Slow ox 2h, paired with grilled beef & portabella mushroom caps. Showed beautifully with still fresh dark fruit, stony minerality, leather, and early tertiary development. Great balance, Medium ++ length. Holding well, no rush.
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Very dry and tanic. Although I enjoyed it a lot, I continue to think that the wine is somewhat overvalued. This wine should be in the bracket of $120 to $150 range IMHO. Will not live many more years, open it now or in the next couple of years. Iron rust, red fruit, tanic, dry.
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Decanted for an hour and 20 minutes. Aromas of blackberry, currant, dusty berry, lead pencil and wild cherry. Flavors of iron, chocolate, blackberry, currant and black cherry. Ends with a 40+ second finish with chocolate and iron notes. Still tannic. Going to revisit this in an hour.
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50+5+13+18+8 Decanted an hour prior to drinking. Fully integrated, continues to have strong structure that should continue for another five years. Balanced acid and tannin. Fruit is red and black plum, black cherry, black and red raspberry, some currant, blueberry with notes of tea, and presents as valley floor or bench. Concentrated but integrated enough that it's not off-putting. Drink now or hold for 5 years and revisit. I have a feeling that when this one starts going downhill, it will go fast, and don't see it as lasting another 10+.
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Pnp. The wine is great but not amazing. I can see the wine lasting easy 5 more years so no rush. I enjoyed it so much I drank the whole bottle myself while grilling some ribeyes with my golden retriever on my side. I think the wine should be 120-140 usd to be in the right QPR .
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Red mountain fruit, early summer floral notes, fine structured tannins, good balance, medium + finish. A complete wine with no rough edges. On the young side, seems likely to age gracefully.
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71% Cab Sauvignon, 17% Cab Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot. 14.9% ABV. I let it breathe two hours. Drank over two. Has a deep, opaque purple hue in the glass. Inkly, dark plum, licorice notes. Polished tannins. Had next to the 08 Materium. The Continuum was inkier.
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If opening now, give this at least two hours of air before serving, but really, this should still be given a few more years in bottle before pulling the cork. This came across as elegant and very pure, but slightly decadent--in a good way--with a fruit-driven palate. Paired excellently with Flannery NY strips.
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This wine is drinking well, it has plenty of life left ! If you drink this now, give it at least 3-5 hours of decant time (2019-2020). Otherwise give it another 5-7 years in the cellar and it will reward !
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Dark purple. This is my perfect drinking wine. In a great window that will improve with time. Dark hanging berry fruit with secondary notes evolving. Integrated, balanced, beautiful. This has some much time ahead of it, and is drinking excellent now.
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Ken's Killer Napa Cab Night (Casa Tomek): Hitting on all cylinders. Classy nose with notes of Cassis, rich cherry, raspberry, spice box and beautiful subtle oak notes that are additive to the wine. Nearly seamless on the palate, all components of the wine coming together on the palate. Really drinking nicely tonight, and edged out some stiff competition. I minor detraction was a touch of heat on the finish, otherwise an incredibly well balanced bottle. Finished 1 of 6.
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From Magnum, 3 hour decant. Consumed over 3 hours with David & Julie Cassis, tobacco, licorice, and a velvety finish that still has medium tannins 20 second finish. Went great with BBQ Lamb Chops.
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Brought to J. Gilbert’s (a fantastic steakhouse BTW only $20 corkage) and decanted at the table. I’ve had quite a few Mondavi Reserves over the years and this struck me as very similar effort from Tim Mondavi. I think in 2008 he was still sourcing fruit but he sure made some really good juice. I’m never good at describing detailed flavors so let’s just say it tasted like classic Napa Cabernet and you’ll get what I mean. Long finish that matched our wood grilled center-cut filets perfect. Bottle was finished too fast between me and my wife because it was hard to resist a sip after every bite!
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36th Birthday (Noreetuh): Wine #6. The 2008 Continuum features the rich concentrated mountain fruit that Contniuum is known for. An ideal combination of red, black, and blue fruits. This was lovely with a 2.5 hour decant and should drink well for another decade or more.
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I don't know what was going on with this wine. My previous bottle was delicious while this one disappointed. The nose was promising with rich dark fruit, mineral and spice. The palate started with some nice black fruit but quickly transitioned to angular mineral flavors followed by a harsh acidity/alcohol burn. I decanted for about 35 minutes at the table before pouring and the wine never changed throughout the course of the dinner (about an hour and a half). The sip I took before decanting was the same experience as the rest of the bottle as well. I hate to see an investment of time, money and anticipation go to waste but that is exactly what happened with this wine. This is nine years down the line from harvest and the wine was stored in temp controlled conditions the entire time.
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Pop and pour at Frog Hollow Tavern after Friday at the Masters. Could have used a slow ox, but still very nice. I will open the next bottle in the morning before I drink it.
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Acker BYO 2017 (Tribeca Grille): Have one of these from a Sandy Relief auction but it was released before we were on the list so just a singleton. Thus, very fun to be able to check in without having to pop the bottle. Still too young for my tastes. Very clearly Napa after a string of old world. Lots of balckberry and a bit more of the richness. Not totally overdone (it is mountain fruit so balanced a bit with more earthy notes). Very young. Ours is going to wait for prob another 10 years+.
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Certainly a wine that is striving for greatness. This was saturated with black and blue fruit as well as leather and cigar box notes. Notes linger and repeat for 30 seconds after each sip. I found this to be ready within 30 min of opening but a longer decant could not hurt.
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PnP. Aromatic on the nose, with a noticeable element of freshness. Makes me feel like I'm walking through the vineyard on a fine Fall day (as opposed to watching the snow fall her before the end of October). On the palate, a bit tightly wound / closed. Good raw elements, but they're in hiding. For near-term consumption, decant 1-2 hours.
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Medium bodied. Blackberry and licorice notes. Fine tannins on the finish. There is a noticeable contribution from the Cab Franc in this vintage. A nice balanced Cali Bordeaux blend.
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Excellent big, young wine with tons of fruit and well integrating tannins and structure...Opened this on a Saturday night and started drinking it over the following 3 nights and it developed nicely. Dark fruits, some licorice and not overly heavy or sweet although clearly from ripe CA fruit....wish this wine was still priced at original levels
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Opened this wine about 2 hours before serving and let it sit in my wine cabinet. This is a beautiful wine offering black fruit, licorice, spices, a hint of violets, and a nice touch of stones. Medium acidity and the stone flavor nicely balance the big fruit and provided the minor advantage I felt this wine had over the 2009 Paul Hobbs Las Piedras it shared the stage with. Both were fantastic wines and will provide amazing enjoyment for years to come.
