winemaker's notes:
Spread across 120 planted acres on the steep hillsides of Spring Mountain,
the Newton Vineyard Estate is comprised of over 112 distinctive vineyard
blocks. The individual character of each parcel is the unique result of the
diverse microclimates and soils created by the mountaintop's many
contours and rugged terrain. The winery is designed to allow these small
lots to be kept separate until Newton's winemaker artfully assembles these
unique parcels, like pieces of a puzzle, into the finest expression of their
Spring Mountain estate. The purity and ultimate quality of the fruit is
preserved through this careful attention to detail and consistent good
judgment throughout the winemaking process.
This full-bodied yet elegant wine reinvents itself with each taste. The wine
opens with dense aromatics of dried violet and marjoram, then reveals
blackberry, blueberry and black cherry notes followed by savory notes of
mocha, fresh tobacco and supple leather. These layers of flavor also
appear on the palate, along with toasty vanilla bean and caramel. Well
integrated tannins in this balanced wine contribute to its long finish. With
time in the cellar, this multifaceted wine will continue to develop
complexity and flavor.
It is suggested that this wine be decanted to allow its full power to
unfold. The elegant, complex flavors of The Puzzle makes it an
exceptional companion to beef carpaccio, a tender beef fillet with
Bordelaise sauce or even cedar-plank grilled salmon.
"The proprietary Bordeaux blend, the 2004 The Puzzle (70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc) is a brilliant 1,000-case cuvee, showing the fabulous mountain terroir of the Newton Vineyard. This wine was still not in bottle when I tasted it, but by the time this report comes out, it will have been bottled unfiltered.
Deep ruby/purple to the rim, with an exuberant display of aromatics consisting of black tea, creme de cassis, charcoal, incense, and again some truffle notes, the wine is full-bodied, with nicely integrated acidity, wood, tannin, and the influence of barriques kept well in the background. This is a big but impressively well-balanced wine that should come into its own in 3-4 years and last for 20-25 years."
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
Barrel Sample: 94-96 Points
