Opus One

Each vintage expresses the same pursuit of balance through a different season. The 2014 combines cherry, cassis, blackberry, flowers, fresh herbs, forest floor, spice, black olive, and a long mocha finish over silky, velvety tannins. The 2018 is more openly seductive, with blackberry, cassis, black cherry, violet, white pepper, rose petal, orange zest, liquorice, and dark chocolate carried by round tannins and fresh acidity. The 2019 layers black plum, blueberry, blackcurrant, dried rose, mineral detail, herbs, espresso, cocoa, and dark chocolate in a creamy, satin-textured palate. The concentrated 2021 brings crushed cassis, blackberry, black cherry, violet, vanilla, baking spice, black tea, liquorice, and dark chocolate, supported by plush fine-grained tannins. The 2022 offers cassis, blueberry, dried rose, graphite, red fruit, cocoa, orange zest, vanilla, coffee, and a long elegant finish. Cabernet Sauvignon leads every blend, with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec used in precise proportions to refine texture, aroma, and persistence.

Serve at 16–18°C in generous Bordeaux glasses. Decant the younger vintages well in advance; the 2014 and 2018 may need less air depending on bottle condition. Opus One suits roast beef, ribeye, rack of lamb, venison, duck, or braised short ribs with restrained savoury sauces. Mushrooms, truffle, lentils, rosemary, thyme, and roasted root vegetables complement its black fruit, floral, earthy, and cocoa-toned details. Mature Comté, aged Gouda, and firm Alpine cheeses work well after the main course. Avoid sugary glazes and severe chilli. A comparative vertical is especially compelling: pour each vintage in equal glasses to follow how season, blend, tannin, and oak change within the estate's singular style.

Opus One began with Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Napa Valley vintner Robert Mondavi. Their ambition was to create one exceptional Napa wine by joining Bordeaux tradition with Californian fruit and innovation. The vintages in this page trace that vision across distinct years: 2014 aged 18 months in new French oak; 2018, 17 months; 2019, 19 months; 2021, 19.5 months; and 2022, 18 months. Skin contact ranged from 18 to 22 days. The details change, but the objective remains constant—power with finesse, structure with texture, and a wine capable of graceful long-term development.

That partnership remains the heart of Opus One: Napa fruit shaped by a shared commitment to balance, structure, and graceful evolution.

Store unopened on its side in a cool, dark, temperature-stable cellar. Protect from heat, sunlight, vibration, and sudden temperature changes. Serve around 16–18°C. Decant according to vintage and bottle condition. Contains sulphites.