My Personal Recommendation For You
2011
Continuum Cabernet
Pritchard Hill, Napa;
CA. Our
price $179.99
95 Pts Antonio Galloni / Pinnacle Cult Napa Cab
If
one were to stand behind Napa’s historic Robert Mondavi Winery and look in a
straight line through the winery’s tower and further through the crown of
Opus
One
, they would see the hillside Continuum vineyards (pictured) far
in the distance located on Pritchard Hill in the Vaca Mountains. The mountain
range that forms the eastern boundary above Napa Valley is an area that has
long produced superior wine – yet it still has not been officially recognized
as a sub appellation of Napa! The vines, in fact, have been planted on and
around the vicinity of Pritchard Hill since the late 1880′s by Italian American
Vintners. And those belonging to Continuum are planted between an elevation of
1000 and 1500 feet!
With
years of history and experience producing high-end Napa wines, Tim Mondavi, son
of the late Cali wine icon, Robert Mondavi, ensures that this is not your
‘typical’ Napa Valley Cabernet-based blend, stating
“Continuum, a blend of
Cabernet family varieties grown in the Napa Valley, is a single red wine
produced with clarity of focus at the highest quality level.
” He further
adds,
“I didn’t pick Pritchard Hill. I picked this soil, this exposure, this
aspect”,
calling himself “a convert from the valley floor: being above
the fog, having thin soils.
My Continuum is “Oakville with altitude!”
As
a matter of course, this micro-terroir is now in fierce demand! Most
particularly, two of Napa’s seven recognized cult wineries of
Bryant Family
and Colgin, and other acclaimed wineries like Chappellet, Ovid,
Brand, and David Arthur
, have set up production here, too!
2011
Production notes:
98% of the 2011
Continuum was grown on Pritchard Hill on the western hills above Oakville. Our
41 acres of mature estate vineyard, with an average age of 20 years, has a
variety of western and south facing aspects. The remainder of the blend was
sourced from vineyards on Mt. Veeder and Diamond Mountain. Fruit was
hand-harvested
in two pickings, between October 17 and 21st and again from October 29th
through November 3rd.
[75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit
Verdot and 2% Merlot].
All
fruit was selectively placed into small lug-boxes, sorted before and after
de-stemming, then gravity fed into small French oak barrels, French oak tanks
or cement tanks for fermentation. All lots had a lengthy maceration time,
ranging from 21-43 days. During this time, pump overs and below the cap lees
stirring were enacted daily. In addition, prior to pressing, rack and return
was performed 3-4 times in each fermentation tank. After fermentation, all lots
were drained, with pomace pressed separately, to 85% new small French oak
barrels for
malolactic fermentation. The lees were kept in barrel
with the new wine for an extended period of stirring, to enrich the body,
nourish the wine and polish the tannins. The wine was clarified slowly and
naturally through the use of traditional settling and racking techniques and
bottled without fining or filtration. Each vineyard lot was tasted and
carefully considered when assembling.
The 2011 spent 19 months in
barrel
– Whoa!
Antonio
Galloni’s review:
“The
2011 Continuum is a dark, brooding beauty. The presence of Petit Verdot, 11% in
this vintage, is clearly felt in the wine's somber, intense personality. The
2011 is going to require significant patience. It boasts superb density and
pedigree, but it was also bottled just a few months ago, and is a bit unsettled
at this stage. The 2011 was made from virtually all estate fruit, with a splash
of Petit Verdot from Mount Veeder. Drinking window: 2016 - 2031.
Rated 95+
points
.”
Tim
Mondavi’s tasting notes:
“The
2011 has a deep red robe, black highlights and a vibrant violet rim. Primary
aromas of black cherry, mulberry, rose petal and Ethiopian coffee develop
greater nuance as the wine breathes, revealing red cherry, chocolate, fig and
cardamom. On the palate, ripe damson plum, savory aged beef and allspice
infused. The 2011 is full yet supple, with a long and complex finish and a
vibrant core of minerality.
Decant the 2011 and enjoy today or hold and
cellar it for an additional 10 to 15 years.”
This hand-picked wine is ready
to ship.
To see other personal wine recommendations we are offering customers CLICK HERE Each wine has
been carefully selected to recommend. You might want to mix and match. Need
help? Call
1 800 434 9463 (WINE) and ask
for your Wine Advisor,
Our job is to learn your palate. Please tell me what you are looking for,
i.e., specific grapes, countries, and/or price points. We
guarantee all
wines we recommend, you never get stuck with wine you do not enjoy. Simply let
us know if you are not happy and we will pick up the wine at our cost and put
you into something else. I will also always match a legitimate price. We stand
behind our customers 100%.
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