Continuum Proprietary Red 2019 (750ML)

100 WI / 99 JS / 98 WA / 97 VM / 95 WE / 95 WS

#16 Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2022
#20 James Suckling's Top 100 American Wines of 2022
#50 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2022

The 2019 Continuum has the highest percentage to date of Cabernet Franc. It is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and 6% Merlot, with all the fruit estate grown from Sage Mountain Vineyard on Pritchard Hill and it has a deep garnet-purple color. The nose is closed to begin and needs patience to coax out beautifully pure notes of warm cassis, wild blueberries, chocolate-covered cherries, violets, and iron ore, plus wafts of cinnamon toast, clove oil, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm, with super-ripe, grainy tannins and fantastic tension framing energetic, tightly knit layers, finishing on a long-lingering ferrous note, plus a spray of rose water and candied violets. Simply stunning!--Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

Blackberries, dark wet soil and blackcurrants. Graphite, too. So aromatic. Pure fruit. Full-bodied with superbly polished, fine tannins that draw you down through the center of palate. Extremely layered and the texture is so curated, giving wonderful persistence. Real plushness and fine, velvety texture. 50% cabernet sauvignon, 37% cabernet franc, 7% petit verdot and 6% merlot. Better after 2026.—James Suckling

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. - JC, Wine Advocate

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. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

From the mighty estate site on Pritchard Hill, this robustly muscular wine consists of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc (the highest amount ever), 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot. Herbal, it shows notes of violet, graphite and tobacco alongside layers of rich red and black currant. The tannins are substantial and grippy, not quite ready to play nice on the palate. Lay this one down and enjoy it best 2029–2039. - VB, Wine Enthusiast

Expressive and vivid, with cassis, blueberry reduction and plum preserves mixed amicably together, while licorice, warm fruitcake, sassafras and baker's chocolate line the finish. A long, subtle cast iron note echoes as the fruit lingers, making for an alluring contrast. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Best from 2023 through 2038. 5,000 cases made. - JM, Wine Spectator