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Dark cherries & baking spices on the nose. Add leather & a slight note of licorice on the palate. Well balanced, low tanin, mild acidity and a long finish. Spectacular!
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Black cherries, blackberries, licorice, coffee, and cedar in the nose. Deep berry fruit , plums, and black currants in the flavor. Elegant full bodied wine with nice complexity and a long lingering finish.
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Sadly this was the last of my 2008s. Great right out of the bottle. The Cab Franc was clearly present. Great peppery nose to offset the black fruit. Simply terrific.
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Drinking beautifully right now. We paired this with a Provencal Beef dish and this wine simply sang from the heavens. The clouds parted and Bacchus himself, loin cloth and all, descended upon our gathering and graced us with his presence. This wine showed beautiful fruit and balance and had a long, satisfying finish. The tannins were soft, but there's still lots of cellar life remaining--I'd say about 5-7 years. What more can you ask?
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First time we are doing a detailed note on one of the wines from Tim Mondavi's Continuum Estate. Garnet red with a deep and dark core. Very warm nose with some baking spices, soft dark fruits (like mulberry and plums) and some dark cocoa. Silky texture and beautifully extracted with some powerful moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) holding through. Fruit forward attack with an onslaught of dark fruits. Layers of baking spices, cinnamon and a little vanilla. Full bodied with some forest floor undertones. Just melts on your tongue with a long and lingering finish. Very well integrated and balanced. Drink till 2024.
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Nice nose. Not huge but a really nice black cherry comes across. Really elegant and drinking terrifically. Black berries and tangy dark fruit with a nice long lingering finish. Modestly tannic but totally drinkable now, with many years ahead.
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This opaque crimson, massively extracted wine (a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot) was tasted in double-blind fashion from a well-cellared bottle kindly provided by J.P. Ripe blackberry, cassis, plum and spice box aromas are followed by a profile of similar flavors. There is a strong vanilla-laden oak component to this wine as well as a substantial whiff of alcoholic heat (listed as 14.9%). The tannins are massive (albeit fine-grained) and there is more than a hint of volatile acidity (despite serving at approximately 60-65° F). While there is no drop-off in the middle and the finish is at least medium in length, there is no denying that this offering pushes the envelope of ripeness and balance. To my palate, it is over-the-top, drinking more like a youthful Petite Sirah than the Bordeaux-style blend that it is. Owners of well-cellared bottles would be wise to hold this wine for now in the hope that it will somehow integrate its ripe fruit, alcohol, tannins and heavy oak. I am not optimistic, but I could also be very wrong. Drink 2020-2030.
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A touch of formaldehyde on the nose along with bramble, dark fruit. Nice mouth feel and texture. Elegant style. Still young? Likely wait a while before opening another.
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Tastes very much like Mondavi Reserve Cab's from good years, medium+ complexity, great body, length, mouthfeel and balance. It's not perfect but at the same time, hard to poke holes.
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Drank alongside a 2010 Carter To Kalon OG both with a 3 hour decant and they were both fabulous. This wine was subtle smooth and complex. Big but not over the top. Great long finish. Class in a bottle.
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Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of currants, plums, melted black licorice and a bit of black pepper. Flavors of plums, black berries, black cherries and black raspberries. Medium acidity, firm tannin, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold. Might pick up a point or two with more time in bottle is my guess.
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Popped and V'd. Took a bit to open up. Interesting finish at the start. This is a confusing bottle of wine, but I think it needs paired with food. Have not had a Continuum that doesn't need a decant.
Probably would have still been good to decant this, but we were short on time and it was pop and pour. About an hour later, it was just starting to open up. Cassis, tobacco, licorice, and a velvety (maybe against the grain and back again?) finish that still has firm tannins but ends with a very long and mesmerizing finish. This is a great bottle of wine, but would have paired better with a nice cut of beef with marbled fat than on its own, though certainly enjoyable on its own.
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This bottle is clearly shutting down: brooding, backward, monolithic, and showing a lot of heat. Little to no improvement after hours in the glass or the following day. What a big disappointment compared to sensational 2010 I opened a few months ago.
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Anniversary Dinner (The Anvil Club, East Dundee, IL): Decanted about 10 hours. Notes of dark fruit, violets, plum, chocolate, spice and vanilla. Full-bodied, with firm yet approachable tannins and flavors of vanilla, spice, cassis and black currants. Long finish.
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I've had this wine twice before a few years ago, and wanted to try one from my cellar and see how it was moving along. Day 1 pop and pour to taste, day 2 slow ox for 8 hrs. Still very primal with hints of mocha, mint and raspberry fruit. Never lost an ounce of its beauty on the nose after slow ox. Impressively long finish. This wine still needs soooo much time in the cellar before it will deem ready to drink in my book. Definitely going to be a fantastic wine in 5 years. Really enjoyed the cab franc element of this bottle. I'll leave my other 5 alone for now. Not sure about long-term aging, but I'm hoping the other varietals can last as long as the cab franc. This could end up being a 96-97 pt wine.
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Fabulous from start to finish with great dark fruit on the nose. Has cassis, currant and a little earth with really well integrated smooth tannins and a tremendous long rich finish.
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Popped and poured at dinner party. Nice nose throughout. Great finish from the first taste. Very smooth and great texture. Unbelievable, and certainly consumed too quickly!!
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I need to let the rest of my bottles of this wait a little longer, or at least decant for awhile first. Lots of dark fruit, and smooth, but still a little too harsh from the tannins. Should be superb in another few (or perhaps 5 to 10) years.
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Restaurant purchase, limited notes. Decanted upon ordering, drank over the course of two hours. This has all the components to be a special wine - dark fruit, savory elements, ripe, supple tannins, and surprising acidity; this should evolve into an elegant, refined expression of Napa fruit, but it needs time. Reserved, showing a lot of wood right now, needs to integrate. Drink after an extended, multi hour decant, or better yet, cellar this baby for another 4-5 years.
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I wonder just how many of these fine wines are not enjoyed to fullest potential. Popped and V'd. Nice nose throughout. Great finish. One glass day one and very pleased. Day two, great transformation. Very smooth and great texture. Unbelievable, and as mentioned, this could have been consumed too quickly!!
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Dark fruit and plums with a little leather in the nose. Great balance, dark berry notes with some earth. A little extra tannin now but fades with a delicious, lingering finish.
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Subtle fruit on first nose, cherry and bits of blueberry quickly overtaken by a large mouth of acids and structure. I appreciated the new style blend, as the wine quickly opened and the brute-ish-ness faded. After an hour in decanter the fruit came forward and shone through. Acids gave way to earthy leather and subtle tobacco... Wonderful and look forward to enjoying again.
