2018 Continuum Novicium

Tim Mondavi founded Continuum on Pritchard Hill with a clear purpose, to craft estate wines that speak purely of this dramatic, high-elevation site. Novicium (Latin for “new” or “fresh”) is the second wine of the estate, drawn entirely from the same Sage Mountain Vineyard that produces the flagship Continuum. It is not a lesser wine so much as a different lens on the same rocky, volcanic terroir yet, more approachable in youth yet still deeply serious.

Aromatic and refined, opening with blackberries, black cherries, metal shavings and graphite, layered with sage, bay leaf, dark chocolate and mixed cherries. Medium to full-bodied with a velvety texture, fine tannins and fresh balance. The 2018 carries a long, elegant finish with real precision and energy. A polished expression of Pritchard Hill that rewards both early drinking and further cellaring.

Grape: Bordeaux blend-predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc 

Appellation: Napa Valley (Sage Mountain Vineyard, Pritchard Hill), California, USA

-James Suckling 96 Points