Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Cabernet Franc

Petit Verdot

Continuum

Continuum Napa Valley

California

Napa Valley

This note is written before the final blend of the 2021 Continuum. Deep purple-black in color, it hits the ground running with an intense nose of red and black currant preserves, lilacs, baker's chocolate, and graphite, leading to an undercurrant of black olives and red loam. On the medium to full-bodied palate it is very lively, grainy and super-concentrated, finishing long and shimmery.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Amateur

A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot, and 6% Merlot, with all the fruit estate grown from Sage Mountain Vineyard on Pritchard Hill, the 2018 Continuum has a deep garnet-purple color. It needs a lot of swirling before bright red fruit, floral notes, tea, and cassis come through, plus wild sage and crushed rocks. Full-bodied and firm, the palate has amazing tension, with fine-grained tannins, and is very minerally and tightly knit, with a long finish. It needs time!

A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot, and 9% Merlot, with all the fruit estate grown from Sage Mountain Vineyard on Pritchard Hill, the 2017 Continuum has a deep garnet-purple color. It sings with notes of red berries, black raspberries, earth, and garrigue, plus pencil shavings and underbrush. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and refreshing, with firm and chewy tannins, a lively backbone and a fragrant finish.

A blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 18% Petit Verdot, and 5% Merlot, with all the fruit estate grown from Sage Mountain Vineyard on Pritchard Hill, the 2016 Continuum has a deep garnet-purple color. It explodes with cassis, black cherries, and boysenberries, plus earth, sage, violets, crushed rocks, and Indian spices. Full-bodied, the palate is rich, profound, firm and grainy, a little shut down, long and earthy. It is showing lovely restraint for this powerful vintage.

The 2015 Continuum is a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 17% Petit Verdot, and 6% Merlot, with all the fruit estate grown from Sage Mountain Vineyard on Pritchard Hill. "There was cold snap during flowering and we ended up with half a crop in 2015," said Tim Mondavi. "This also affected the 2016 crop, lowering volumes that year by 20%." It is deep garnet-purple in color and bursts with notes of exotic spices, blackberry preserves, crème de cassis, Jasmine tea, and incense, followed by an undercurrent of currants. Medium to full-bodied, the generous black and red fruit flavors are well-framed by firm, grainy tannins and compelling freshness, finishing long and spicy.

Amatør

A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot, and 4% Merlot, the 2013 Continuum is the first vintage of this label being 100% estate grown. Deep garnet in color, it is quite closed and needs a lot of swirling to unlock notes of blackcurrant pastilles, plum preserves, and fruit cake, plus hints of unsmoked cigars, crushed rocks, and cardamom. Full-bodied, rich, and powerful with firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, it finishes long, firm, and characteristically minerally.

A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, and 6% Merlot, the 2012 Continuum was made with 100% of the fruit coming from Pritchard Hill. It is deep garnet in color and it charges out of the gate with exuberant notes of blackcurrant jelly, boysenberry preserves, and spice cake, plus wafts of iron ore, garrigue, and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy, the palate is taut with muscular black fruits, delivering just enough freshness and opulence to give maximum satisfaction on the finish.

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot, and 2% Merlot, the 2011 Continuum was made with 98% of the fruit coming from Pritchard Hill, with small amounts from Mt. Veeder and Diamond Mountain. Medium to deep garnet in color, it is a little broody to start, opening out to notes of black and red currant preserves, sauteed herbs, and tobacco leaf, plus wafts of underbrush and fertile loam. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lovely vibrancy of fruit with delicate blackberry and savory layers, supported by chewy tannins, finishing with a skip in its step.

A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 11% Petit Verdot, and 4% Merlot, the 2010 Continuum was produced with 92% of the fruit from Pritchard Hill, with small amounts from Mt. Veeder and Diamond Mountain. It is deep garnet in color and opens with gentle notes of dried herbs and flowers, before giving way to notions of redcurrant jelly, cherry pie, and raspberry coulis, with a waft of pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, the palate is lively and refreshing, with bags of crunchy red fruit and fine-grained tannins, finishing long and minerally.

A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and 4% Merlot, the 2009 Continuum was made with 82% of the fruit from Pritchard Hill and the remainder from Diamond Mountain, Mt. Veeder, and St. Helena. It is deep garnet-colored and glides gracefully out of the glass with notions of warm cassis, blackberry preserves, and kirsch, plus suggestions of pencil shavings, unsmoked cigars, cumin seed, and cast-iron pan. Full-bodied, the palate is packed with muscular black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with loads of mineral and earth layers.

A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and 5% Merlot, the 2008 Continuum had more than 70% of the fruit sourced from Pritchard Hill, including a small amount from the Continuum estate. It has a deep garnet color and sashays out with pretty scents of kirsch, cherry compote, and blackcurrant cordial, with suggestions of cedar chest, dried herbs, and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied, the palate delivers rock-solid, firm, grainy tannins with a lively backbone and tons of savory laced black fruit layers, finishing long and earthy.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Petit Verdot, the 2007 Continuum was mainly sourced from To Kalon Vineyard, with 13% coming from Pritchard Hill. It is medium to deep garnet in color and leaps with lifted notes of Morello cherries, blueberry preserves, and dried mulberries, plus suggestions of sandalwood, Indian spices, and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely coated with spicy black fruit preserves, supported by velvety tannins and soft acidity, finishing on a lively red berry note.

A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 16% Petit Verdot, the 2006 Continuum was only sourced from Oakville: 41% from the Monastery Block (the Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot), 37% from Marjorie's Vineyard, and 22% from N Block. It is deep garnet-colored and delivers meaty scents of beef drippings and lamb with rosemary, over a core of dried cherries and figs, plus a waft of Chinese five spice. Medium to full-bodied, the texture is firm and chewy, complementing the great core of spicy black fruit preserves, whilst delivering a savory finish.

A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, and 19% Petit Verdot, the 2005 Continuum was mainly sourced from Marjorie's Vineyard in Oakville, with 13% coming from Stag's Leap AVA. It has a medium to deep garnet color and it prances out with provocative scents of potpourri, sandalwood, and fallen leaves, over core of fruitcake, crushed rocks, and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, the firm palate has a pleasant chewiness to the texture with compelling tension defining the delicate fruit layers, finishing minerally.

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.	18541001
Producer	Continuum
Vintages	2021
Country	US, California, Napa Valley
Bottle	75 cl

Alcohol	14.9 %
Acid	5,2 %
Sugar	< 3 g/l

Packaging	Glass
Cork type
Selection	Uten utvalg
Wholesaler	Vinetum AS
Carrier	Skanlog AS