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Notes at about 2 hours post opening. Cassis, currants, tobacco, and oak. A very subtle hint of spring flowers, not something I usually pick up on with Cab; more typical note from a Syrah flavor profile. Maybe the influence of the Cab Franc, but not sure at all as the Cab Franc is lower in this wine than the prior vintages. Regardless, it is very subtle and maybe better described as perfumed. Finishes with some espresso, tar, and licorice, while the tannins grip the back of the palate. Very complex, and marvelously delicious.
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Consistent notes as before. Great balance, good integration of oak with the fruit. I would be interested to see how it tastes in 5 years but it's just so good now.
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No detailed notes. Opened at MW's cellar in Wayzata. Needed a decant, as it came across somewhat closed in comparison to a 2005 ACV Block 2 that I also opened.
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Stocking Stuffers (Farpointe Cellar): Cherry, plum, and coffee on the nose, with hints of leather, pencil lead, and bittersweet chocolate. Soft and round on the palate, with chocolate and cherry, plum and leather, and a nice graphite finish.
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San Antonio Wine Geeks - Double Blind Cali Cabs (Home of Steve T.): Decanted 4hrs prior to tasting. Reserved but complex nose of black currants, spice, tar and roasted coffee. Palate is forward and almost brutishly acidic with fine very polished tannins that become more prominent on the long finish. Good concentration with cassis and black currants while avoiding any "liquor-like" quality of some of its peers. Prominent oak treatment that is not yet integrated, but adds layers of complexity and spice, with a cinnimon edge. Very long fruits and cedar and cigar box finish. While drinkable now it's a little edgy and almost harsh (lacking elegance) but should be fantastic in 5+ years as it settles down. Great potential to improve.
Later in the night with was really hiding behind the oak, with a strong lush vanilla flavor profile hiding the fruit. Really not ready. This did not show as well as the competition. 94 is mostly for potential. At the tasting lineup (6-8hrs of air) more like 92 for consistency.
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Decanted 4 hours , deep ruby color, very nice nose, nice tannins , very young yet, got better as the night went on , great black fruits just overall a very ,very good wine with a nice long finish.
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Wide and youthful aroma. Cedar is popping, a real earthy dimension, best moss ever, some say. Blackberry liquor aromas. Palate shows suave depth, rife for the cellar. Approachable and not a monolith of structure, but one FOR THE FUTURE. Future, as in Blade Runner! this is a dynamite wine. Mondavi 3.0.
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Decanted 6 hours. Nose developed inviting ripe fruit and earthiness, palate included mineral notes. Well integrated wood and acidity. Nice understated structure. Drying tannins softened over time. Better on day two and it continued to improve until alas it was gone. Young but promising excellence as has been well established by others.
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30 to 40 day maceration times. 22 months in oak. 70% Estate fruit from Prichard Hill, volcanic soils. The other 30% predominately To-Kalon fruit. 3500-4000cs. By 2013/14 this should be all estate fruit. 60acres planted, 40 fruiting right now. a couple more years and those 19 acres will be giving. Powerful, youthful aromas, palate is really loaded and super suave. This is the future of the Mondavi family.
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Intense dark purpleish color. Very aromatic. Flavors of plum, coffee and a hint of graphite on the front but I get more chocolate covered cherries on the long finish. A very dense, concentrated wine with soft silky tannins and good acidity. Continuum is becoming one of my favorite wines. I bought 3 bottles and was too impatient to cellar all of them. I'm looking forward to drinking the other two a few years down the road.
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This is now about 70% estate fruit. Pronouced aromas, back right where the 2006 was from what I remember. Darkly fruited, rich stuff. Held up back end, with structure. Very well done.
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This was popped and poured. Simply marvelous. Just a tick behind the 2007 but very similar in aromas and flavors. One of the best wines out of Napa right now.
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This was probably the best wine we tasted on our latest Napa Trip. An almost perfect Cabernet. Not too over the top and that mountain fruit gives it tremendous structure . The wine is very balanced and should age well for many years. Simply a great effort by the Mondavi's. Carrissa was the most enthusiastic tour guide at any winery. You can tell she loves what she does. Buy this wine if you like awesome cab that is the zenith of great wine making in Napa. Worth the price of admission. This wine will also appeal to the Bordeaux lovers out there. I have to say that for $150 release price vs. something like Kapcsandy's 08 Grand Vin for $285. I would take the Continuum.....it was that good and I can have two bottles for almost the same price as the Kap Gran Vin. 08.
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Tasted at Upstairs on the Square Cambridge with Carissa Mondavi Expressive nose of blackberries, violets and green olive. the initial taste is full of black fruits with some coffee and green pepper, nice soft mid palete of cassis and cedar with a long finish. gripping tannins but still drinkable. the wine is really well balanced and should only improve with bottle age
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Dark and inky purple hue, opaque at the center and translucent towards the rim, with great richness, elegance and finesse! An overtone of green olive and chocolate leads to aromas of ripe currant, black cherry, plum with a little bit of strawberry jam action going on. Fruit is coming on strong, but the complexity is there, releasing lots of dark chocolate vanilla extract, cream and some smokiness with graphite, cedar, coffee and tobacco components elevated by balanced heat and intensity. Full body, and the lower yield definitely led to a good concentration. Black currant, ripe cherry and plum on the attack with the fruit always wanting to move forward but very well restrained. Excellent tannic and acidic structure on the mid-palate giving way to some big and tight tannins, almost puckering and bitter, but highly polished, velvety, chewy and refined. There's incredible length on the finish, with tannin and heat slightly dominating but opening to waves after waves of fruit with lots of plum and cassis coming through with olive, graphite, tobacco. This wine has balance but lacks the harmonious integration one would look for in a well-aged bottle. All the elements are there, I mean, they are definitely there, but in a youthful and disjointed pattern. It is still a baby, and time is what it takes to evolve into a celebrated cult that all will worship. Give it another 5 to 10 years in the cellar, and this wine can last for 20 years easy. 94 PLUS!
Looking back on my notes, while I've had the '05, '06, and '07 Continuum, I only took notes for the '05 and '07. The '05 struck me as straddling traditional and contemporary Napa styling, while the '07 was much more full throttle and fruit forward.
So where does the '08 fit in the Continuum? For my tastes, it might be the most balanced Continuum I've had to date, much closer to the '05 than the '07. Initially opens with a strong whiff of black olive, which ultimately blows off a bit and yields to a pleasant if somewhat reticent mix of dark fruits and perfumed leather. On the palate, "balance" is the operative word for me at this point. Good fruit against a pleasantly acidic backbone, finishing with fine tannins that become more pronounced with time in the glass.
