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.

The 2019 Continuum is ripe, upfront, and sexy, which is very much in the style of the vintage. Beautiful red and black currants, new leather, and an almost garrigue/wild herb character define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, polished yet still mountain tannins, and incredible length. I love it today, yet it clearly has another two decades of longevity ahead of it.

The 15th vintage of Continuum and 100th anniversary of Mondavi in California. 100% estate grown and made. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot. Lovely aromas with a mix of red and dark plums and cherries, mountain sage and a light touch of mint. The nose has a good balance of complexity and detail as well as freshness. This continues into the mouth with a lot of finesse and length. Impressively fine-grained tannin, a wash of mouth-watering acidity and a lot of persistence. This is an elevated, elegant, fine-tuned and beautiful, impressive wine. Dark-chocolate notes emerge in the mid palate, bringing a touch of richness as well as depth. Pink grapefruit accents the length of the palate, bringing a persistently refreshing quality even on a palate unafraid of rich flavour. The focus here though is on finesse and detail. Well done. Delicious and impressively drinkable now. Wow. (ECB)