The aromas of orange blossom and rose petals are powerful, with blackcurrant, black fruit, bergamot, dried herbs, cigar box and leather. The finish is well-balanced, with smooth tannins, graphite and minerals from the soil. The iron from the volcanic soil is also present, with vivid fruit and a clear structure, and a complex flavor with many layers. We recommend decanting when drinking Continuum. This will allow you to feel the subtle nuances of the aroma and the texture of the wine even more. The 2016 growing season saw a total of 500mm of rain before the buds sprout in early spring, ending a four-year drought. However, the soil was a little dry, and the grapes sprout 10 days earlier than the estate's average. The cold weather that followed caused flower drop, as in 2015, and reduced yields to 1.9 tons per acre. Harvest began on September 19th, 131 days after flowering. Overall, it was a very cool vintage with only three days during the growing season when daytime temperatures exceeded 35°C. This mild climate allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and fully, and harvest was successfully completed on October 7th. Continuum is an estate wine made from 100% grapes from our own vineyard, Sage Mountain Vineyard. Located deep in the mountains east of Oakville in Napa Valley (you can even see San Francisco Bay on a clear day), on the slopes of Pritchard Hill, Continuum's 16-hectare vineyard has a total of 38 different parcels of old vines planted in 1991 and 1996, with additional vines planted in 2004 and 2010. The vineyards are planted on volcanic soils at an altitude of 400-500m, facing southwest. Continuum Estate was established in 2005 by Tim Mondavi, who served as winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery for 20 years, his sister Marcia, and their father, the late Robert Mondavi. The only red wine made from their own vineyards in Pritchard Hill, a mountain that spreads out at the back of a winding mountain road east of Napa Valley, is a wine of passion born with deep respect for the 100-year history of the Mondavi family. The label features a silhouette of a Cabernet Franc vine created by Tim Mondavi's second daughter, Chiara Mondavi. Continuum comes from the Latin word "continuus," which means "continuation, succession." The winery is located on Pritchard Hill above Lake Hennessey on the east side of Napa Valley. The views from the 172 acres are spectacular. It is also perfect for rich, concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verde and Merlot. The low vitality red volcanic and argillaceous soils interspersed with andesite boulders make for a spectacular hillside vineyard. The vineyard has two soil types: Rock-Hambright Loam (85%) and Sobrante Loam (15%). The area receives 22-24 inches of rain per year and has a fairly mild climate for Napa, with occasional cold winter winds but few summer days above 100°F. In July and August, daytime highs are about 30°C, and nighttime lows are about 9°C. The vineyard is at an elevation of 410-490m, facing southwest to west with a 5-20% slope. The vineyard is currently producing wine from 41 acres of grapes. In 2010, the remaining 20.5 acres will be planted, eventually bringing the total planted area to 60 acres. The best grapes currently being harvested are Cabernet clone 7, planted in 1991-1992. The vineyard is planted with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 11% Petit Verdot, and 4% Merlot. The vineyard is grown organically, but is not certified. In order to create a unique wine that reflects this wonderful land, we decide on the rootstock, ridge direction, and vine training method based on the diverse soil and slope. The long growing season at high altitude, stable temperatures without frost damage, and low-vital mineral-rich stony soils are the three wonderful conditions for making Continuum, a single-vineyard red wine that rivals the world's finest wines. Continuum uses a variety of winemaking techniques, including manual punchdown as in Burgundy, automatic pumpover, lees stirring, and batonnage as in Bordeaux. The wines are macerated for up to 40 days and aged in French oak. In 2013, the winery designed by architect Howard Backen was completed, and Continuum is now a fully estate wine made from 100% grapes from Pritchard Hill's own vineyards and bottled on the same site.