Tim Mondavi and family have officially re-entered the wine game with release of Continuum.
Just over 1,000 cases of the US$130 blend of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot will be produced for the inaugural 2005 vintage.
This will grow to approximately 3,000 cases. ‘Our goal is to be a little like Opus One. Where Opus is the size of a larger first growth Bordeaux, our goal is to be on the smaller size of a first growth Bordeaux,’ Mondavi decanter.com.
The wine is produced by Tim and his sister Marcia, along with 94-year-old patriarch Robert and his wife Margrit. Tim’s five children are also playing a hands-on role in the new brand.
At present, Continuum is focused on the Napa Cabernet blend. ‘I would love to pursue a Pinot Noir project on the Sonoma Coast, but that’s ten years down the line,’ Mondavi said.
Describing his father as the ‘spiritual godfather’ of the project and his sister Marcia as his ‘closest confidant’, Tim said, ‘my father’s aspiration was always to produce wines recognized as among the finest in the world. My goal is to continue our commitment to wine at that very high level.’
Tim’s brother Michael, and his son Rob Mondavi were the first family members to rebound from the sale of Robert Mondavi Winery to Constellation. They launched their company Folio Wine Partners in early 2005.
Written by Tim Teichgraeber
