Opus One
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
Presented double-blind at dinner. The wine pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim with considerable variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated fruit: black currants, blackberries, plum, pipe tobacco, capsicum, pencil shavings, a touch leather, organic earth and a mix of dried herbs and some fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really tasty stuff.
Initial conclusions: this is an old wine, likely 30-40 years old. That being said, it’s still very distinguishable as it’s showing varietal characteristics. This could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or a blend thereof), or Merlot (or a blend thereof). I can see this being Napa because the fruit is still showing some generosity. But there’s a lot of non-fruits there too. Regardless, this was giving Left Bank vibes so I could also see this being Bordeaux from a great vintage like 1982. And that’s my call, Cabernet Sauvignon-blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estèphe, from a classified growth like Calon-Ségur. Shucks. But I’m not mad about my choice! Old Opus One’s are tricky to differentiate. Drinking very well right now but this will live well past 2035.
Presented double-blind at dinner. The wine pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim with considerable variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated fruit: black currants, blackberries, plum, pipe tobacco, capsicum, pencil shavings, a touch leather, organic earth and a mix of dried herbs and some fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really tasty stuff.
Initial conclusions: this is an old wine, likely 30-40 years old. That being said, it’s still very distinguishable as it’s showing varietal characteristics. This could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or a blend thereof), or Merlot (or a blend thereof). I can see this being Napa because the fruit is still showing some generosity. But there’s a lot of non-fruits there too. Regardless, this was giving Left Bank vibes so I could also see this being Bordeaux from a great vintage like 1982. And that’s my call, Cabernet Sauvignon-blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estèphe, from a classified growth like Calon-Ségur. Shucks. But I’m not mad about my choice! Old Opus One’s are tricky to differentiate. Drinking very well right now but this will live well past 2035.
Whole room fell silent for this one
Whole room fell silent for this one
Aug 1st, 2024
Found this in my grandma’s station wagon. Still pretty delicious...Merry Christmas all you Delectable Deplorable’s...
Found this in my grandma’s station wagon. Still pretty delicious...Merry Christmas all you Delectable Deplorable’s...
Dec 25th, 2017Black and green pepper, still showing some fruit. Delicious
Black and green pepper, still showing some fruit. Delicious
Jul 16th, 2017@Kevin McCarthy you would love this. It's a new favorite.
@Kevin McCarthy you would love this. It's a new favorite.
Oct 3rd, 2015
Soft and muted Red fruits, dried herbs, mushroom, lighter finish than I expected. Could be a slightly off btl as the cork was in rough shape.
Soft and muted Red fruits, dried herbs, mushroom, lighter finish than I expected. Could be a slightly off btl as the cork was in rough shape.
Aug 18th, 2015Elegant blockbuster. More intense than 85 leoville poyfere and only 12.1 alc.
Vert very fine
Elegant blockbuster. More intense than 85 leoville poyfere and only 12.1 alc.
Vert very fine
This was 30yr old and while likely well past its prime, was still pretty interesting and held together over a few hrs...#calicanlast
This was 30yr old and while likely well past its prime, was still pretty interesting and held together over a few hrs...#calicanlast
Mar 14th, 20151985? Wtf? Tastes like a current release. This wine could go easily anither 10 years. Big bold silky and great with this steak. Boom. I cant belive this was a freebee wine.
1985? Wtf? Tastes like a current release. This wine could go easily anither 10 years. Big bold silky and great with this steak. Boom. I cant belive this was a freebee wine.
Mar 11th, 2015