Opus One - Cellar offer

Opus One is arguably Napa's most famous winery. It was established in 1979 as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. Their goal was to craft a wine that combined the intensity and fruit purity of Napa, with the elegance of top Bordeaux. Today it is one of the most iconic and revered wines made in California, and the world. JAMES SUCKLING

Opus One wines are some of the world's most coveted wines. Opus One was conceived as the joint brainchild of Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, after they first met in Hawaii back in 1970. Their vision was to combine their expertise in Old World and New World winemaking, to pioneer a blend that was greater than the sum of its parts… DECANTER

At this level, wines can express so much; the spirit of the people involved, the characteristics of where they are from, and the personality of a vintage. Opus One is among the most famous wines in Napa Valley. With the last few vintages, Opus One seems to have entered a newfound period of brilliance. Along the way there have been changes and bumps in the road, again quite natural, in wine as in life, when enough years are put together. It's hard to imagine just how revolutionary it must have seemed when Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild decided to make wine together in Napa Valley. The Mondavis were a hardworking, up and coming family with roots in central Italy, while the Rothschilds were among Europe's elite. Their partnership would go on to bring an unprecedented amount of visibility and attention to Napa Valley.
In 2000 Opus One hired Michael Silacci, formerly of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Beaulieu Vineyard to take over winemaking. Tim Mondavi's day-to-day involvement gradually receded, while Mouton Rothschild's new winemaker Philippe Dhalluin joined the team. Silacci is focused on moving the vineyards towards dry farming and increasing clonal diversity. Vineyards are now replanted with as many as four or five different clones that are interspersed within the rows, which Silacci believes increases complexity and nuance in the wines. The most recent releases suggest quality has finally reached a level of consistency that is finally worthy of Opus One's image and price. ANTONIO GALLONI, 2013

What is left to be said about Opus One? Perhaps the innovation underway over the last decade within the vineyards and winery. Long time winemaker Michael Silacci now focuses much of his attention on the vineyards. He began a replanting regime, not grubbing up entire plots but rather individual vines from within rows, adding a large number of new clones, which he believes is, in part, responsible for the finer, more nuanced wines over the last decade or so.

This innovative approach has seen Opus gain further freshness and structure, less fulsome than many of the older vintages. This process has been undertaken while simultaneous improvements in the cellar with Mouton Rothschild’s chief winemaker, Philippe Dhalluin, at the helm, all working towards greater structure and finesse. A monumental shift in style and a drive for greater consistency of quality at what is inarguably one of California’s most important estates.

I am quite lucky that one good friend has shared a number of these with me over the years and so I have seen some of the evolution first hand and I note that the wines today are parsecs away from the wines of yesteryear. Today the style of Opus one is of richness and decadence tempered by beautifully sweet tannins and supported by fresh acidity, mineral pep and an overall lighter frame of fruit.

While quoting myself feels a little odd, here is what Roscoe wrote in his previous offer for the 2019 “In great vintages this wine can be a masterpiece of elegance and finesse, met with concentration and depth. That seemingly paradoxical position that the very best of Bordeaux also encapsulate. Dense, powerful things that retain a sense of cooly fruited freshness. Harmonious is the word I think best describes great years of Opus One” That fella summed up my views quite well I think.

If you don’t have some of these in your cellar then I encourage you to grab some while you can. If you haven’t seem them in a while then prepare to be dazzled, Opus One is firing on all cylinders these days and have claimed their rightful place at the top of the Napa hierarchy over the last decade or more.

All of these wines remain in a cellar in Bordeaux, the Mouton connection means much of this wine winds up there, and will be shipped with our next lot from France. I know the delay is not fun, but I also know that these are not easy to come by here in Australia, and not at these prices. Also, you shouldn’t be in any rush to drink any of these vintages, so a small window of time will hopefully not be a large concern.

PLESE NOTE THESE WINES ARE OFFERED PRE ARRIVAL

Cheers and enjoy
Roscoe