Conundrum White Wine Blend

Background & The Pour Man's Proof

This bottle comes from the Wagner family—yes, the same folks behind the (in)famous Caymus Cabernet. "Conundrum" was one of their original, boundary-pushing projects, and the name says it all: it's a puzzle in a bottle. In a wine world dominated by single-grape whites (your standard Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, etc.), a high-quality, complex white blend is not something you see every day.

This wine is a "secret" mix of grapes, but it's well-known to include aromatic varieties like Viognier and Muscat Canelli, blended with the more traditional Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s designed to be different, to break the rules, and to create a "conundrum" of flavors. It often sits right around the $25 mark but frequently dips on sale, landing it in our "Under $25" category as a "splurge-to-try" bottle.

Tasting Notes (in Plain English)

This wine is an aromatic bomb. The second you pour it, you get a perfumey, floral bouquet—think honeysuckle, jasmine, and orange blossom—mixed with ripe, juicy stone fruits like apricot and peach, and maybe a little tropical lychee.

The taste is just as lush as the smell. It’s not bone-dry; there's a definite hint of sweetness that makes it incredibly approachable and easy to drink. It has a rich, almost "oily" texture (in a good way) that coats your mouth with flavors of mandarin orange, ripe pear, and that honeysuckle note again. There's just enough acidity in the background to keep it from feeling heavy or syrupy.

Final Verdict: Would I Buy It Again?

Score: 3/5 (A "Maybe" / A Fun Bottle to Try)

This is the very definition of a 3/5 "Maybe." It’s different, it's fun, and we absolutely recommend trying it at least once. It’s a perfect "splurge-to-learn" bottle that shows you what a complex, aromatic, and off-dry white blend can be. It’s a fantastic wine to pair with spicy Thai or Vietnamese food.

But... it’s not an "all the time" kind of wine. That powerful, floral, and slightly sweet profile is very specific. We have to be in the mood for it. It's not the versatile, crisp, "go-to" sipper we'd reach for every Friday night. It’s a fantastic, unique bottle, but it’s not a "buy-again" staple. Grab it when you want an adventure, but don't expect it to replace your favorite Sauvignon Blanc.