Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Continuum – Novicium – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2016
Napa Valley AVA – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
From Tim Mondavi’s Continuum Estate, this 2016 Novicium Cabernet Sauvignon represents one of the estate’s rarest bottlings, crafted in very small quantities. Sourced from the dramatic slopes of Pritchard Hill, the wine is a bold, concentrated expression of Napa Cabernet, carrying the unmistakable Mondavi family signature of precision, structure, and longevity.

Aromas & Flavors
Explosive aromas of blackcurrant, ripe plum, and cassis, interwoven with cedar, graphite, espresso bean, and subtle dark chocolate. A hint of tobacco and violet adds extra layers of intrigue.

Mouthfeel
Dense, powerful, and structured with firm yet polished tannins. Full-bodied with remarkable depth and intensity, balanced by a fine backbone of acidity that promises longevity. The finish is long, layered, and memorable.

Food Pairings
Perfect alongside prime ribeye, braised short ribs, venison, or a truffle-infused mushroom risotto. A wine made for bold dishes and serious occasions.

Verdict
Outstanding and superb, a powerhouse Cabernet Sauvignon that epitomizes Napa Valley’s potential at its highest level. Bold, concentrated, and age-worthy, it’s a treasure worth savoring now or cellaring for the future.

Did You Know?
Continuum Estate, founded by the Mondavi family on Pritchard Hill, is considered one of Napa’s “Grand Cru” terroirs thanks to its elevation (1,300–1,600 ft) and its red volcanic and loamy soils. The name Novicium hints at “novice” or “beginning,” yet this bottling is anything but, it’s an insider’s gem from one of Napa’s most pedigreed sites. Cheers!

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Among the finest Napa reds I’ve had in recent memory. This bottle left a lasting impression, truly impressive in its balance of concentration, elegance, and power. One of those wines that instantly reminds you why Napa sits among the world’s great Cabernet regions. — 8 months ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Dark ruby red. Inviting nose and lush medium palate of earthy black cherry, fresh mushroom, and slightly woody red plum. Medium acidity. Medium minus tannins. A Burgundy for the New World drinker. Just enough fruit and a well regulated militia of oak, tannins, and acidity make for a PN that’s true to its roots yet approachable to the novice. A wide variety of cuisines will pair nicely. I went with very authentic (read, “spicy”) Ethiopian fare. Drink now through 2028. — 5 years ago

barak heller hayun

8.9

🙈 tasting 3rd wine
at wset level 2 course (5th meeting)

1st of a grenache couple.
had quite a few grenache blends but I'm a true novice, so no guesses yet.

red cherry, red plum, herbs, liquorice and some oak spices 👃

medium acidity.
low tannins.
medium body.

mostly raspberry, 🍒 and liquorice 👄

made well but no serious complexity. — 6 years ago

David Slezak

8.9

This is a nice wine. I’m watching Somm 3. It’s fun being a novice! — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

One of my favorite whites. First, because it’s so good but, also for its uniqueness. It’s a wild blend of; Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Marsanne, Pedro Ximénez, Pinot Noir & Viognier.

The color is pale gold.

On the nose; because of the bottle age, you get just a hint of petroleum. Ripe peach, pineapple, orange zest, some green & more golden apple, nectarines, lemon/lime, ginger, chalky volcanic minerals, smokiness and yellow florals.

The body is round, full and waxy. It’s simply delicious and unlike most whites many have experienced. Touch of petroleum, ripe peach, nectarines, dry apricots, marmalade, orange zest, overripe pineapple, golden apple with just a hint of green apple, beeswax, meyer lemon, some lime flesh, touch of ginger, a little smokiness, chalky volcanic minerals and beautiful yellow florals from the Viognier. The acidity is round and perfect. The long, lush, rich, well balanced is artful and lasts two minutes.

Treat yourself and get a couple bottles. You’ll be glad you did.

Photos of, Clos Mogador, their barrel room, René Barbier Jr. - a great guy who told us to jump in his SUV and drove us through their steep vineyards. Some tricky driving for the novice but not René and one of hillside vineyards.

