In 2004 the Mondavi family finally lost control of their company in a hostile takeover bid, but out of the ashes a new venture was formed. Following the last blog the English Nose sniffs out the family story behind Continuum; the sentiment and the grape varieties which lie behind the sleek persona.

Continuum is the culmination of four generations of Mondavi family in California. In the following film Tim Mondavi charts their course from the early days of the Robert Mondavi winery in Napa where be began working aged just 15, through the halcyon days – the decades of ‘super wines’ and significant relationships with other wine dynasties. Opus One in Napa, a collaboration with the Rothchilds, Luce della Vite in Montalcino with Frescobaldi, Ornellaia in Bolghari with Lodovico Antonori and Sena, a partnership with Eduoado Chadwick in Chile. It never looked so good…

However, long story short, the company lost direction and volumes of distinctly average wine began pouring from the Mondavi winery and the family name began to signify some rather cheap, and not at all cheerful. The glory days were over and company ran into financial trouble, but when they were ousted in 2004, Tim and his sister Marcia sought a fitting legacy to reflect and continue the best of what the Mondavi family had stood for. Maybe a fresh was a good thing, spurring Tim to a new venture. Continuum was born, initially from To Kalon. This vineyard, from which Opus One is made, may have slipped from the Mondavi’s grasp, but for the first few vintages they were able to use the fruit to make their new wine.

Meanwhile Tim scouted for the perfect site to call home and found two adjoining properties on Pritchard Hill with 173 acres between them. They were not for sale, but he was persuasive. Tim wanted something different here. Cabernet may be king in the valley, but Tim wanted Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in his hillside blend. Ornellaia had shown him the how well this double act could work. He had come to see the virtue of Petit Verdot as it ages and the brutish quality softens to a smooth muscularly, while adding a savoury note and depth. This is a blend which references Bordeaux and is vinified in keeping. A dash of harmonious Merlot brings it all together. So there we have it, Continuum – a vibrant blend and a colourful history to boot.