Opus One

Opus One Opus One Napa Valley

California

Napa Valley

Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, the 1998 Opus One bursts with evolved notes of prunes, dried cherries, and stewed rhubarb followed by hints of crushed rocks, bay leaves, and tobacco plus a touch of wild fungi. The medium-bodied palate reveals a wine at its peak, with just enough remaining fruit and a chewy texture, finishing with an herbal lift.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

The 2022 Opus One was tasted as a barrel sample. Deep garnet-purple in color, it soars with eager-to-go notes of blackcurrant pastilles, juicy blackberries, and plum preserves leading to hints of crushed rocks, tree bark, and Sichuan pepper. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and impactful, with a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and bags of black fruit preserves layers, finishing with loads of savory nuances and a compelling lift.

The 2021 Opus One is composed of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% each of Merlot and Malbec. It was bottled in July 2023. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes barreling out of the glass with gregarious notions of creme de cassis, wild blueberries, and redcurrant jelly followed by hints of cedar chest, sassafras, vanilla pod, and dark chocolate plus a waft of lilacs. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers shimmery red, black, and blue fruit layers with a firm texture of rounded tannins and impressive tension, finishing long and fragrant.

The 2020 Opus One is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it comes bounding out with exuberant notes of blackcurrant jelly, stewed black cherries, and juicy plums plus nuances of menthol, violets, and star anise with a hint of garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush and generously fruity, with lovely tension and a long spicy finish. This is nicely done!

As is so often the case with Opus, the wine expands slowly but surely, seducing you with the quality of tannins and the depth of the fruits that are wrapped around them. Silky at first, but as the wine expands you feel a grainier, slate texture that holds your interest. Rosebud, black cherry, cassis purée, espresso, juicy and elegant finish, extremely moreish. Similar vintage style to the 2005, a wine that I loved during a vertical of Opus I did in 2019, and the result of a mild and moderate growing season. They have eliminated green harvest as of 2020, and instead anticipate how to balance the crop earlier in the season during shoot thinning. 18 days skin contact in the cellar, another sign that this is a gentle vintage where everything came naturally so no need to macerate too long (over the years maceration has varied between 9 days and 43 days). Tasted twice.

Inside Bordeaux

Gorgeous texture, beautifully supple tannins, this is richly aromatic and juicy, with loganberry and raspberry fruits, touches of cocoa bean and crayon. The key difference with the Bordeaux First Growths in this fascinating horizontal tasting, where you can feel the Napa fingerprints, is in the brushed velvet texture that takes you through the mid palate, with a structure that is generously giving and inviting, showcasing autumnal berry fruits that are assertive while retaining balance, fresh acidities and spice. Gorgeous, showing exceptionally well, can be drunk today or cellared further. 100% new oak, Michael Silacci winemaker.

Concentrated, intense yet gentle at this point, with the tannins beginning to be truly supple and generous. Dried roses and raspberry fruits on the attack, olive paste, rosemary, sandalwood nand grilled black pepper as it opens up. Gorgeous stuff, from one of the longest recorded growing season at Opus, with harvest finishing on November 2.

Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, the 2000 Opus One prances out with showy notes of dried roses, cinnamon stick, and kirsch giving way to an undercurrent of spearmint, pencil lead, and mossy tree bark plus a touch of dried Provence herbs. The medium-bodied palate offers loads of mature, savory layers with a chewy texture and seamless freshness, finishing minerally.

The 1999 Opus One is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. After a little shaking, profound notes of blueberry preserves, dried plums, and licorice erupt from the glass, leading to a fragrant undercurrent of candied violets, Indian spices, and sassafras. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock full of prune and anise-inspired flavors, with a chewy texture and long, savory finish.

Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, the 1997 Opus One sashays out with alluring notes of kirsch, dried raspberries, and rose oil giving way to nuances of underbrush, graphite, and dried thyme. The medium to full-bodied palate is coated with a seductively rich mid-palate of red and black fruit preserves flavors, supported by firm, grainy tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing long and fragrant. What a beauty!

Medium to deep brick in color, the 1996 Opus One offers up fully mature notes of unsmoked cigars, leather, and fennel seed plus suggestions of crushed rocks, dried sage, and rusty nails followed by a medicinal waft. The medium-bodied palate has lively acidity with a firm, chewy texture framing the dried berries and earthy flavors, finishing just a tad rustic.

