The iconic Opus One is a coveted collector’s prize; a visionary joint venture between the kings of the Old and New Worlds, Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. The wine embodies luxury and exclusivity, and its supremacy amongst Napa’s great estates is indisputable.
Since 1979 they have been crafting a very special Bordeaux style Californian Cabernet. Napa fruit, from the prized Oakville terroir, is handled with all the expertise, knowledge and heritage a First Growth Château. Opus One thereby expresses the power of Napa with the classicism and restraint of Bordeaux.
Last week we had the pleasure of tasting the eagerly anticipated new release from Opus One at our offices. There is no doubting this estate is producing world-beating wines, and its 2014 completes an outstanding trilogy of vintages, sitting perfectly between the 2012 and 2013 vintage in style. As Antonio Galloni notes, “The 2014 is not an obvious Opus One, like the 2010, 2012 or 2013, but over time, I will not be surprised if it challenges or even surpasses some of those vintages.”
Today, this “grand cru” is one of California’s most famous wines and has developed a keen following the world over, especially in Asia. Only 12,500 cases are available for sale outside of the US, and demand invariably outstrips supply. With recent vintages moving into a new chapter of quality, this is surely a wine for collectors and speculators alike.
*Available for delivery in winter 2018
Opus One 2014
£1,260.00 per 6 IB
Deep opaque colour. The aroma exudes an abundance of dark berry fruits, with hints of cinnamon, liquorice and Moroccan spice. There is a touch of the Orient about this wine. The palate balances a deep concentration of flavours with a charming velvety texture. The flavours evolve from its dark black fruits into subtle vanilla and mocha, which provide richness and layered concentration. Plush and full, but without excess, it is a beautiful Opus One. Drink 2018-2030. Goedhuis & Co
The 2014 Opus One has turned out to be a gorgeous wine. Savory, tightly wound and intensely aromatic, the 2014 is going to need time to unwind, but it looks like it will develop along the more classic vintages here. The tannins are firm but also impeccably balanced. A sleeper wine for the year, the 2014 is shaping up to be a gorgeous wine that will handsomely repay several decades of cellaring. The 2014 is not an obvious Opus One, like the 2010, 2012 or 2013, but over time, I will not be surprised if it challenges or even surpasses some of those vintages. In short, the 2014 is a wine of tension, power and grace. 95+ points, Antonio Galloni
Mesmerizing aromas of flowers, bark, currants and blackberries. So perfumed. You just want to smell it. Exquisite tension and finesse with an almost Burgundian texture, yet it’s Napa in its soul with ripe fruit, stones, spices and Chinese tea leaf flavors. Savory and delicious. Drinkable but better in 2020. 97 points, James Suckling