The 2019 Continuum showcases the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc to date revealing the volcanic site and native attributes of Sage Mountain Vineyard. A lively and expressive nose with lifted red fruit, hibiscus, and delicate floral notes. The plush entry on the palate reveals concentrated dark fruit, and youthful black mulberry interweaving with layers of savory wild herb, exotic spice, and graphite. The 2019 Continuum’s mountain fruit expression is enveloped by a supple and silky texture with velvety fine tannins and ferrous minerality. Pleasing all the way though- the 2019 Continuum is an elevated and lush dance of power and grace on the palate.
Reviews:
- Wine Advocate: Continuum’s 2019 Proprietary Red is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot, all from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill. Aged in two-thirds new French oak, with the balance in second or third-use barrels and a single concrete amphora, it’s remarkably dark in hue, a deep, saturated purple in the glass. On the nose, it’s floral and herbal yet fruit-driven, with violets, sage and bay leaf adding nuance to black cherries, while the palate is full-bodied, plush and silky. There’s an enticing yin-yang to the interplay between high-toned herbals and bass notes of dark chocolate in this dense, concentrated effort that finishes lush and long. It’s a magnificent wine that should drink well for at least two decades.
- James Suckling: Blackberries, dark wet soil and blackcurrants. Graphite, too. So aromatic. Pure fruit. Full-bodied with superbly polished, fine tannins that draw you down through the center of palate. Extremely layered and the texture is so curated, giving wonderful persistence. Real plushness and fine, velvety texture. 50% cabernet sauvignon, 37% cabernet franc, 7% petit verdot and 6% merlot. Better after 2026.
Producer Information
Continuum is the culmination of four generations of the Mondavi family in wine. Tim and Marcia, along with their families, focused on finding an exceptional hillside site in pursuit of a wine that would rank among the greatest in the world. The Continuum estate is located on Pritchard Hill along the eastern ridge of Napa Valley, high above Oakville, Sage Mountain Vineyard is nested in nature, with rocky volcanic soils producing a small, precious crop. This site yields wine of power, depth, nuance and verve.