The 1995 Opus One is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. It is quite delicate and shy on the nose, revealing subtle notes of stewed strawberries, cranberry sauce, and rosebud tea opening out to hints of Chinese five spice and dusty soil with a touch of tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and beautifully poised, with lightly chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with a perfumed lift.

Medium to deep brick in color, the 1994 Opus One gallops out with up-front scents of dried blackcurrants and boysenberry preserves leading to suggestions of leather sofa, damp soil, black truffle, and cigar box. The medium to full-bodied palate is packed with rich black fruit preserves flavors and earthy accents, supported by chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a compelling black truffle note.

The 1993 Opus One is medium to deep brick in color. Fragrant notions of dried roses and lavender waft from the glass over a core of stewed black tea, fallen leaves, cherry preserves, and fruitcake plus a hint of powdered cinnamon. Light to medium-bodied, soft, and elegantly styled, the palate delivers impressive purity and grace with seamless freshness, finishing with a quiet intensity.

Medium to deep brick in color, the 1992 Opus One needs a little swirling to reveal a core of dried mulberries, plum pudding, and unsmoked cigars followed by waves of iodine, sweaty leather, and dried Mediterranean herbs. The medium-bodied palate delivers mouth-filling dried berries and earthy flavors supported by a racy backbone and lightly chewy tannins, finishing on a medicinal note.

Medium to deep brick in color, the 1991 Opus One leaps with ready-to-go expressions of dried cranberries, cigar box, and iron ore opening out to nuances of cumin seed, pencil shavings, prunes, and dried figs. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and vibrant, with great tension and powder-like tannins to support the dried berries and mineral flavors, finishing on a lingering ferrous note.

Velvety ruby red, gorgeous balance, love how confident this is, with depth and class and utterly moreish. One of my favourites in the lineup, showing so much better than the last time I tasted it, and it still has a way to go in front of it. Clear spice, plump blackberry, loganberry and red cherry fruits, liqourice, cocoa bean, espresso, capturing a purity of fruit expression yet creamy in texture. 30 days skin contact.

Still showcasing a primary feel to its fruit character, even though 33 years old, this remains vibrant damson in colour, with firm colour right through the core. Spiced turmeric and cinammon, an enticing mix of subtlety and generosity, hints of baked earth, raspberry leaf and herbal notes. Crushed rose petals also, has grip and longevity, edges of leather saddle, smoked earth and a mouthwatering signoff. 31 days skin contact, winemakers Patrick Léon and Tim Mondavi.

The evolution of Opus continues here, with a more modern structure and feel, and the whole thing begs to be savoured slowly, enjoying the juicy blackberry and red cherry fruits, finely-boned tannins, and the multiple strands of flavour, from earthy tobacco, campfire, slate and soot to fresher orange peel and lemongrass. A cool growing season overall, this has less intensity overall than the bigger vintages but is full of charm. 28 days skin contact, winemakers Patrick Léon and Tim Mondavi.

Confident tannic structure, sure of itself and its sense of place. This is a gorgeous wine, has real punch and character, with tobacco, cigar box, Christmas spice, juice, tension and a pulse of electriticty. Continues the muscular feel that began with the 1987 vintage, coupled with spice and generosity, and is both joyful and complete. Tertiary notes are here also, of soot, tobacco, forest floor. This is subtle, steals up on you, and overcomes you with its charm. A year that saw an early bud break, dry and cool growing season but relatively early harvest because of drought. A brililant vintage and it really does live up to hype. Loved it last time I tasted it and it is even better on this tasting. 23 days skin contact, winemakers Patrick Léon and Tim Mondavi.

Dark tawny in colour, with a ruby core, this builds and maintains its intensity through the mid palate and onwards to a long drawn out finish. Packed with tobacco, raspberry, black cherry, black pepper, freshly cut herbs and turmeric spice, takes its time to show the subtler nuances of flavour and this feels young overall, with an emphasis on spice that unpacks over a good hour in the glass. More proof of how Opus is comfortable being left to age for decades in bottle. 21 days skin contact, winemakers Patrick Léon and Tim Mondavi.

