Thursday, May 21, 2015

It is a conundrum.

I consider myself a fairly intelligent person, so it is with some consternation that I find myself struggling to get my grey matter around the fact that anyone in the Napa Valley would want to make a wine like this particular wine from the Wagner Family (Caymus).  The Conundrum, 2012 California Red Wine, is to me simply undrinkable: it has so much residual sugar that I think I now have diabetes from attempting to drink it. The variety of grapes that go into Conundrum Red (and the vineyards, and the AVAs in which the grapes were grown) are a mystery.
I know Caymus sell a butt load (technical term) of this wine, but it is a puzzle to me as to how they do it.  Obviously, there are a lot more folks around America that like to imbibe in sweet red wine than I imagined. Thankfully, I was given this wine by the owner of TWWIAGE (I think she likes me), otherwise I would be really distressed at the thought that I'd spent my hard earned money on it.  Of the Conundrum Red, Charlie Wagner II says, it "beckons a second sip."  I could barely get the first, and only, one down.

13 comments:

Thomas said...

Thank you for this one. I, too, cannot imagine how they sell so much of this stuff.

When I operated my tasting room, I learned that Americans prefer sugar way more than they prefer wine. In fact, at times it became demoralizing to have to watch and listen to what people did and said in the tasting room.

New Hampshire Wineman said...

VG: My experience: Most people that I talk to like SWEET red, but they usually are wine dabblers.
However, you did me a favor, cause I have wanted to buy this wine! Now I won't, but if someone asks me for a sweet red I can give them your opinion!
Thomas said it perfectly: "Americans prefer sugar way more than they prefer wine."
As for me, Bordeaux red and Brunello are among my favorite red wines, and I don't remember ever describing one as sweet!

Thud said...

You are on your own with that opening statement.

Thomas said...

Thud, you are showing your jealousy ...

Thud said...

Thomas, I feel pretty much able to say anything I wish about my sister, that's how it works here a couple of minutes in our company tends to confound most Americans.

About Last Weekend said...

Interesting, And did they know what Conundrum means? strange back and forth name for a wine.
Interesting what Thomas says.

Vinogirl said...

Tomasso: I often opt for a big bar of chocolate over a glass of wine, but when I enjoy a glass of wine (because I've ran out of choccy), it is usually a dry one. The Conundrum was just hideous.

NHW: No, go ahead and try it and let me know what you think.

Thud: In my defense, I did say "fairly".

Tomasso: Big brothers...do you have one?

Thud: Yes, we are a constant puzzlement to Vinomaker, hee, hee.

ALW: I don't think the proprietors ever looked up the definition of conundrum, the Wagners are too busy counting the revenue it brings in.

Thomas said...

Thud: I wasn't being serious...and I hate to have to use emotes ;)

VG: all my five brothers were bigger; in fact, all my three sisters were too. I am the youngest of ten! Seven remain.

Thomas said...

Did I say five brothers? I meant six.

Vinogirl said...

Tomasso: That's a lot of Pellechias!!!

Thomas said...

VG: you should see the extended family count!

You know those Italian Catholics of the old days...

Thud said...

Thomas, a typical Liverpool Irish family tend to denigrate each other from dawn to dusk, most people are perplexed, we love it.

Thomas said...

Thud: I married into an Irish-Welsh family. They do the same thing, but honestly, you guys have nothing on us Italians.