Bonnie Brae Wine & Liquor Mart
785 S. University Boulevard • Denver, CO 80209
Phone: (303) 733-7261

Conundrum Winery
– Santa Lucia Highlands, CA

“Conundrum was born from a core idea: why couldn't a wine mirror – in complexity and creativity – the dishes being invented by a new generation of chefs who had no allegiance to the traditions and rules of the past?” “When the time comes to blend the wine, we have – not just five lots representing the five varietals – but sixty or more separate components, each offering its own aromas, flavors and textures. That's when the creative juices begin to flow.”

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2008 “Conundrum”

Winemaker John Bolta’s Comments: This is the first vintage to be produced at the new production-only Conundrum Winery in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County. Conundrum's success as a unique, complex blend of white grapes continues with the 2008 vintage in this fresh, lively, deeply-flavored wine. The core profile remains thoroughly Californian – with Sauvignon Blanc grapes from the Napa Valley, Muscat Canelli from Tulare County on the Central Coast, and Chardonnay and Viognier from our vineyards in Monterey County. The “puzzle” of Conundrum lies partly in guessing the range of grape varieties we use.

About one-quarter of the wine lots were fermented in stainless steel in order to preserve their individual fruit characteristics. The remaining lots were fermented in a combination of new and seasoned oak barrels for up to ten months and sealed with a screw-cap to lock in freshness. And that's exactly what you get from the second you open the bottle, “fresh everything.” The gorgeous aromas of apricot, honeysuckle, sweet white flowers, green apple, and vanilla, all enhance a deeply-flavored palate of tropical fruit, peach, pear and honeydew melon flavors. In the mouth, core flavors of apricot, pear, stone fruit, ripe melon and citrus are balanced by hints of vanilla. There is plenty of acidity, and the lush, creamy, mouth-filling texture is heightened by powerful floral and bright tropical fruit notes that lead to a full, powerful finish – all of which make this a great aperitif or complement to salads, spicy fare and even fruit desserts. According to Wine Spectator: "Bursting with fragrant honeysuckle and jasmine, with ripe melon, peach, nectarine and honeycomb grace notes. Intensely flavored, with a refreshing acidity. Drink now."

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The Conundrum Story

Conundrum is owned by the Wagner family of Caymus Vineyards, but stands entirely on its own as a uniquely separate brand. The specialized state-of-the-art Conundrum winery opened in 2007 in Monterey County, close to the sources for most of the grape varietals that make up the wine. As the winery expounds, “Conundrum was born from a core idea: why couldn't a wine mirror – in complexity and creativity – the dishes being invented by a new generation of chefs who had no allegiance to the traditions and rules of the past? From our first vintage, 1989, we were determined to make a dramatically different white-wine blend that would surpass the scope of single-varietal wines. One of my favorite comments from people who taste Conundrum for the first time, is “I’ve never tasted a white wine like this before.”

“Blending several grape varietals together is a centuries-old tradition for both red and white wines. But we wanted to venture into a wider arena. Just as chefs were exploring the fusion of flavors from classic to contemporary, from east to west, often combining savory, spicy, herbal and fruity flavors in one dish, we wanted to explore how non-traditional combinations of grape varietals would work together. We wanted each varietal to be distinctive but still complementary to the others and to the foods we were enjoying. After experimenting with 11 different white wine grapes, we chose the three that we considered the key ingredients – the aromas and flavors that form the foundation of the wine: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and for its intriguing floral/tropical character, Muscat Canelli. Then, from our "spice cabinet," we added small amounts of Sémillon and Viognier. Already, we were working with flavors and textures that formed a new and unprecedented combination – a conundrum, or puzzle to be teased out by the taster.”

