Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Such a serious Scheuerbe. Gorgeous nose. Wild herbs, sweet lime, sage, blackcurrants. High toned and so wild. Aromas in neon lights. Palate is slamming. Concentrated, elegant and densely structured but oh so nimble and super pure. Unreal class and finesse. So stunning and what a finish. Savory and alive. Cannot wait to see what air does. — a month ago

Ron R

9.7

Black as the night in the glass. A clone of the 19 vintage, only more sexy and voluptuous. Round, curvaceous and supple on the palate. Presents cocoa and a hint of barrel toast. So opulent and pure. Tannins are awesome and the acidity is bright. More brilliance from Jason Moore…
@Rick K — 6 months ago

with Anne-marie

Paul Cunningham

9.3

One of my new favorites. Smooth yet inexpensive. — 10 months ago

Rob Brobst III

9.6

A vibrant, focused and deliciously complex red, offering raspberry, cherry, cinnamon, mocha and subtle sage notes rolling through the long and expressive finish. Deft. Wine Spectator #3 Wine of the Year — 4 years ago

Bob Eisenbach

9.1

Blackberry explosion and a bit of heat. — 5 years ago

Michelle M

9.4

Baked cherry, wild blueberry, milk chocolate, currant, black tea, musky leather shop, with hints of sage bushes, chopped mint, cocoa powder, and fresh baked biscuits on the nose. Medium-heavy dark red with fresh blackberry, tart black cherry, juicy plum, dark chocolate, on the palate with hints of woodiness, slight vegetal notes with smoothed out medium-grip tannins on the finish. Soft and smooth and well balanced — 6 years ago

Sam Shepard

9.3

Dried herbs (thyme, sage) and red currants — 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.9

The 2013 Opus One is an absolute stunning release, and is certainly one of most impressive young wines I have ever tasted from this estate. This shows a darker, more forward profile from this warm vintage, and is clearly one to contemplate, as there are so many complexities and working parts to this compelling wine. This instantly impresses as it opens to intense aromatics of crème de cassis, black cherry, blackberry compote and black plum woven together with mocha, sandalwood. The mouthfeel is voluptuous and beautifully concenrated with deep and penetrating flavors of black cherry, créme de cassis, blackberry cobbler, anise, sage and anise, which all resonate beautifully across the palate. This is already extreamly appealing, but try to resist this hedonistic wine for at least another few years, as there is undoubtedly a long future ahead. Drink 2019-2035-99 — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A 1/4 century in bottle…mmmm. I have had every 90’s vintage of Phelps Napa, except a 90 I think. Many of those multiple times at 15 yrs plus. This 99 is as good as any of the ones I’ve had. 98, not a great vintage but the 98 consistent with the rest and 99 better than many would expect.

Siting it, it has a dark core with little or no brickish edges. The fruit still very lively.

The nose shows; slightly candied to ripe & some slightly plummy fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, graphite, cocoa powder, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed I liquid violets with a touch of lavender.

This is still around its peak. M-M+ velvety, round tannins. It’s round w/ elegance defined. Nothing that bits back. Palate confirms the nose. Slightly candied to ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, limestone, dark Asian spices with some palate heat, dry herbs w/ a sage lead, graphite, used charcoal ash, cocoa powder, caramel, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed in liquid violets with a touch of lavender, very round, beautiful acidity, well; made, knitted, structured, tensioned w/ excellent length and elegance-balanced finish that lasts minutes & lands on moist clays and ripe, evolved fruit.

Perfect w/ the Prime Ribcap. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Continuum Estate – 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 17% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot / Vintage 2015
Sage Mountain Vineyard, Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A Bordeaux-inspired red blend from Continuum Estate, perched on Sage Mountain high above Napa Valley. The 2015 vintage, though small in production due to drought and cool flowering conditions, yielded fruit of remarkable intensity and character. Limited quantities make this a collector’s treasure.

