However, the 2010 vintage – a 96-point scorer by Parker’s reckoning – has impressed critics across the board and remains notably cheaper than its older counterparts, so looks to offer value to buyers. The 2002 vintage in particular caused consternation when Stephen Tanzer awarded it a meagre 86 points compared to Antonio Galloni’s 95. Opus One is a blend of 95 Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 Merlot and is aged for 18 months in French barrels (100 new) and then another 18 months in bottle before. Opus One was a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and the late Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The label has, at times, divided critics. In November 2013 a buyer from mainland China spent $165,000 on a 100-case ‘instant collection’ of vintages ranging from 1997 to 2005. There’s an appetite among collectors, too. Prices have risen steadily higher: the average bottle price in 2007 was £100, in mid-2018 it was almost three times that at £284. Opus One Red Wine 2015 750ml 2015 349.94 98 JS Red Blend United States California Napa Valley 750ml B / 0 Better Price, Same Score Continuum Proprietary Red 2019 750ml 2019 277.90 98 WA Red Blend United States California Napa Valley 750ml Closest Match Pym-Rae Tesseron Estate 2016 750ml 2016 350. Not that this detracts from its value, of course. Still, it’s a good thing, then, that unlike many other Napa wineries, the estate has ample production (25,000 cases/year) to keep its fans satisfied. Interestingly, it wasn’t until relatively recently, in 2012, that Opus One opened a sales and distribution office in Bordeaux – a surprisingly late development considering joint owner Mouton Rothschild operates a major Bordeaux negociant company. Opus One enjoys global appreciation, with a keen following in particular in Japan and France. Nowadays the estate it is owned jointly by Constellation Brands and Baronne Philippe de Rothschild S.A., and continues to enjoy worldwide acclaim. Four years before Robert Mondavi’s death in 2008, he relinquished his share in Opus One and sold it to wine conglomerate Constellation Brands. The brand quickly established itself as a leading Californian label, both at home and abroad.Īfter a long career at the helm of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Philippe de Rothschild died in 1988 at the age of 86, succeeded by his daughter Baroness Philippine de Rothschild. Its immediate success showed the founders their partnership had legs, and in the same year more acres were added to the Opus One venture, and design began on their architecturally-progressive winery. Released in 1984, it was the most expensive Californian wine of the time, costing a then-unprecedented $50 per bottle. Allocations are reportedly down 20 due to reduced production. Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe Rothschild became friends in 1970, and combined their winemaking nous in 1979 to create a vintage that was an instant hit with wine lovers on both sides of the Atlantic. GORGEOUS’ OPUS ONE 2015 RELEASED The wine has been released through La Place at 208 a bottle, an increase of 9.4 on the 2014, leading to a case price of some 2,700 per dozen. The wine finishes with fresh acidity and a rich, lingering finish that promises longevity in the cellar.Like so many Napa wineries, the history of Opus One is short, but it packs a punch, born of two legendary winemaking families: Mondavi and Mouton Rothschild. Silky, fine-grained tannins provide structure and a creamy texture. The entry is vibrant with ripe dark fruit flavors of plum, blackberry and blueberry followed by hints of vanilla and cocoa. Tasting Notes: Initial dark fruit, spice and baking aromas in the 2015 Opus One are interwoven with seductive notes of violet, black tea, and sage. Harvest began on September 1 with short pauses heat spells and continued warmth allowed for the berries to be steadily picked at their ideal maturity. Warm summer months led to advanced veraison, which was followed by perfect ripening conditions. Cooler conditions during flowering ultimately lead to a smaller number of berries on each cluster and lower than average yields. Drought conditions persisted, and rainfall was erratic, with most of the much-needed rain falling at the end of the previous year and supplemented by only a single storm in February, which was enough water to sustain the vines. Marking the warmest year since 2008, the 2015 growing season set a record for early bloom. This singular mission shapes every vintage, today and for generations to come. Together, our founders set out to create a single wine dedicated to the pursuit of uncompromising quality. Opus One is the realized dream of two men: Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and Napa Valley vintner Robert Mondavi.
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