Continuum Red Wine Napa Valley 2021

A vintage set apart for its perseverance and resilience, 2021 Continuum is one of refined concentration a resounding expression of both measured intensity and enduring vibrancy. This is a multi-layered magnificent vintage that reveals floral notes, with black cherry and wild foraged mixed berries throughout. One can perceive the chemise, sage, and bay giving a gorgeous savory expression, reflective of the natural environment that surrounds our Sage Mountain Vineyard. 2021 is a wine of incredible complexity and nuance a wine for the ages. 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot.

Critical Acclaim

99 James Suckling

This is so aromatic with blackcurrant, blackberry, graphite, iron, pine bark and orange peel. Hints of wild sage and peppermint. Seductive perfumes. Full-bodied with extremely well-integrated tannins that have great length. Elegant firmness at the finish. The quality of the tannins is some of the best I have had in a young Continuum. Seamless silk. Great finish. 45% cabernet sauvignon, 35% cabernet franc, 11% merlot and 9% petit verdot.

96 Jeb Dunnuck

An utterly classic expression of this vintage, the 2021 Novicium comes all from the Sage Mountain Vineyard and is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot. Its saturated purple hue is followed by a gorgeous perfume of cr me de cassis, graphite, violets, and hints of crushed stone. This all carries to a concentrated, full-bodied 2021 with beautiful purity and depth, ripe yet building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age, but this is a killer bottle of wine!

96 Wine Advocate

A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, and 9% Petit Verdot, Continuum’s 2021 Proprietary Red offers up slightly floral aromas, plus ample cherries and raspberries on the nose. It’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated and structured, framed by fine-grained tannins that lend a silky texture to the long, elegant finish. It saw about 60% new French oak (the balance was second-use barrels), but the oak is barely noticeable.

95 Wine Spectator

This captures gorgeous flavors of mulberry, blackberry and boysenberry compote and infuses them with sparkling anise, sage and singed wood spice notes, while iron minerality and racy acidity provide ample structure, with mouthwatering cut. A distinctive version that should evolve nicely in the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

94 Vinous

The 2021 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard is a heady, bombastic wine with a huge fruit profile and equally imposing tannins. In so many vintages, Continuum can be quite racy and seductive, but 2021 is not one of those years. Readers will have to be especially patient here. Lavender, mocha, crme de cassis and cloves build into the substantial, resonant finish. The blend is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot. It will be interesting to see if the tannins soften. Today, the 2021 is a brute. Let’s see what time brings.