2008 Continuum Proprietary Red
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Tasting notes
Purchased the property on 16 July 2008, so a higher proportion of the fruit came from the estate. Even so, the farming was not yet led by the Continuum team, and the volume was such that they continued to purchase fruit from elsewhere. More than 70% is from the Continuum estate, the remainder comes from a mix of vineyards throughout the valley floor. As this vintage includes primarily mountain fruit, Merlot begins to appear in the blend with this vintage. 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot. The wine offers a less overtly expressive nose and less overtly expressive fruits overall. The aromas are dusty and distinctive from the previous vintages though there is a stylistic continuity. The wine offers an impressive, silken mouthfeel with a very lightly textural weave that is also palate-stimulating. The wine picks up some mushroom notes through the back of the palate and has spicy notes throughout with a mix of dark fruits – just lightly dried plum and a hint of prune, graphite, sage accents and cacao nib. There is a lot of innate intensity and energy to this wine. It is an upright and nervy wine with a distinctly vertical presentation that softens lightly through the finish. (ECB)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2008 Proprietary Red is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot, and 71% of the fruit this year came from the Continuum estate on Pritchard Hill. It has a deep garnet-brick color and reveals an earthy, spice box, bouquet garni and fruitcake-scented nose with wafts of balsamic, prunes and iron ore. Full-bodied with a good core of dried berries and mineral sparks in the mouth, it has a firm, chewy texture and finishes a little rustic.
(14.9% alcohol): Bright medium ruby. Alluring aromas of cassis, black cherry, cocoa powder and graphite. At once plush and delineated, with an inky suggestion of almost port-like ripeness leavened by black raspberry, mineral, licorice and floral flavors, not to mention perfectly judged new oak. A wonderfully seamless, lively midweight wine with a compellingly pliant, almost creamy texture for the vintage and a firm tannic spine for further development in bottle. Fine, dusty tannins saturate the teeth and palate on the very long aftertaste, without showing any dryness or greenness. A beauty--for now or 15 years from now. And light on its feet considering its richness.
The 2008 Continuum is showing beautifully today. Dark, layered and expressive, the 2008 graces with dark plum, black cherry, spice, licorice and menthol. The intense aromatic and spice components are really singing right now. In its early life, the 2008 was closed and unexpressive, but over the last year it has really opened up beautifully. Orange peel and exotic higher toned notes ring out on the finish. With air, the 2008 is drinking beautifully today, but the firm tannins and intensity of the fruit both suggest it will age gracefully for years.
About the producer
Created by Tim and Marcia Mondavi, Continuum is a Napa project that continues the Mondavi family legacy. Based in Pritchard Hill, this estate winery produces elegant, mineral Cabernet blends from hillside fruit.