vegan burgers and frites

this is an amazing combination, particularly when the burgers have pungent st alban cheese and the frites are done with garlic and herbs. the wines this week have been wild and eclectic too, and there are a number of matches for this meal both red and white. this begs for something which can stand up to the fat of the cheese. the intense aromas of the roasted garlic and the cheese demand an intense wine. i have 3 options in mind for tonight.

this is a full bodied white wine. the color is pale. the aromas are those of lavender and honeysuckle. the flavors are concentrated fruits- green apples and pear- with honey fig and vanilla. the finish is spicy with well balanced acid. this is not an ordinary white wine. not an oak and vanilla chardonnay or a floral peach and citrus sauvignon blanc.

the stage was set for this wine in the discussion of the "big house white." this takes it a step further. the wine is conundrum 2007.

conundrum originated in 1989 as an experiment, an option to the caymus portfolio of cab based reds. it was a blend with a rhone personality: sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, muscat, semillon, viognier, and canelli. this blend exceeds the sum of its parts; the product is intensely floral, driven by fleshy fruits and citrus, and has exceptional balance year after year. although it began as "caymus conundrum," in 2001 it became its own brand.

i learned about conundrum in october 1996 during a trip to the napa valley. cycling from winery to winery, in the early afternoon i stopped at caymus. i knew their spectacular red wines, but the refreshing "treat" of the stop was the white wine of the tasting, conundrum. yearly, i cellar the cab and drink the conundrum. it has maintained its quality and remained consistent as it became its own brand. i compare this with southern rhones, white chateauneuf du pape, st veran, and the occasional california blend such as "big house white." it is a stellar wine, consistent in quality, and an excellent value. this is a special and favorite wine. i put it up against my favorites and it more than stands its ground.

now, what is that st veran with all the structure that i compare to this blend?