2012 Continuum

The bonds of family run deep at Continuum, where Tim and Marcia Mondavi have created a world-class estate in just a few years. Here, high up on the Vaca Mountains, nestled between Ovid and Stagecoach, the Mondavis are making wines of pedigree and class. Tim Mondavi's daughter, Chiara, runs day to day winemaking, but no detail is too small to escape Tim Mondavi's attention. An increasing emphasis on Cabernet Franc, co-fermentations and less new oak are some of the more recent developments at Continuum. The attention to detail is equaled at only a handful of properties across the valley. Since 2012 Continuum is a 100% estate wine, so it is very much early days. Needless to say, it will be fascinating to watch this latest chapter in the Mondavi family history unfold over the coming years and decades.

Continuum is very much a family affair. Tim Mondavi and his sister Marcia own the property, while four of Tim Mondavi's five children are now actively involved in the winery. The Mondavis exude an extraordinary passion for their estate on Pritchard Hill, a bucolic spot that offers breathtaking views of much of Napa Valley, including To-Kalon, where the Mondavis made their name, to Stagecoach. With each passing vintage, the wines keep getting better now that Continuum is a 100% estate winery and the team gains the kind of understanding about vineyards that only time can bring. In addition to these wines, I also tasted a number of 2013 components that point to another successful vintage here. The estate's second wine, Novicium, doesn't get a lot of attention, but I find it excellent. Readers who want to learn more about Continuum might enjoy this short video I shot with Tim Mondavi right after the 2014 harvest.

With 62 acres now under vine here, at an altitude ranging from 1,300 to 1,600 feet, above the fog line, Tim Mondavi describes his estate atop Pritchard Hill as "a grand cru on top of the world."And it was showing at its best on a pellucid, breezy March morning, when I was able to clearly see individual buildings in San Francisco 60 miles to the south.As of vintage 2011, Mondavi's flagship wine is 98.5% from estate fruit.His new winery was ready in time for the 2013 harvest, which Mondavi told me was the 40th harvest of his winemaking career.It's clear that he has been re-energized by his new project.Mondavi is now making 25% of his wine in cement fermenters, which he says enhance minerality and vibrancy.He's also following a racking regime that owes more to Burgundy than to Bordeaux--just three or four rackings in total, or less, before bottling without fining or filtration.The potentially exciting 2012 was scheduled for just its second racking the day after my visit.