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Wine Advocate Review Rated 94-96 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.
Wine Tasting Notes 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. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
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