CONTINUUM Proprietary Red

WA: 98

Continuum's 2019 Proprietary Red is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot, all from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill. Aged in two-thirds new French oak, with the balance in second or third-use barrels and a single concrete amphora, it's remarkably dark in hue, a deep, saturated purple in the glass. On the nose, it's floral and herbal yet fruit-driven, with violets, sage and bay leaf adding nuance to black cherries, while the palate is full-bodied, plush and silky. There's an enticing yin-yang to the interplay between high-toned herbals and bass notes of dark chocolate in this dense, concentrated effort that finishes lush and long. It's a magnificent wine that should drink well for at least two decades.

VM: 97

The 2019 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard is elegant, plush and sensual like few vintages I can remember tasting on release. Black cherry, mocha, gravel, dried flowers and raspberry jam infuse the 2019 with tons of nuance. Time in the glass brings out lovely energy to balance things out. What a gorgeous, classy wine this is.

WA: 96+

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.

VM: 94+

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, crème 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