Continuum - 2017

Continuum is the Mondavi family’s new winemaking venture. It is a 41-acre estate on Pritchard Hill in Napa Valley. It is run by Tim Mondavi and his sister Marcia Mondavi. Their father was the legendary Robert Mondavi, who died in 2008. Tim was for four decades part of the winemaking team at Mondavi, and helped craft many of the luxury cuvees that the Mondavi family were part of, including Opus One. So far Continuum is concentrating on a proprietary red, which is a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Robert M. Parker Jr. rated the debut vintage at 95+ pts and called it “a brilliant beginning.”

"If you have spent time with me or know my palate, you know how I feel about Cabernet Franc. It is the way of the future. Continuum is a wonderful example of why. The wine is seeing more and more Franc incorporated into the blend, year after year. It has really helped out the overall complexity of this wine. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 9% Merlot is the blend for 2017, and has received 98pts from the top critics. This wine is a result of low qualities and early ripening. On Oct 8th the wild fires blew smoke onto the property, but some lots had already been picked (this will make for a super age-worthy wine). They tested for smoke taint and the results came back below the thresholds. They still decided not to use a single drop of anything picked later than that. I give them a lot of respect for treating the wine this way and I think it will pay off down the road. Especially for those of us who prefer the more old world styles in Napa Valley. " - Matt Arnold, CS