It remains an ongoing testament to the founders’ vision of a singular wine that transcends generations. Rising gracefully from the vineyards, Opus One winery stands in subtle celebration of the land and the open space that surrounds the estate. Guided by the vision of our founders, winemaker Michael Silacci combines intuition and technical acumen with the dual perspective of viticulturist and winemaker. From tasting berries to careful sorting and extended aging in new French oak barrels, each stage of the winemaking process is afforded the same meticulous consideration and attention. After 18 months, the Opus One wine is bottled and held an additional 15 months until release on October 1st each year. Place, often defined as terroir, represents the geography, the climate and the essential human element which is captured in the wine’s balance between power and finesse, structure and texture. The essence of time is expressed in Opus One wine by the character of each vintage. The facial profile of the two founders is visible on their iconic label. Producing luxury wines from its Napa Valley vineyards, the partnership made its first vintage in 1979 and has made wine at Opus One since 1991. Opus One is a partnership founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, France, and renowned Napa Valley vintner, Robert Mondavi. Learn about Opus One, it’s history, the winery and the wine. Harvest began on September 9th with Malbec and concluded with a small lot of Cabernet Franc crushed on October 11th.īlend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot ![]() Opus One thinned these clusters to the lowest per-acre yield in a decade, balancing the fruit with its canopy of leaves while encouraging high quality and concentration in the berries. Light precipitation and moderate temperatures in the spring boosted soil moisture and prompted a good fruit set with high berry counts in individual clusters. The 2002 vintage in Oakville saw only one significant rainfall in January, with most rains falling in December of the prior year. Silky tannins and a seamless balance enhance a long, unwavering finish accented by bittersweet chocolate and a hint of smoke. A marriage of richness and restraint, the wine combines a lean, vibrant entry with profound mid-palate density. Showing nuances of dried strawberry, vanilla bean, and mocha in the nose, the wine offers lavish flavors of cassis, black cherry, plum, and espresso. ![]() It can be drunk today (give it a healthy decant) or cellared for 2-3 decades.The 2002 Opus One is deep garnet. With an almost Bordeaux-like class and structure, this full-bodied beauty has no hard edges, plenty of ripe tannins, and is extraordinarily pure, elegant, and long. Based largely on Cabernet Sauvignon mixed with 8% each of Petit Verdot and Merlot, with 5% Cabernet Franc and a splash of Malbec, its deep purple hue is followed by a beautiful bouquet of black cherries, crème de cassis, and blueberry fruit intermixed with notions of cedary spice, toasty oak, graphite, and flowers. The 2016 Opus One is brilliant and shows yet again that 2016 was a magical vintage for Napa Valley. 1% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot completes the blend, 17 days skin contact. ![]() Harvest 9th September to 12th October (starting off slowly then speeding up as the heat rose). A very classic style, touches of baked vanilla, rosemary and olive. Love the juiciness of this, right off the bat, rich deep black cherry rippling with menthol and eucalyptus notes, and these beautiful floral aromatics that Opus gets in the best years. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the palate delivers layer upon layer of opulent stewed black fruit with amazing tension and firm, ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing long with a whole array of exotic spices coming through. Wine Advocate 98 pointsĭeep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Opus One bursts from the glass with ripe blueberries, black cherry jam and crème de cassis with hints of violets, dark chocolate, cedar chest and cardamom, plus a touch of charcoal. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. ![]() A bit more classically backward than its Oakville peers, so tuck this away in the cellar. An iron edge pierces the finish, while the fruit keeps pace. A focused, restrained style, with a steady beam of fresh red and black currant preserve flavors, laced with bay leaf, cedar and tobacco notes.
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