Outstanding producer in Priorat. If you visit them, have lunch at Amics about two miles from Clos Mogador. Perhaps, the best lunch and value we’ve had at a non-starred Michelin restaurant that absolutely deserves one and maybe two. They also do a lot catering for Clos Erasmus and the other Bodegas in the area — 8 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.8

Tried side by side. Tasting these since 2009. These are now classic wines. The vineyards are very close to the tree line of the western slope of the black forest in Baden. Who knows what these clones are? May be the Cluny Monks brought them up from France. These are world class Grand Cru level Pinots and are stupid underpriced. With age they turn into incredible beauties which easily match GranCru Burghs. Will be a 10 in 5 years from now. The Muschelkalk is always lighter in color ethereal and elegant. Black forest thyme, touch crushed marble, wild sour raspberry, hint of black forest morello cherries, cranberry, Mexican lime, green moos. This needs to uncoil over night to really get the potential of this. Quite acidic. 12.5%. A stellar vintage. And sleeping beauty. I would say not approachable for a novice at this point. Lucky for me my neighbors get it. Revisit in 2031. — 2 years ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark reddish purple with near black core. Inviting nose and medium full palate of ashy blueberry, red blackberry, and high-cocoa dark chocolate. Dusty, medium plus tannins present (but not assertive) from entry. Medium acidity wrapped up in it all, and a lengthy finish wraps it all up. Classic California PS with enough stuffing for the connoisseur, but still enough approachability for the novice. Drink now through 2030. — 4 years ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark ruby garnet. Initially shy nose of black cherry drops. Medium-bodied palate echoes the nose with a hint of stony licorice marzipan mid-palate to finish. Medium acidity. Sneaky medium tannins that assert on the finish. A nice intro to the “Duke” of Tuscan Sangiovese-based wines. Not quite as structured as higher-priced offerings, but that’s good for the novice. Drink now through 2024. — 6 years ago

Brian S

9.0

Raspberry, under ripe red cherry and black cherry, boysenberry, dried strawberry, dried mushroom, forest floor, rubber hose. Definitely not a wine for a novice. There was Brett but it was there in a positive way. I would decant the bottle next time. — 7 years ago

Ron Romero

10

Molto bene! This is an excellent wine for novice and advanced wine consumption. Fruity, mellow, smooth. #drinkanddapper — 8 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.2

Not as fresh as the last bottle, but went well with steaks and impressed wine novice friends. — 9 years ago

Heather C Riggin

9.0

A favorite so far... but I am still a novice. — 9 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.4

Earthy, herbaceous, and with aeration, bing cherry enough to pull the novice drinker over to the geek side of funk and farm Pinot. — 3 years ago

Daniel Bloom

9.2

Legit shit!
N: baguette, stones, yellow fruits, grapefruit pith, white chocolate*
P: Very mineral, deep, perfect w oysters.
As a novice, delicious! For Xmas/Hanukkah.
Thanks @Last Bottle Wines. — 4 years ago

with Sarah

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark purple garnet with near black core and color to the rim. Inviting nose of ashy blueberry and dried flowers. Full-bodied palate yields blueberry, plum, and ripe blackberry, with a hint of graphite and violet mid-palate on. Medium acidity and subtle, medium minus tannins. Finish is lengthy and continues the palate. A great intro to the upper echelons of Pomerol for the novice. Checks off all of the boxes except long term ageability (which, of course, is why it's not La Violette). Drink now through 2026. — 4 years ago

barak heller hayun

9.0

🙈 tasting 4th wine
at wset level 2 course (5th meeting)

2nd of a grenache couple.
had quite a few grenache blends but I'm a true novice, so no guesses yet.

14.5%

ruby red 👀

more oak and less fruit 👃 including white pepper and red plum.

medium acidity.
high tannins.
full body.

spices, oak and a little bit of Red fruit.

medium 🎯

made very well, but not to my liking. — 6 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.3

As a Burg novice, but experienced Cali Pinot drinker who leans towards burg in style, this is crazy good and accessible. Lovely balanced fruit. — 7 years ago

Ross Vick

9.3

Our Favorite wine (of many) for this special evening. It is easy to drink and has complexity to satisfy the snob and genial attitude for the wine novice.... — 9 years ago

Brad Taylor

9.0

Big. Bold. Not for the novice wine drinker. Great with steak, chili, and red pasta. — 9 years ago

Fergielyn Hagadorn-Aranzazu

9.0

Well balanced, easy drinking, smooth Merlot. Not too astringent and aromas are heavy with red berry and black fruit. Nice dark ruby coloration that's typical of merlot. Oak components are barely noticeable, which makes this very fruity glass enjoyable even to the novice.

Food pairing: italian pasta with marinara
Situation pairing: Dinner date. Maybe ecen one to enjoy on a first date. — 9 years ago