Like another reviewer, I would say that this bottle is a bit out of sorts at present (mine were just delivered this afternoon). However all the raw ingredients seem to be present in well-concieved proportions. I also agree that this seems to have a lot of promise down the road. Discipline would suggest another 10 or so years before popping the next one. Probably 90-91 points now given its current disjointedness, but I agree with an earlier reviewer who suggests this has 95 point potential. Maybe even higher for me as my tastes migrate from "fruit bomb" to wines that are better behaved and more flexible with food.
Update: I'm wrong about the current drinking score. The longer this is open, the better it gets. Probably closer to 93-94 points now, but lesson learned - a decant for a couple of hours would be the ticket.
Opened a bottle when my order was straight off the boat in Hong Kong! With the much higher percentage of Pritchard Hill fruit, this is distinctly similar to recent vintages of Ovid... All the components are there for a great wine - balance of sweetness, acidity, tannins - but not sure whether I'll ever like this as much as the 07. I hope the price for future vintages doesn't increase anymore as it then may not be an automatic buy... This score may not be too meaningful at this stage but i'd be surprised this didn't achieve 95 at the very least with some bottle age. (I have to footnote that this is getting better and better as it sits in glass...)
Tasted in a vertical of all vintages, '05-'08. While the '07 was clearly the WOTN, this wine had a density that made me believe that it would significantly improve with time, possibly even surpassing the '07. It seemed a little dissheveled at the moment, understandable being just released, but it is clear that all the stuffing is there for an extraordinary wine.
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Tasted at the estate. Not yet released. This wine is 70% from estate grown fruit (a HUGE leap from 2007) and one can taste the geographic shift to Pritchard Hill fruit. Dark purple color. Nose of dark plum, fig, licorice, and smoke. Youthful palate of blackberry, blueberry, graphite and minerals. Bright cool-climate acidity. Toasty oak. Excellent length. Grippy young tannins. This is going to be another winner.
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9/15/2023 - Empirate wrote: 96 Points
Slow ox 2h, paired with grilled beef & portabella mushroom caps. Showed beautifully with still fresh dark fruit, stony minerality, leather, and early tertiary development. Great balance, Medium ++ length.
Holding well, no rush.
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6/17/2023 - wren460 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very dry and tanic. Although I enjoyed it a lot, I continue to think that the wine is somewhat overvalued. This wine should be in the bracket of $120 to $150 range IMHO. Will not live many more years, open it now or in the next couple of years. Iron rust, red fruit, tanic, dry.
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4/8/2022 - DRob wrote:
National Championship 2022!
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2/26/2022 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for an hour and 20 minutes. Aromas of blackberry, currant, dusty berry, lead pencil and wild cherry. Flavors of iron, chocolate, blackberry, currant and black cherry. Ends with a 40+ second finish with chocolate and iron notes. Still tannic. Going to revisit this in an hour.
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1/2/2022 - putter520 wrote: 94 Points
Took a while to open up (2-3 hours) and once did was very nice; Med acid, long finish.
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12/26/2021 - annerk wrote: 94 Points
50+5+13+18+8 Decanted an hour prior to drinking. Fully integrated, continues to have strong structure that should continue for another five years. Balanced acid and tannin. Fruit is red and black plum, black cherry, black and red raspberry, some currant, blueberry with notes of tea, and presents as valley floor or bench. Concentrated but integrated enough that it's not off-putting. Drink now or hold for 5 years and revisit. I have a feeling that when this one starts going downhill, it will go fast, and don't see it as lasting another 10+.
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12/18/2021 - renoprof Likes this wine: 95 Points
Outstanding - still has plenty of everything in the tank- remaining bottles can lay down another 7-10.
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6/23/2020 - wren460 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pnp. The wine is great but not amazing. I can see the wine lasting easy 5 more years so no rush. I enjoyed it so much I drank the whole bottle myself while grilling some ribeyes with my golden retriever on my side. I think the wine should be 120-140 usd to be in the right QPR .
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5/23/2020 - Empirate wrote: 96 Points
Red mountain fruit, early summer floral notes, fine structured tannins, good balance, medium + finish. A complete wine with no rough edges. On the young side, seems likely to age gracefully.
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5/17/2020 - mdvillaverde Likes this wine: 94 Points
71% Cab Sauvignon, 17% Cab Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot.
14.9% ABV. I let it breathe two hours. Drank over two. Has a deep, opaque purple hue in the glass. Inkly, dark plum, licorice notes. Polished tannins. Had next to the 08 Materium. The Continuum was inkier.
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3/23/2020 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
If opening now, give this at least two hours of air before serving, but really, this should still be given a few more years in bottle before pulling the cork. This came across as elegant and very pure, but slightly decadent--in a good way--with a fruit-driven palate. Paired excellently with Flannery NY strips.
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1/9/2020 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Another Year, Another Napa (aka Winter in Wineland IV); 1/5/2020-1/11/2020 (Napa/Sonoma California): Wow was this lovely. It's still on the younger side, but 11 years can really make a difference. Still more of the black fruit character. There's this wonderful purity to the wine. Tannins a bit more resolved and so mostly just fruit and floral and a hint delicate and drinking just super well.
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12/27/2019 - wallstreet wrote: 93 Points
This wine is drinking well, it has plenty of life left ! If you drink this now, give it at least 3-5 hours of decant time (2019-2020). Otherwise give it another 5-7 years in the cellar and it will reward !
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12/15/2019 - sonodoc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very enjoyable for the last of my 2008 Continuum bottles.
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12/11/2019 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
Dark purple. This is my perfect drinking wine. In a great window that will improve with time. Dark hanging berry fruit with secondary notes evolving. Integrated, balanced, beautiful. This has some much time ahead of it, and is drinking excellent now.
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12/11/2019 - bubbachumps wrote: 97 Points
Ken's Killer Napa Cab Night (Casa Tomek): Hitting on all cylinders. Classy nose with notes of Cassis, rich cherry, raspberry, spice box and beautiful subtle oak notes that are additive to the wine. Nearly seamless on the palate, all components of the wine coming together on the palate. Really drinking nicely tonight, and edged out some stiff competition. I minor detraction was a touch of heat on the finish, otherwise an incredibly well balanced bottle. Finished 1 of 6.
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12/5/2019 - Elkcims Likes this wine: 96 Points
From Magnum, 3 hour decant. Consumed over 3 hours with David & Julie
Cassis, tobacco, licorice, and a velvety finish that still has medium tannins 20 second finish. Went great with BBQ Lamb Chops.
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11/28/2019 - Red Sox Fan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for about 90 minutes. Plum, charcoal, black pepper, medium long finish with tannins that are a too aggressive and astringent.