“To make the blend even more complex, we took the same approach we used when making red wine: we treated each small lot or portion of wine separately, respecting its unique flavor profile. This approach starts in the vineyards, where we expanded the number of rootstocks and clones we planted. It extends to harvest decisions, as we pick each grape varietal at several different levels of ripeness and acidity within the spectrum we are seeking. It continues in winemaking, as we ferment some wine lots in stainless steel and some in oak barrels, varying the yeast to complement the character of each. Similarly, we keep some lots in cool-temperature stainless steel to maintain some fresh, crisp aromas and fruit flavors, and age some in seasoned barrels and a small portion of new barrels so that oak flavors remain subtle. As a result, when the time comes to blend the wine, we have not just five lots representing the five varietals, but sixty or more components, each offering its own aromas, flavors and textures. That's when the creative juices begin to flow.”

“The proportions vary slightly in each vintage, as Mother Nature hands us new ‘ingredients’. The "puzzle" of Conundrum lies partly in guessing the range of grape varieties we use, because we never reveal its exact composition. Our wine's core profile remains thoroughly Californian, with Sauvignon Blanc grapes from the Napa Valley, Muscat Canelli from Tulare county on the Central Coast, and Chardonnay and Viognier from our vineyards in Monterey County; and, our goal is always the same: a wine whose complexity makes it appealing to both red and white wine drinkers, a highly styled wine that is excellent as an aperitif, and pairs beautifully with the wide-ranging, global dishes we are eating as chefs experiment with fresher and more healthful cuisines that depend on vegetables, herbs, spices and creative preparation techniques to achieve intensity of flavor.”

Reviews:

“Aromas of lavender and honeysuckle, rich complex flavors of green apple, ripe peaches and spice, silky smooth, lightly sweet, the wine is rich and hearty.”
Miami Herald

“Wildly aromatic... an intense, delicious wine barely able to contain itself.”
San Francisco Chronicle

“There is no wine in all of California comparable to Conundrum. It’s made from a blend of grapes grown all over the state, and you can almost taste the flavors of each and every varietal: There’s lush Chardonnay and Sémillon, crisp Sauvignon Blanc, intense Viognier and spicy, aromatic Muscat.”
Food & Wine

“This delicious blend of five white wine grapes is one of the best of its type from California. It’s a complex wine, with an array of ripe, concentrated flavors—pear, honey, fig, vanilla, peach and nectarine, finishing with lots of character and a dash of spice. Delicious.”
Wine Spectator

“There is really no riddle here—Conundrum is just a damn fine bottle of wine. Concentrated, rich fruit and sweet oak give layers of flavor and complexity.”
Wine News

“Rich and lush, full bodied yet silky on the palate. This unusual blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier and Muscat grapes lives up to its name.”
Wine Enthusiast

“King of the hill as usual.”
Toronto Star

“Voluptuous, layered, remarkably complex, full-bodied, rich, spicy and with dazzling persistence of flavor. If you like all of those things, RUN to your nearest wine merchant and grab a bottle or two of Conundrum before they run out.”
Whitley On Wine

“A delectable wine that offers subtlety, complexity and fresh-tasting drinkability.”
The Wine Experience

“This continues to be a unique wine.”
Wall Street Journal

“It’s no surprise that this blend of five grapes has a cornucopia of aromas and flavors. What’s stunning is how integrated these distinctive grapes become on the palate. Floral, tropical and crisp aromas lead to a creamy but zest mouthfeel and a smooth, lingering finish.”
Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Conundrum’s blended white wine has a light, fruity aroma that isn’t overly sweet.”
O at Home (Oprah Winfrey)

“The complexity of the blend makes it a tasty food-pairing wine. The first sip is all softness, sweetness, and light...name any tropical fruit and you will imagine you are tasting it in this wine. It is natural and all but inevitable to try to put a name to the varietals, we are sipping. Yet Conundrum is intentionally wily in this regard. It wants you to wonder and to speculate while you enjoy.”
Santa Rosa Press Democrat

February 2010 SPECIAL FEATURES

Erath Winery – Dundee, Oregon
• 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir
• 2008 Oregon Pinot Gris