Opus One is meticulously "hand massaged," with frequent topping of barrels and six rackings during its 18 months in barrel, making it extremely labor intensive. "The standard is not to be excellent here, it is to be perfect," co-Winemaker Tim Mondavi declares matter-of-factly. There is a reason for the high price: Opus One is a very expensive wine to produce, and has been since day one. The price range for an Opus One ranges from the low $100's up to thousands of dollars. Ever since, I've been hooked on this wine, but considering its high price, it is definitely a wine for very special occasions. I had only savored this wine once before: It was a 2000 Opus One that my good buddy, Bill, shared with the cooking club. Drink up to 2020.I don't consider myself a wine snob nor am I an expert in wines, but I am very picky about the wines I drink and when I found out that my husband bought a 2002 Opus One, I was beyond ecstatic. Slight animal notes and spicy, long, ripe, confit black fruit, pruny finish. Palate rich, ripe and tannic, with sweet, leathery structure and very good fruit concentration. Nose evolved, pungent, new leather, black cherry fruit. (13.5% abv 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot) Tannins crisp, alcohol warm, but lovely freshness on the palate. Silky-smooth mouthfeel, less obviously ripe and dense than 2005, elegant style. (14.4% abv 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec)īright, glossy. Youthful and fresh in the mouth, with well rounded tannins. Palate sweet, warm and ripe, with cassis, primary fruit. Nose meaty, complex and intense, bready, black fruited, pruney, figgy, and cassis. (14% abv 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet France, 3% Petit Verdot, 1 % Malbec)īright, glossy, purple-ruby colour. Successful, very savoury, more austere style. Alcohol seems higher, though still in balance. Less generous fruit apparent compared to 1979. Palate has vigorous fruit, with mature, earthy, leathery notes and firm but integrated tannins. Intense, smoky, leathery, mature nose (more mature than 79?). (12.5% abv 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot)ĭark, moderately dense colour. The tasting highlighted Opus One’s evolution and included a selection of Silacci’s favourite vintages. Today Opus One remains jointly and equally owned with Baroness Philippine de Rothschild. The Robert Mondavi Winery’s 50% share in the company passed to Constellation Brands on its acquisition in 2004. In 1981 a case of the first vintage of Opus One became the most expensive California wine sold to date, at $24,000. Opus One was born of the shared vision of two of the wine world’s most legendary figures: Baron Philippe de Rothschild, owner of Château Mouton Rothschild, and Robert Mondavi. He pointed out that the relative rise in alcohol levels in Opus One was moderate in the context of other Cabernet-based wines from California (12.9% in 1979 compared to 14.4% for the 2006 vintage), and that this is a trend that is not limited to California but extends to other regions, including Bordeaux. Silacci, whose first vintage at the winery was 2001, said that he aimed to ‘enhance tradition and maintain innovation’. March releases on the Place de Bordeaux 2023.September fine wine releases on La Place de Bordeaux 2023.
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