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11/25/2019 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Brought to J. Gilbert’s (a fantastic steakhouse BTW only $20 corkage) and decanted at the table. I’ve had quite a few Mondavi Reserves over the years and this struck me as very similar effort from Tim Mondavi. I think in 2008 he was still sourcing fruit but he sure made some really good juice. I’m never good at describing detailed flavors so let’s just say it tasted like classic Napa Cabernet and you’ll get what I mean. Long finish that matched our wood grilled center-cut filets perfect. Bottle was finished too fast between me and my wife because it was hard to resist a sip after every bite!
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5/4/2019 - jgreco Likes this wine: 97 Points
36th Birthday (Noreetuh): Wine #6. The 2008 Continuum features the rich concentrated mountain fruit that Contniuum is known for. An ideal combination of red, black, and blue fruits. This was lovely with a 2.5 hour decant and should drink well for another decade or more.
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3/24/2019 - G_H wrote: 95 Points
Surprisingly sweet for 2008, figs, good length, fun
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3/4/2019 - j@$0n p€++y wrote: 90 Points
Dark fruit, oak, one dimensional, ugggh. Newer releases much better than when they first started.
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12/20/2018 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 96 Points
Consistent with notes of 11/24/2017
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10/9/2018 - Acohen Likes this wine: 94 Points
Elegant dark fruit with plum, currant and great balance with a long rich finish
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9/29/2018 - Trolson wrote: 95 Points
Phenomenal! Need not say more.
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8/30/2018 - Levinsb wrote:
Big beautiful modern style. Hold on with both hands.
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6/17/2018 - D.Callahan wrote: flawed
I don't know what was going on with this wine. My previous bottle was delicious while this one disappointed. The nose was promising with rich dark fruit, mineral and spice. The palate started with some nice black fruit but quickly transitioned to angular mineral flavors followed by a harsh acidity/alcohol burn. I decanted for about 35 minutes at the table before pouring and the wine never changed throughout the course of the dinner (about an hour and a half). The sip I took before decanting was the same experience as the rest of the bottle as well. I hate to see an investment of time, money and anticipation go to waste but that is exactly what happened with this wine. This is nine years down the line from harvest and the wine was stored in temp controlled conditions the entire time.
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4/29/2018 - tonyhuang Likes this wine: 94 Points
Core of sweet red fruit, full body and smooth. Great wine.
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4/8/2018 - mhewitt wrote: 94 Points
Pop and pour at Frog Hollow Tavern after Friday at the Masters. Could have used a slow ox, but still very nice. I will open the next bottle in the morning before I drink it.
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12/26/2017 - Hercules Likes this wine: 96 Points
Outstanding!
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12/12/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Acker BYO 2017 (Tribeca Grille): Have one of these from a Sandy Relief auction but it was released before we were on the list so just a singleton. Thus, very fun to be able to check in without having to pop the bottle. Still too young for my tastes. Very clearly Napa after a string of old world. Lots of balckberry and a bit more of the richness. Not totally overdone (it is mountain fruit so balanced a bit with more earthy notes). Very young. Ours is going to wait for prob another 10 years+.
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11/24/2017 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 96 Points
Certainly a wine that is striving for greatness. This was saturated with black and blue fruit as well as leather and cigar box notes. Notes linger and repeat for 30 seconds after each sip. I found this to be ready within 30 min of opening but a longer decant could not hurt.
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10/28/2017 - vanpe003 wrote:
PnP. Aromatic on the nose, with a noticeable element of freshness. Makes me feel like I'm walking through the vineyard on a fine Fall day (as opposed to watching the snow fall her before the end of October). On the palate, a bit tightly wound / closed. Good raw elements, but they're in hiding. For near-term consumption, decant 1-2 hours.
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9/4/2017 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 92 Points
Medium bodied. Blackberry and licorice notes. Fine tannins on the finish. There is a noticeable contribution from the Cab Franc in this vintage. A nice balanced Cali Bordeaux blend.
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4/20/2017 - Mr T wrote:
Excellent big, young wine with tons of fruit and well integrating tannins and structure...Opened this on a Saturday night and started drinking it over the following 3 nights and it developed nicely. Dark fruits, some licorice and not overly heavy or sweet although clearly from ripe CA fruit....wish this wine was still priced at original levels
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4/1/2017 - D.Callahan Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened this wine about 2 hours before serving and let it sit in my wine cabinet. This is a beautiful wine offering black fruit, licorice, spices, a hint of violets, and a nice touch of stones. Medium acidity and the stone flavor nicely balance the big fruit and provided the minor advantage I felt this wine had over the 2009 Paul Hobbs Las Piedras it shared the stage with. Both were fantastic wines and will provide amazing enjoyment for years to come.
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2/19/2017 - Cschall wrote: 96 Points
Dark cherries & baking spices on the nose. Add leather & a slight note of licorice on the palate. Well balanced, low tanin, mild acidity and a long finish. Spectacular!
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2/14/2017 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Black cherries, blackberries, licorice, coffee, and cedar in the nose. Deep berry fruit , plums, and black currants in the flavor. Elegant full bodied wine with nice complexity and a long lingering finish.
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7/2/2016 - Sethbo11 wrote: 95 Points
Sadly this was the last of my 2008s. Great right out of the bottle. The Cab Franc was clearly present. Great peppery nose to offset the black fruit. Simply terrific.
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7/1/2016 - George Lopez Likes this wine: 98 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. We paired this with a Provencal Beef dish and this wine simply sang from the heavens. The clouds parted and Bacchus himself, loin cloth and all, descended upon our gathering and graced us with his presence. This wine showed beautiful fruit and balance and had a long, satisfying finish. The tannins were soft, but there's still lots of cellar life remaining--I'd say about 5-7 years. What more can you ask?
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6/25/2016 - Millennial Drinkers Likes this wine: 95 Points
First time we are doing a detailed note on one of the wines from Tim Mondavi's Continuum Estate. Garnet red with a deep and dark core. Very warm nose with some baking spices, soft dark fruits (like mulberry and plums) and some dark cocoa. Silky texture and beautifully extracted with some powerful moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) holding through. Fruit forward attack with an onslaught of dark fruits. Layers of baking spices, cinnamon and a little vanilla. Full bodied with some forest floor undertones. Just melts on your tongue with a long and lingering finish. Very well integrated and balanced. Drink till 2024.
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6/4/2016 - IvanKrazy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good nose, great body and long finish. I enjoyed it over dinner with a friend but I gotta say that I was somewhat expecting more.
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4/22/2016 - rcg62 wrote: 95 Points
Nice nose. Not huge but a really nice black cherry comes across. Really elegant and drinking terrifically. Black berries and tangy dark fruit with a nice long lingering finish. Modestly tannic but totally drinkable now, with many years ahead.
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3/16/2016 - RayOB wrote: 90 Points
Continuum Tasting (67 Pall Mall): 71% CS, 17% CF, 7% PV, 5% M
Still very young with brooding dark fruit and a smooth velvety palate.
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1/24/2016 - Acohen Likes this wine: 95 Points
Rich, lush dark fruit with great currant, depth, complexity and a lingering finish
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11/26/2015 - MagicJeff Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good before thanksgiving dinner. Big tannins but opened up fast. Jammy, blueberry and some blackberry and spices. I loved it
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10/9/2015 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 88 Points
This opaque crimson, massively extracted wine (a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot) was tasted in double-blind fashion from a well-cellared bottle kindly provided by J.P. Ripe blackberry, cassis, plum and spice box aromas are followed by a profile of similar flavors. There is a strong vanilla-laden oak component to this wine as well as a substantial whiff of alcoholic heat (listed as 14.9%). The tannins are massive (albeit fine-grained) and there is more than a hint of volatile acidity (despite serving at approximately 60-65° F). While there is no drop-off in the middle and the finish is at least medium in length, there is no denying that this offering pushes the envelope of ripeness and balance. To my palate, it is over-the-top, drinking more like a youthful Petite Sirah than the Bordeaux-style blend that it is. Owners of well-cellared bottles would be wise to hold this wine for now in the hope that it will somehow integrate its ripe fruit, alcohol, tannins and heavy oak. I am not optimistic, but I could also be very wrong. Drink 2020-2030.
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10/4/2015 - Acohen Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely dark fruit with currant, cassis and minerality with integrated tannin and fabulous finish
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9/13/2015 - Hawtdawg wrote: 94 Points
No notes. Consumed awhile back.
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3/18/2015 - sjdcellar wrote: 96 Points
this stuff is fantastic - dark fruits, complex, perfumed, thick and delicious.
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2/17/2015 - ehodin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Solid cab with much life ahead - bit tannic now, but drinkable with cheese or beef
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12/24/2014 - dlcass Likes this wine: 94 Points
A touch of formaldehyde on the nose along with bramble, dark fruit. Nice mouth feel and texture. Elegant style. Still young? Likely wait a while before opening another.
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11/21/2014 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tastes very much like Mondavi Reserve Cab's from good years, medium+ complexity, great body, length, mouthfeel and balance. It's not perfect but at the same time, hard to poke holes.
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9/27/2014 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank alongside a 2010 Carter To Kalon OG both with a 3 hour decant and they were both fabulous. This wine was subtle smooth and complex. Big but not over the top. Great long finish. Class in a bottle.
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9/23/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of currants, plums, melted black licorice and a bit of black pepper. Flavors of plums, black berries, black cherries and black raspberries. Medium acidity, firm tannin, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold. Might pick up a point or two with more time in bottle is my guess.
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5/8/2014 - IGN WINESNOB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and V'd. Took a bit to open up. Interesting finish at the start. This is a confusing bottle of wine, but I think it needs paired with food. Have not had a Continuum that doesn't need a decant.
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5/4/2014 - jeffm_fla Likes this wine: 94 Points
Plush mouthfeel, classic Napa nose and flavor profile. Nice fruit, but not overwhelming. Very good.
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1/26/2014 - brianngibson wrote: 96 Points
Probably would have still been good to decant this, but we were short on time and it was pop and pour. About an hour later, it was just starting to open up. Cassis, tobacco, licorice, and a velvety (maybe against the grain and back again?) finish that still has firm tannins but ends with a very long and mesmerizing finish. This is a great bottle of wine, but would have paired better with a nice cut of beef with marbled fat than on its own, though certainly enjoyable on its own.
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12/26/2013 - DarinC wrote:
This bottle is clearly shutting down: brooding, backward, monolithic, and showing a lot of heat. Little to no improvement after hours in the glass or the following day. What a big disappointment compared to sensational 2010 I opened a few months ago.
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11/23/2013 - jeffm_fla Likes this wine: 93 Points
Liked this a lot. Didn't take any tasting notes.
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9/2/2013 - IGN WINESNOB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice. With filets and sea bass. Complinented nicely. Great texture and finish.
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8/29/2013 - JJB1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Loved it, truly a great wine, very complex, fruity and nice finish. Will cellar nicely for a long time.
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8/28/2013 - JJB1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Absolutely exception wine. An absolute standout among many great California wines. Coming into it's own.
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8/23/2013 - dlcass Likes this wine: 94 Points
Integrated tannins; mocha, oak; could age longer.
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6/15/2013 - sonodoc Likes this wine: 94 Points
See previous notes. A great wine, but could still use some more time to soften the tannins.
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4/26/2013 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Anniversary Dinner (The Anvil Club, East Dundee, IL): Decanted about 10 hours. Notes of dark fruit, violets, plum, chocolate, spice and vanilla. Full-bodied, with firm yet approachable tannins and flavors of vanilla, spice, cassis and black currants. Long finish.
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4/26/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 94 Points
Opened by Allred at Anvil for 5th anniversary. Mocha notes with pencil box undertones. I would think this has a long life ahead of it.
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4/26/2013 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
Allred. Deep red. Concentrated. Black pepper and cassis. 92
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4/24/2013 - gigmoney Likes this wine: 95 Points
I've had this wine twice before a few years ago, and wanted to try one from my cellar and see how it was moving along. Day 1 pop and pour to taste, day 2 slow ox for 8 hrs. Still very primal with hints of mocha, mint and raspberry fruit. Never lost an ounce of its beauty on the nose after slow ox. Impressively long finish. This wine still needs soooo much time in the cellar before it will deem ready to drink in my book. Definitely going to be a fantastic wine in 5 years. Really enjoyed the cab franc element of this bottle. I'll leave my other 5 alone for now. Not sure about long-term aging, but I'm hoping the other varietals can last as long as the cab franc. This could end up being a 96-97 pt wine.
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2/19/2013 - walkerjfw wrote: 94 Points
PNV Tasting at Continuum. Big wine, still evolving. Drank next to the '10
Dark fruits, tannins are soft. Oak is integrated, will probably add complexity in next few years.
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1/12/2013 - Acohen wrote: 96 Points
Fabulous from start to finish with great dark fruit on the nose. Has cassis, currant and a little earth with really well integrated smooth tannins and a tremendous long rich finish.
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12/29/2012 - IGN WINESNOB Likes this wine: 96 Points
Popped and poured at dinner party. Nice nose throughout. Great finish from the first taste. Very smooth and great texture. Unbelievable, and certainly consumed too quickly!!
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10/5/2012 - Uglypinga wrote: 89 Points
Tasted blind. Grapey, beefy nose. Some bitter berries on the palate hat smooth out quickly. Some raw beef. Drying and a bit hot on the finish.
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8/9/2012 - sonodoc wrote: 94 Points
I need to let the rest of my bottles of this wait a little longer, or at least decant for awhile first. Lots of dark fruit, and smooth, but still a little too harsh from the tannins. Should be superb in another few (or perhaps 5 to 10) years.
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7/25/2012 - DanR wrote:
Restaurant purchase, limited notes. Decanted upon ordering, drank over the course of two hours. This has all the components to be a special wine - dark fruit, savory elements, ripe, supple tannins, and surprising acidity; this should evolve into an elegant, refined expression of Napa fruit, but it needs time. Reserved, showing a lot of wood right now, needs to integrate. Drink after an extended, multi hour decant, or better yet, cellar this baby for another 4-5 years.
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5/15/2012 - IGN WINESNOB wrote: 95 Points
I wonder just how many of these fine wines are not enjoyed to fullest potential. Popped and V'd. Nice nose throughout. Great finish. One glass day one and very pleased. Day two, great transformation. Very smooth and great texture. Unbelievable, and as mentioned, this could have been consumed too quickly!!
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5/3/2012 - mdmcgonigal wrote: 95 Points
Dark fruit and plums with a little leather in the nose. Great balance, dark berry notes with some earth. A little extra tannin now but fades with a delicious, lingering finish.
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4/28/2012 - copdyke wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. Not as good as the Molly Dooker Carnival of Love we had that same night but was pretty delish.
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4/5/2012 - Cblakejordan wrote: 95 Points
Subtle fruit on first nose, cherry and bits of blueberry quickly overtaken by a large mouth of acids and structure. I appreciated the new style blend, as the wine quickly opened and the brute-ish-ness faded. After an hour in decanter the fruit came forward and shone through. Acids gave way to earthy leather and subtle tobacco... Wonderful and look forward to enjoying again.
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3/15/2012 - brianngibson wrote: 97 Points
Notes at about 2 hours post opening. Cassis, currants, tobacco, and oak. A very subtle hint of spring flowers, not something I usually pick up on with Cab; more typical note from a Syrah flavor profile. Maybe the influence of the Cab Franc, but not sure at all as the Cab Franc is lower in this wine than the prior vintages. Regardless, it is very subtle and maybe better described as perfumed. Finishes with some espresso, tar, and licorice, while the tannins grip the back of the palate. Very complex, and marvelously delicious.
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2/29/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Big drinking cab, harmonizing into itself.
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2/14/2012 - sonodoc wrote: 96 Points
This has improved over the past year... smoother, less tannic. I suspect that it may continue to improve.
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2/4/2012 - pakabear wrote: 94 Points
Consistent notes as before. Great balance, good integration of oak with the fruit. I would be interested to see how it tastes in 5 years but it's just so good now.
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12/19/2011 - sqn19 wrote: 97 Points
Elegant, soft tannins yet structured with elegant black fruit. Short decant. At Ruth's Chris in Minneapolis with bone-in filet.
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12/16/2011 - vanpe003 wrote:
No detailed notes. Opened at MW's cellar in Wayzata. Needed a decant, as it came across somewhat closed in comparison to a 2005 ACV Block 2 that I also opened.
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12/10/2011 - mmurry Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stocking Stuffers (Farpointe Cellar): Cherry, plum, and coffee on the nose, with hints of leather, pencil lead, and bittersweet chocolate. Soft and round on the palate, with chocolate and cherry, plum and leather, and a nice graphite finish.
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12/3/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 94 Points
San Antonio Wine Geeks - Double Blind Cali Cabs (Home of Steve T.): Decanted 4hrs prior to tasting. Reserved but complex nose of black currants, spice, tar and roasted coffee. Palate is forward and almost brutishly acidic with fine very polished tannins that become more prominent on the long finish. Good concentration with cassis and black currants while avoiding any "liquor-like" quality of some of its peers. Prominent oak treatment that is not yet integrated, but adds layers of complexity and spice, with a cinnimon edge. Very long fruits and cedar and cigar box finish. While drinkable now it's a little edgy and almost harsh (lacking elegance) but should be fantastic in 5+ years as it settles down. Great potential to improve.
Later in the night with was really hiding behind the oak, with a strong lush vanilla flavor profile hiding the fruit. Really not ready. This did not show as well as the competition. 94 is mostly for potential. At the tasting lineup (6-8hrs of air) more like 92 for consistency.
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11/27/2011 - cyc wrote: 96 Points
Drank at La Folie in San Francisco. Wonderful dark fruit on the palate with a young tannic bite, after about 3 hours of air it was really singing
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11/26/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
2008 Continuum. Old school cali cab with a reserved but poerful nose and body. Nice oak notes, great fruit. An amazing wine, built to age. PDQ94+
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11/13/2011 - CK6865 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted 4 hours , deep ruby color, very nice nose, nice tannins , very young yet, got better as the night went on , great black fruits just overall a very ,very good wine with a nice long finish.
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11/11/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote: 95 Points
As advertised. Great right out the bottle. Deep dark fruit flavors. Intense flavors with a very smooth finish. Just a hit of heat from the alcohol.
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9/7/2011 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Wide and youthful aroma. Cedar is popping, a real earthy dimension, best moss ever, some say. Blackberry liquor aromas. Palate shows suave depth, rife for the cellar. Approachable and not a monolith of structure, but one FOR THE FUTURE. Future, as in Blade Runner! this is a dynamite wine. Mondavi 3.0.
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9/6/2011 - Empirate wrote: 97 Points
Decanted 6 hours. Nose developed inviting ripe fruit and earthiness, palate included mineral notes. Well integrated wood and acidity. Nice understated structure. Drying tannins softened over time. Better on day two and it continued to improve until alas it was gone. Young but promising excellence as has been well established by others.
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9/6/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Pronouced nose, expansive palate but held, well done, works at $150.
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8/28/2011 - nzinkgraf wrote:
30 to 40 day maceration times. 22 months in oak. 70% Estate fruit from Prichard Hill, volcanic soils. The other 30% predominately To-Kalon fruit. 3500-4000cs. By 2013/14 this should be all estate fruit. 60acres planted, 40 fruiting right now. a couple more years and those 19 acres will be giving. Powerful, youthful aromas, palate is really loaded and super suave. This is the future of the Mondavi family.
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8/27/2011 - Wine Gopher wrote: 97 Points
Intense dark purpleish color. Very aromatic. Flavors of plum, coffee and a hint of graphite on the front but I get more chocolate covered cherries on the long finish. A very dense, concentrated wine with soft silky tannins and good acidity. Continuum is becoming one of my favorite wines. I bought 3 bottles and was too impatient to cellar all of them. I'm looking forward to drinking the other two a few years down the road.
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8/25/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
This is now about 70% estate fruit. Pronouced aromas, back right where the 2006 was from what I remember. Darkly fruited, rich stuff. Held up back end, with structure. Very well done.
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7/26/2011 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 96 Points
This was popped and poured. Simply marvelous. Just a tick behind the 2007 but very similar in aromas and flavors. One of the best wines out of Napa right now.
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7/8/2011 - aaslanian wrote: 93 Points
Amazing wine.
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6/12/2011 - dt118 wrote: 97 Points
Very young wine. Benefits from 2+ hours of decanting. Will be spectacular with age
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5/13/2011 - sjdoc wrote: 95 Points
Wife drank when I was out of town.
"I loved it!!" she said
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5/12/2011 - wallstreet wrote: 97 Points
This was probably the best wine we tasted on our latest Napa Trip. An almost perfect Cabernet. Not too over the top and that mountain fruit gives it tremendous structure . The wine is very balanced and should age well for many years. Simply a great effort by the Mondavi's. Carrissa was the most enthusiastic tour guide at any winery. You can tell she loves what she does. Buy this wine if you like awesome cab that is the zenith of great wine making in Napa. Worth the price of admission. This wine will also appeal to the Bordeaux lovers out there. I have to say that for $150 release price vs. something like Kapcsandy's 08 Grand Vin for $285. I would take the Continuum.....it was that good and I can have two bottles for almost the same price as the Kap Gran Vin. 08.
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5/5/2011 - bobpsi wrote: 93 Points
Tasted at Upstairs on the Square Cambridge with Carissa Mondavi Expressive nose of blackberries, violets and green olive. the initial taste is full of black fruits with some coffee and green pepper, nice soft mid palete of cassis and cedar with a long finish. gripping tannins but still drinkable. the wine is really well balanced and should only improve with bottle age
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5/2/2011 - dxpian wrote: 94 Points
Dark and inky purple hue, opaque at the center and translucent towards the rim, with great richness, elegance and finesse! An overtone of green olive and chocolate leads to aromas of ripe currant, black cherry, plum with a little bit of strawberry jam action going on. Fruit is coming on strong, but the complexity is there, releasing lots of dark chocolate vanilla extract, cream and some smokiness with graphite, cedar, coffee and tobacco components elevated by balanced heat and intensity. Full body, and the lower yield definitely led to a good concentration. Black currant, ripe cherry and plum on the attack with the fruit always wanting to move forward but very well restrained. Excellent tannic and acidic structure on the mid-palate giving way to some big and tight tannins, almost puckering and bitter, but highly polished, velvety, chewy and refined. There's incredible length on the finish, with tannin and heat slightly dominating but opening to waves after waves of fruit with lots of plum and cassis coming through with olive, graphite, tobacco. This wine has balance but lacks the harmonious integration one would look for in a well-aged bottle. All the elements are there, I mean, they are definitely there, but in a youthful and disjointed pattern. It is still a baby, and time is what it takes to evolve into a celebrated cult that all will worship. Give it another 5 to 10 years in the cellar, and this wine can last for 20 years easy. 94 PLUS!
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4/10/2011 - sonodoc wrote: 94 Points
Very smooth and well balanced. I'm looking forward to see how it ages.
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4/6/2011 - rdrunner wrote: 95 Points
Loved this wine
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4/2/2011 - Stevehogantoyota wrote: 95 Points
Great bottle of wine...just overtook cay us special select as my favorite!
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4/2/2011 - pakabear wrote: 94 Points
Great balance, classic napa with a bit of vegetation going on on the nose. Very good.
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3/23/2011 - vanpe003 wrote:
Looking back on my notes, while I've had the '05, '06, and '07 Continuum, I only took notes for the '05 and '07. The '05 struck me as straddling traditional and contemporary Napa styling, while the '07 was much more full throttle and fruit forward.
So where does the '08 fit in the Continuum? For my tastes, it might be the most balanced Continuum I've had to date, much closer to the '05 than the '07. Initially opens with a strong whiff of black olive, which ultimately blows off a bit and yields to a pleasant if somewhat reticent mix of dark fruits and perfumed leather. On the palate, "balance" is the operative word for me at this point. Good fruit against a pleasantly acidic backbone, finishing with fine tannins that become more pronounced with time in the glass.
Like another reviewer, I would say that this bottle is a bit out of sorts at present (mine were just delivered this afternoon). However all the raw ingredients seem to be present in well-concieved proportions. I also agree that this seems to have a lot of promise down the road. Discipline would suggest another 10 or so years before popping the next one. Probably 90-91 points now given its current disjointedness, but I agree with an earlier reviewer who suggests this has 95 point potential. Maybe even higher for me as my tastes migrate from "fruit bomb" to wines that are better behaved and more flexible with food.
Update: I'm wrong about the current drinking score. The longer this is open, the better it gets. Probably closer to 93-94 points now, but lesson learned - a decant for a couple of hours would be the ticket.
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3/9/2011 - taipanli wrote: 95 Points
Opened a bottle when my order was straight off the boat in Hong Kong! With the much higher percentage of Pritchard Hill fruit, this is distinctly similar to recent vintages of Ovid... All the components are there for a great wine - balance of sweetness, acidity, tannins - but not sure whether I'll ever like this as much as the 07. I hope the price for future vintages doesn't increase anymore as it then may not be an automatic buy... This score may not be too meaningful at this stage but i'd be surprised this didn't achieve 95 at the very least with some bottle age. (I have to footnote that this is getting better and better as it sits in glass...)
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3/2/2011 - Cloverstudio wrote: 95 Points
Tasted in a vertical of all vintages, '05-'08. While the '07 was clearly the WOTN, this wine had a density that made me believe that it would significantly improve with time, possibly even surpassing the '07. It seemed a little dissheveled at the moment, understandable being just released, but it is clear that all the stuffing is there for an extraordinary wine.
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1/24/2011 - Wink wrote: 94 Points
Tasted at the estate. Not yet released. This wine is 70% from estate grown fruit (a HUGE leap from 2007) and one can taste the geographic shift to Pritchard Hill fruit. Dark purple color. Nose of dark plum, fig, licorice, and smoke. Youthful palate of blackberry, blueberry, graphite and minerals. Bright cool-climate acidity. Toasty oak. Excellent length. Grippy young tannins. This is going to be another winner.
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