Opus One
About Opus One
Opus One is arguably Napa's most famous winery. Established in 1979 as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi, the two met in typically glamourous fashion whilst holidaying in Hawaii a few years earlier.
Their goal was to craft a wine that combined the intensity and fruit purity of Napa, with the elegance of legendary Bordeaux. The first vintage, 1979, was released in 1984 and soon Opus One earned a reputation for just this harmonious union of Old World and New. Today, it is quite simply one of the most iconic and revered wines made in California, and the world.
Following the sale of Mondavi to Constellation Brands in 2004, Opus One took full control of the vineyards and winery, leading to a noticeable improvement in quality. The acquisition of additional vineyard plots, including 65 hectares of the mythical To Kalon vineyard, was key to this surge in concentration, structure and wondrous perfume.
Interestingly, and a very meaningful sign of respect towards the wine’s quality, Opus One became the first US wine to be distributed via Bordeaux through La Place – the Bordeaux distribution network of négociants, increasing the winery’s global reach. This joint venture, born out of the joie-de-vivre of two legends, is now one of the most sought after and in-demand wines on the market.
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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California | 1 | 99 (JS) | $4,880.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)The purity of fruit is really something else here, with currants and fresh flowers, such as violets and roses. Flower stems as well. Fantastic length and structure to the wine, with tightness and focus. Wonderful fruit. Graceful. A blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 7% petit verdot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% malbec. Try after 2028. |
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California | 1 | 99 (JS) | $2,220.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)The purity of fruit is really something else here, with currants and fresh flowers, such as violets and roses. Flower stems as well. Fantastic length and structure to the wine, with tightness and focus. Wonderful fruit. Graceful. A blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 7% petit verdot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% malbec. Try after 2028. |
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California | 1 | 99 (JS) | $1,935.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)The purity of fruit is really something else here, with currants and fresh flowers, such as violets and roses. Flower stems as well. Fantastic length and structure to the wine, with tightness and focus. Wonderful fruit. Graceful. A blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 7% petit verdot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% malbec. Try after 2028. |
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California | 5 | 100 (JA) | $2,085.00 | |||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)A classical vintage that perfectly suits the Opus style. Gorgeous vivid plum colour, sculpted, balanced, with a ton of lift, waves of rose petals, iris and peony, soft grilled cumin, sage and white pepper spice. Love the hidden power here and the supple slightly chalky tannins that are structured in their architecture with a precision and carved quality. Precise, layered and stretched out, a brilliant Opus, concentrated and yet delicate. Feels pared back and captures the spirit of early Opus, when it moved forward the conversation of what Napa could be. Michael Silacci director, 100% new oak for ageing extremely well integrated even now. |
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California | 1 | 100 (JA) | $1,925.00 | |||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)A classical vintage that perfectly suits the Opus style. Gorgeous vivid plum colour, sculpted, balanced, with a ton of lift, waves of rose petals, iris and peony, soft grilled cumin, sage and white pepper spice. Love the hidden power here and the supple slightly chalky tannins that are structured in their architecture with a precision and carved quality. Precise, layered and stretched out, a brilliant Opus, concentrated and yet delicate. Feels pared back and captures the spirit of early Opus, when it moved forward the conversation of what Napa could be. Michael Silacci director, 100% new oak for ageing extremely well integrated even now. |
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California | 1 | 93 (JA) | $895.00 | |||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (93)Gorgeous plum colour, sumptuous and ready to dive into. The aromatics are deliciously open, with crunchy raspberry and blueberry fruits, balanced and well put together. Feels cohesive, juicy, with plenty of 2019 character (although this is multi vintage, with exact percentages not stated), with nuanced fresh mint leaf and crayon. High Cabernet Sauvignon in this blend, 60% new oak, 40% one year oak, bottled August 2021. |
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California | 1 | - | $989.00 | |||||
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California | 1 | - | $1,020.00 | |||||
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California | 3 | 91 (DC) | $1,155.00 | |||||
Decanter (91)Overture is a blend this year of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages, with a dominance of 2016. This is supple with clear ripe berry fruits, generous and fully ripe, tempered by white pepper spice and smoked cedar notes. It has a gentle but confident tannic frame and mouthwatering lift on the finish. This is focused and ready to drink and impresses with its rippling silk texture. |
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California | 1 | 93 (DC) |
$675 - $799 |
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Decanter (93)The first time specific blocks have been used for this wine. Dark forest berry notes on the nose with perfumed elements and notes of milk chocolate. Supple and agile, generous with textured, slightly grainy tannins that are so pleasant - expansive and round in the mouth. It's well built and very approachable with blackcurrant and black cherry flavours on the palate. Concentrated, deep and layered but still with elegance. Extremely characterful. A blend of the 2018 and 2019 vintages with 18 months ageing in French oak barrels. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. |
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