2018 Continuum by Tim Mondavi, Sage Mountain

Smagen er både intens, elegant og smidig uden at miste nerve og energi. Her fornemmes den ekstremt kompromisløse tilgang i både markerne og kælderen, der giver vinen en renhed som meget få i verden. Alle tanker om overgjort Napa Valley vin kan glemmes her – kølig og elegant stil er udtrykket. I sandhed en af verdens helt store vine.

Continuum er domineret af Cabernet Sauvignon med en smule Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot og Merlot fra nogle af de højest og køligst beliggende marker i Napa Valley. Udbyttet i markerne er lavt, og under høsten sorteres
druerne én for én.

I vinhuset gærer de i store franske egetræskar efterfulgt af 18 måneder i de bedste franske
egetræsfade, der kan købes (ca. 85% nye). Vinen er hverken klaret eller filtreret ved aftapning på flaske.
Overdådig aroma pakket med bl.a. blåbær, solbær, skovbund, mynte og violer.

Vi anbefaler at dekantere vinen en time før servering i store Bordeauxglas.
Der produceres under 1.500 kasser årligt.

Tim Mondavi
“Continuum is a single wine, produced with clarity of focus at the highest quality level. A unique wine, it
is a blend of Cabernet family varieties grown on our hillside vineyard above the Napa Valley.”

Ole Troelsø fra Børsen:
“Hans far skabte Robert Mondavi Winery, kendt for kultvinen Opus One, men Tim Mondavi kan også selv.
Det har han bevist med vinen Continuum, som rangeres på lige fod med Opus One, Harlan Estate og andre
store navne.”

Anmeldelse og point:

100 point – James Suckling, juni 2021:
“This has incredible nuances and delicacy with power. It’s full-bodied with lots of gentle tannins that spread across the palate. The character is full of blackberry, blackcurrant and lead pencil. Some conifer and pine needles. Sage at the end, too. Savory. So long-lasting and layered. Such purity. It’s so complex and changes all the time in the glass. Goes on for minutes. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 31% cabernet franc, 9% petit verdot and 6% merlot. Organically grown grapes. So drinkable now, but will age beautifully.”

98-100 point – Robert Parker, august 2020:
“Composed of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple 2018 Proprietary Red has a fantastically fragrant nose of candied violets, red roses, Morello cherries and blackcurrant pastilles with hints of wild blueberries, red currant jelly, iron ore and forest floor, plus a waft of cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely packed with tightly wound black and red berry layers, framed by firm, ripe, finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with incredibly persistent and evocative floral and mineral layers.

An absolute head-turner, this 2018 is all that and then some. Tim Mondavi mentioned that this is due to be bottled in just a few weeks—mid-August—meaning this barrel sample I tasted is pretty close to being a finished wine. With the estate vineyard turning 10 year’s old in 2018, here’s where we see how incredibly special this singular Pritchard Hill site really is.”