1985 was a great vintage for Napa Valley in general, and Opus retains a ruby red colour, with tawny edging. Well structured, great quality, clear texture through the heart of the wine, a little less freshness than vintages such as the 1979 but bursting with velvety, perfectly placed tannins. Tiptoes through the palate barely putting a foot wrong. Not a blockbuster, still in the European sensibility as it slides effortlessly towards tertiary character, with so much still to give. The first vintage where Patrick Léon of Mouton was winemaker alongside Tim Mondavi, at the tipping point towards a more modern style. 21 days skin contact.

Vibrant ruby red, dark cherry fruits, still with evident structure and tannic architecture. Traces of bitter almond, juicy blackcurrant and blackberry fruits, and a complex interplay of truffle, liqourice, blue cheese salinity, dried flowers. This is more austere than the 1983, but with so much life ahead of it, and a sense of momentum as it builds through the palate. Abundant sunsine and early harvest, early budbreak, this was the shortest growing season on record at the time. 17 days skin contact, winemakers Lucien Sionneau and Tim Mondavi.

Bright cherry red, vibrant feel overall. The soft rose petal aromatics needs a little coaxing to come out, then head quickly to blond tobacco, grilled almonds, cold ash, and softly brushed leather. This is utterly charming, silken-spun tannins, delicate and balanced, effortless, similar in character to the stunning inaugural vintage of 1979. So moreish, with mouthwatering grip and saline salty crackers on the finish. A gentle, take-your-time kind of a wine. 15 days skin contact, winemakers Lucien Sionneau and Tim Mondavi.

Tobacco, fresh and dried roses, mouthwatering grippy tannins that are still dictating the direction of travel. Touches of blue cheese highlight the tertiary character of the wine at this point, with sweet redcurrant and raspberry puree as it builds through the palate. This starts subtly but layers up concentrated fruits that clearly have a good long way to go. A wet winter, warm spring, with some rain during harvest, giving a high yield vintage that is still delivering. 9 days skin contact, winemakers Lucien Sionneau and Tim Mondavi.

Less bristling with life than the previous two vintages, with a touch of earthiness on the nose, although the colour is deep. Soot, smoked earth, tobacco on the opening aromatics, followed up by strawberry puree, charcoal, liqourice root, walnut, forest floor. Still showing fine tannins and a structure that extends its limbs and luxuriates in taking its time. A vintage that saw early bud break, and an early harvest, with warm temperatures overall. 10 days skin contact, winemakers Lucien Sionneau and Tim Mondavi.

The tenacity of the colour is impressive, tawny around the edges, ruby red in the core with vibrant reflections. A little younger in feel than the 1979, still nuanced and gentle, with black cherry, black truffles, touches of mint and firm tannins, overall if feels impressively present and delivers excitement and joy, as it has every single time I have tasted this wine. Takes a beat on opening, and then the aromatics and flavours explode out of the glass, dominanted by rose petals along with gentle smoked caramel, tobacco leaf, raspberry puree, saffon strands, so melted together and utterly delicous. This is a piece of Napa history that is still talking and sharing. 10 days skin contact, winemakers Lucien Sionneau and Tim Mondavi.

The first vintage of Opus One, still with plenty of colour at 43 years old. Tawny on the rim with a rose-red core, faring better than I expected, juicy and delicate, with an energy that builds through the palate. Opens with a focus on autumnal fruit and dried flowers, crushed roses and raspberry leaf, and only after a few beats does the clearer undergrowth and campfire smoke tertiary notes follow up. This is a high score, but wow can you tell that something magical was happening - it just feels complete, even now, with a core of brightness and tension. There is more bottle variation with this vintage than with the 1980, but if you get one as good as this, prepare to be blown away. What a triumph for the first vintage of Opus to still be tasting like this after so many decades. Winemakers were jointly Lucien Sionneau from Mouton and Robert Mondavi's son, Timothy Mondavi, who had just graduated from UC Davis at the time. 10 days skin contact.

2022	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2021	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2020	No priceNot available	Outstanding
2018	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2017	No priceAvailable	Not rated

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Opus One
Vintages	1998
Country	US, California, Napa Valley
Bottle	75 cl

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Sugar	g/l

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