Opus One was the original statement that Napa could stand alongside Bordeaux, and forty years on it remains the reference point. The venture began as a partnership between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild, and their twin silhouettes and signatures still appear on every label. The wine is a Bordeaux style blend from estate vineyards in Oakville, made with a consistency of house style that few properties at any price manage. The 2017 is a genuinely interesting vintage and worth understanding. Winter rainfall broke a five year drought, with January recording the heaviest rain in two decades, which delayed budbreak and pushed bloom back by a fortnight. A warm summer punctuated by heat waves followed, then favorable August conditions delivered excellent ripening and an earlier harvest starting on the fifth of September. The blend runs Cabernet Sauvignon dominant at around 81 percent, supported by Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a touch of Malbec. Maceration ran twenty days, roughly half what the estate used a decade earlier, and over half the fermentation used native yeast. The result is a wine that shows restraint rather than sheer power. Expect baked black cherry, mulberry, cassis and blackberry on the nose with spice cake, licorice, graphite and a floral lift that blooms with time in the glass. The palate is medium bodied and lively, with juicy raspberry and cassis carried on ripe, plush, fine grained tannins and a refreshing acidity that keeps it buoyant. It finishes long and graceful. Decant it for an hour, or cellar it; critics have suggested a window running well into the 2030s.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
15% |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Napa Valley, California |
| Appellation |
Oakville, Napa Valley |
| Producer |
Opus One, Oakville |
| Varietal |
Bordeaux style blend, Cabernet Sauvignon dominant |
| Blend |
Reported 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot, 1% Malbec |
| Vintage |
2017 |
| Maceration |
20 days |
| Style |
Full bodied red |
| Drinking Window |
Now through the mid 2030s |
Tasting Notes
Color: Medium to deep garnet with purple highlights.
Nose: Slow to unfold, revealing baked black cherry, mulberry, black raspberry, warm cassis and blackberry, with spice cake, licorice, dusty earth, graphite and rose stems, and a floral lift that builds in the glass.
Palate: Medium bodied and lively, with juicy raspberry and cassis, black cherry and a hint of cocoa, carried on a satin texture with ripe, plush, fine grained tannins and refreshing acidity.
Finish: Long, supple and graceful, with tannins that evolve rather than grip and a fresh lift at the close.
FAQ
What is Opus One? A Napa Valley estate in Oakville founded as a partnership between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild, producing a single Bordeaux style blend each vintage.
What grapes are in the 2017? A Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend, reported at around 81 percent Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a small proportion of Malbec.
Was the 2017 affected by the Napa fires? The estate reports that 91 percent of its fruit had already been picked before the October fires began, with only two lots eliminated from consideration. Harvest started early, on the fifth of September.
Should I decant it? Yes. The nose unfolds slowly and rewards air, with floral aromatics emerging noticeably after time in the glass. Allow at least an hour.
How long will it keep? Critics have suggested a drinking window extending into the mid 2030s, so it drinks well now with considerable cellaring life remaining if stored properly.
Where can I buy Opus One 2017 online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
