2021 Continuum Novicium Sage Mountain Vineyard

First made in 2010, the Novicium cuvee is the second wine of this brilliant Pritchard Hill estate, and it's always a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Ripe black currants, smoke tobacco, chocolate, and a kiss of graphite all define the aromatics in the 2021 Novicium, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a rich, concentrated mouthfeel, plenty of building yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. It shows the class of the site, as well as the vintage. Drink bottles over the coming 15-20 years.

The second wine of the estate, Continuum's 2021 Novicium is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It's restrained in style, with cherry fruit tinged with leafiness and hints of mocha and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and framed by dusty tannins, it's rather firm at the moment, seemingly needing a few years of cellaring to loosen up.

Plenty of blackberries, black olives, iron, bark and blackcurrants. Full-bodied, very layered and chewy, with angular tannins that have a lemon zest edge that turns to pine, flowers and hints of spice and cedar. Creamy, supple texture. Bitter citrus at the end. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 39% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Give this three to four years of bottle age to open. Best after 2026.