One of my favorite wines is this white blend. Odd, since I vastly prefer red wine. This is the only wine I buy cases of. A California wine, Conundrum was first developed at Caymus but now stands on its own.

According to Condrum, after experimenting with 11 different white wine grapes, they chose the three that they 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 their "spice cabinet," they added small amounts of Sémillon and Viognier. About 30% of this wine was aged in stainless steel and the remaining percentage was aged in French and American oak. The first vintage of this wine dates back to 1989.

Soooo good. You should definitely try it if you're lucky to run across it.

From the Conundrum web site:

The proportions vary slightly in each vintage, as Mother Nature hands us new "ingredients." But 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 apéritif 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.

Conundrum stands on its own as a brand, still owned by the Wagner family. Caymus Vineyards, where Conundrum was developed, now focuses exclusively on Cabernet Sauvignon. Plans are moving ahead for a dedicated Conundrum facility scheduled to be built in Monterey County, close to the sources for most of the grape varietals that make up the wine.

Conundrum, formerly Caymus Conundrum, is a uniquely blended white wine. Most people find it a little on the sweet side because of the Muscat and Viognier in the blend, but it's a delightful wine to compliment a bold fish like Chilean Sea Bass.

I had the pleasure to visit the Caymus Winery in Napa before Conundrum production was moved to the central valley region of California. Now, Caymus only produces red wines in Napa, but I'll write about the otherworldly Caymus Cabernet Sauvignons on another day...