2017 Opus One Magnum 1.5L, Napa Valley

Lots of currant and floral notes on the nose. Hints of mint and spice. Medium-to full-bodied, round and savory with creamy, juicy tannins. Hints of citrus underneath. Bright, fresh and delicious. Drink or hold.

95 points jamessuckling.com Feb 2020

Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.

95 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown robertparker.com Nov 2019 Drink 2021-2036

Opus One is one of the most iconic wines of Napa Valley and a landmark collaboration that forever changed the perception of Californian fine wine. The estate was founded in the late 1970s as a joint vision between Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi, two giants of the wine world who shared the belief that Napa Valley could produce a single wine to rival the great châteaux of Bordeaux. The vineyards sit primarily in the heart of Oakville, on the valley floor and surrounding benchlands, where deep gravelly alluvial soils, warm days and cool nights create ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon and its traditional Bordeaux partners. Today Opus One is led by a dedicated estate team with a philosophy rooted in precision, balance and restraint, producing just one wine each vintage that reflects both the year and the place rather than a fixed recipe.

In the glass Opus One is immediately recognisable for its polish and harmony. Aromas typically open with blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum, layered with violet, graphite, cedar, cocoa and subtle spice. The palate is seamless and layered rather than overtly powerful, delivering ripe dark fruit, fine grained tannins and a long, savoury finish that speaks to meticulous vineyard work and patient élevage. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone, supported by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec depending on the vintage, each contributing structure, perfume and depth. Opus One is a natural match for roast beef, lamb, game and truffle driven dishes, and it is built to age effortlessly for decades, developing cigar box, leather, earth and savoury complexity while retaining its core elegance. It remains a benchmark not only for Napa Valley, but for modern fine wine worldwide.