with a slight whiff of sea air. The wine has all the fruit you'd hope for, with fresh apple and pear coming through, as well as lemon curd and a lovely note of salinity. Everytime I drink this wine (three times now...LOL) I instantly want fresh seafood on the half shell - clams, muscles, oysters. Nothing fancy. A nice minionette and a squeeze of lemon. And a nice swallow of this terrific wine. I've also enjoyed it with roast chicken, where it went just as beautifully. A terrific Chardonnay, and unique!
Marin is an accomplished individual. She came to Bedell while receiving her BA in Hospitality Management from Johnson & Wales University in 2010. While she initially worked in the tasting room, her passion and curiosity for wine knowledge led Winemaker Rich Olsen-Harbich to invite her to join the harvest team. She became Assistant Winemaker in 2016, and in 2019, launched a new line of boutique wines for Corey Creek while earning a certificate in enology from Washington State University. These Small Batch wines were an immediate success and in 2022 she was featured in Martha Stewart Living for her White Cabernet Franc, which received a stellar 93 points. The following year her foraged, sea-shell aged Chardonnay, Coquillage, was awarded 94 points – the highest score ever for a dry white wine from Long Island. A 94 rating in 2023 for her Malbec Rosé solidified her status as one of Long Islands’ most talented and exciting up-and-coming winemakers. In 2024, after 12 years honing her craft, she was promoted to Winemaker for both Bedell Cellars, and Corey Creek, continuing the Bedell legacy of creating unique, terroir driven wines of the highest quality.
Thus, when Marin announced her newest creation, Corey Creek Fields Rose' 62% Cabernet Franc and 38% Syrah Lavender Fermented, I jumped at the chance to try it! Luckily for me, we were both attending Eastern Wineries Exposition in Syracuse just two weeks ago, she offered to bring a bottle to try at the show. I immediately thanked her.
What an absolutely terrific idea for a wine. Marin told me, "I created its own starter culture with lavender for a few days. Once that started, I added the culture to the tank to inoculate the cab franc/syrah juice." Marin also posted that the Lavender fermented rosé used "North Fork grown [Lavender] (fresh English and dried French)." She first started talking about the in late last September 2023, and introduced the label on March 7, 2024.
So, Corey Creek Fields Blend Lavender Fermented 2023 is finally bottled and ready to go. And it is an absolute winner! Again, notes of strawberries, cherries, lime, and tropical fruits, with a lovely light hint of lavender. The fragrance nor the taste is overwhelming. There's no hint of soap bar or perfume. But there is a lovely, delicate wisp of it, as if you smelled lavender on a breeze from the neighboring farm on a warm summer's day. And that's what this wine instantly reminded me of - the North Fork on a dry, breezy summer's evening.
The fruit was lovely and soft. The strawberries and cherries gave way to a smooth, and juicy middle, with just enough acidity at the end to keep it from being cloying. The wine was lovely, and went well with our food. This will be a popular wine.
More importantly, to me, this solidifies Marin's reputation for innovation but with a delicate touch. It's imagination, with with a restrained chef's deft touch. Outstanding. Another absolute winner.