Aromas & Flavors
Opens with aromas of cacao, black currant, cardamom, and savory wild herbs. On the palate: lush layers of black cherry, roasted espresso, mountain minerals, and a touch of tangy orange spice. Velvety tannins wrap around ripe black fruit and chocolate notes, finishing long and expressive.

Mouthfeel
Dense, structured, and deeply vinous with remarkable balance between power and finesse. Rich and tactile, yet elegantly polished. Built for both immediate pleasure and decades of graceful aging.

Food Pairings
Best enjoyed with rosemary lamb chops, prime rib, aged gouda, or wild mushroom ragù. But honestly? This wine is an experience in itself, no food required.

Verdict
An elevated expression of Napa Valley mountain fruit, complex, soulful, and deeply memorable. One of those rare wines that leaves you saying, “whoa.”

Did You Know?
Continuum was founded in 2005 by Robert, Marcia, and Tim Mondavi, continuing the Mondavi family’s legacy in Napa with an estate entirely dedicated to Cabernet-family blends from Sage Mountain.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This was a showstopper for me. The 2015 Continuum delivered an elevated experience, the kind of wine that redefines how you think about Napa blends. Truly unforgettable. — 8 months ago

Tanya Koob

10

Very oaky — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Corison after Ribcap into dark chocolate...good all around.

This was fast tracked in my tertiary storage. Meaning, it is more advanced than if I had stored it my EuroCave’s.

It is well resolved. Yet, still has plenty of life.

Beautiful, bright, lush, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries; black cherries, strawberries, plum, raspberries with cherries over the top. Soft limestone minerals, tarry notes, expresso roast, underbrush, soft leather, cedar to wood shavings, moist clay, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark spice with well pronounced heat, mocha, caramel, hints of tree sap/bark, sage, Provenance herbs, brilliant florals of; purple, violets & soft lavender. The acidity is near perfect. The finish is elegant with perfect polish and persists softly. — 6 years ago

Hampus Bejnö

9.2

Fruktigt o gôtt — 7 years ago

Joel Lara

9.2

Really tasty. Full bodied with medium acidity and medium/high tannins. Plums with hints of blueberry are joined by interesting herbal notes of thyme and sage. Also has a nice earthiness that veers into a touch of just-ground coffee beans accompanying the fruit and herbal flavors on the finish. Really good, and went well with meatball, ricotta, and mushroom pizza. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Happy New Year! 🍷

Perfect pairing w/ my Dutch oven braised short-ribs & horseradish mashed potatoes.

Dark currants, brambly blackberries, dark cherries, brilliant cherries, strawberries, iron pan, dry shale, dry herbs-sage lead, dry crushed rocks, limestone, volcanics, roasted chestnuts (a signature of this producer), some black coffee, tarriness, dry top soil, dark spices, some red to mid berry cola, red, dark flowers, violets, excellent, round acidity, balance for days, nice structure/tension with elegance that lands squarely on dry earthiness. — 6 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on May 25, 2022 at Moto in Nashville with Rachel]

Red and dark berries, rose petal, tar and sage with earth and a hint of smoke. — 4 years ago

Kyle Zeman

9.5

Dali vintage. Still super alive and young, what fun wine to drink alongside Dali’s Wines of Gala book. Most of the fruit is gone, lots of terroir shining through — grape seeds and clay. Some sage / menthol. Literally no oxidative notes — 5 years ago

Jacob smith

8.9

Not my favorite wine. Soild — 5 years ago

P A

9.0

One of the Okanagan best from an excellent vineyard and vintage. Presents a velvety mouth feel with a smooth vanilla finish. The perfect evening treat after a day #wfh. Cheers and be safe and healthy to all my Delectable friends 🍷🇺🇸🇨🇦 — 6 years ago

Beom Ki Lee

9.0

Sage, eucalyptus, black olives, and start blackberries. Extremely fruity and full body, typical for a good bottle of syrah. Hint of sour cherries, tobacco, and acai berries too.
Great bottle for its price range. — 7 years ago

with C