Winemaker Notes
2017 was a vintage of extremes, with abundant rain in the winter months and record-breaking heat waves during the growing season. A testament in resiliency, the wine bears the hallmarks of the elevation and terroir at Sage Mountain Vineyard, showcasing exquisite vibrancy, many layers of flavor, ferrous minerality and fragrant wild herb notes. 2017 Continuum shows freshness, hinting at rose petal on the nose with cacao, black cherry and plum giving way to a plush, silky mid palate. Fine tannins of crushed stone and subtle undertones of tapenade are present through a beautifully persistent finish.
Blend: 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot, 9% Merlot
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
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.
Tim Mondavi believes that wine is an artistic expression of man's harmony with nature and as such, the winegrowing practices at Continuum estate honor and support the vineyards through balancing the essence of classic techniques with modern day innovations and organic farming. Continuum's goal is to craft balanced wine of power, finesse and elegance - red wines that are expressions of the land, the people and the vintage.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.