5/19/2023 0 Comments 2002 opus oneNice nose of black currants, blackberries, black plums, cedar, licorice, chocolates, vanilla, earth, light vinaigrette, tobacco leaf, herbs, eucalyptus and peppercorn.įull bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.ĭry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, espresso, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs, eucalyptus, spices, peppercorn and mildew. Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.Ī blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Still young and would be better in 5 to 10 years. Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter, but it definitely needs longer than that. Feels like a Napa Cabernet with a Bordeaux touch. This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries. Pretty nose of blueberries, cooked black cherries, blackberries, figs, cedar, vanilla, spices, chocolates, earth, herbs, coffee, tobacco, licorice and black pepper.įull bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.ĭry on the palate with blackberries, currants, black cherries, raisins, dried figs, vanilla, cedar, cola, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, earth, bitter herbs and peppercorn. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2023) Feb 17th, 2023ĭeep purple in color with a short purple rim. Interestingly, the 2019 is the first vintage fermented mostly with ambient yeasts. There's a touch of new oak today, but new wood has never been a signature of Opus One, so I imagine that is a stage in the wine's development. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, mint, lavender and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. Silky tannins and bright, floral aromatics add to an impression of total finesse. The 2019 Opus One is a remarkably elegant wine. And although not inexpensive, when compared against certain Napa neighbors, its price point does make sense.The 2019 Opus One is a remarkably elegant wine. It is too earthy for typical California styles and too fruity for a Bordeaux. Like many mixed breeds, Opus One tends to not fit in anywhere. But like all tastings, each vintage had qualities and fans of its own, leading to the recurring, yet looming question: Is Opus worth its price? A very interesting contemplation indeed, for it is difficult to compare it to any other wine. Regardless of the late vintage fanfare, there were winners in each of the flights. Complex yet approachable, flavorful yet elegant, they demonstrated what a Bordeaux blend could be, impressing even the most suspicious of Opus cynics. The terroir is still there.įinally, the 1990s produced some fantastic wines outshining many of the other vintages with their potency and well-bred style. Wines had more fruit and body, taking somewhat after the popular style found in Napa today. The second revelation undoubtedly showed that although Opus' wines were consistent, their style changed slightly around 1990-1991. Each wine, though different, was part of an interwoven wine scheme-all bore the same trademark: finesse and elegance. The first was Opus' comprehensible consistency. In the Spring of 2003 Anthony Hanson, MW, David Pearson, the newly appointed CEO of Opus One and Christie's hosted a fourteen year vertical tasting for our San Francisco Bay Area clients. Time helps us discern the wine's so-called lineage. Did it have pedigree? And if so, was it worth it? Now, more than twenty seven years later, we are better able to counter these questions. Since release of the 19 vintages, which sold for a then scandalous $50 a bottle, making them the most expensive California Cabernet blends at the time, Opus One has triggered many reviews and debates. Rather, it is a faithful integration of the partnership between Robert Mondavi, the infamous, progressive Napa Valley winemaker, and the late Baron Philippe de Rothschild from Chbteau Mouton-Rothschild in Pauillac, France.įree from gossip, it is not. Its restrained, yet present fruit and pronounced earthiness disclose neither a true California Cabernet blend nor a direct descendant of its Bordeaux ancestors. Recently removed from ideal storage conditions for the development of fine winesįor years, Opus One has been the one wine that has truly stood out in the Napa Valley. A COMPREHENSIVE ROLL CALL OF OPUS ONE FROM 1979 - 2002
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |