Christie Kiley on July 14, 2014 0 Comments What is a conundrum? By definition, conundrum signifies a difficult question or problem. For a wine, this sounds a bit daunting. On the fun side of things, conundrum is a question which is asked and meant to be in fun. Typically, the answer is a pun. It is a riddle. Now that is more like it! It is much like meeting an intriguing person, whom you do not know much about. They are intriguing, their personality—though they might seem fairly straight-forward—is questionable. There is just something you cannot put your finger on. However, you want to find out. You dig and you ask sly questions. It is a bit of an adventure even. I see nothing wrong with this scenario if I am enjoying a wine. I want a wine to catch my attention, my intrigue. What is it that makes its perfume as you find it? What ingredients came together to make such a beautiful and interesting harmony? Conundrum has been making wines since 1989 with the intention of making such wines. From year to year, from the beginning of Conundrum’s inception, they had the intention of making wines to grab its consumers’ attention, awaken their palate and perhaps even simultaneously awaken their spirit. For the Conundrum 2012 White Blend, they did not fall short. Their wine maker, Jon Bolta, has been part of the Conundrum family since 1983. His work started on the bottling line before he started as an assistant wine maker alongside Chuck Wagner. Just five years later, he was dubbed the white wine maker and crafted a signature style of sorts for what would become a signature wine, the Conundrum White Blend. Its intention was to become a stylish white wine to inspire a new generation of wines to parallel new leaps and strides of contemporary cuisine that is familiar to many of us who have visited wine country in northern California and the Bay Area. There are five varietals utilized with each vintage. The selection process begins in the vineyard before the wine making process even begins. The idea is to impart complexity, variety (it goes without mentioning), to layer and to balance, to design. From my experience, from year to year, this is what they have achieved. Of course, Jon is a bit humble when it comes to his craft. He believes he would not have been able to accomplish or craft such a wine if it were not for newer technology and the advancement we see today in viticulture; trellis systems, canopy management and dropping fruit. If you are aware of how vital it is to control the sun and air exposure, you can grow your ideal fruit for your ideal wine. Making a rich wine does not mean you have to sacrifice elegance. This is what you can count on from the Conundrum White Blend from year to year, and the 2012 is no exception. It is full-bodied, but it is not left simply to big fruit. On the nose, the perfume is reminiscent of spring blossoms; white dogwood and delicate honeysuckle and a hint of tropical white ginger, Granny Smith apples and Anjou Pear. Have a sip and you will think the wine has transformed on its way to your mouth. It is full of rich and fully ripe stone fruits, cantaloupe and Rocky Ford melon. This sounds like an impressive and ‘big’ wine, but the finish is much lighter with slightly sweet but fresh acidity with an impressive lingering perfume of citrus oils left on your hand after peeling an orange and vanilla bean. Pair this with your favorite, light summer dishes from zesty ceviche, a cheese platter with fresh goat cheeses and fresh fruit, grilled chicken or fish. More Wine Reviews: ATS Vineyard Chardonnay 2011 from Cuvaison Calcareous Vineyard 2010 Syrah, Paso Robles Oakville Sauvignon Blanc 2012 from Flora Springs Winery Cakebread Cellars Red Hills 2010 Zinfandel
