Top Opus One wines and producer profile
Created by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Opus One is one of the world's most coveted wines. Below you can see Decanter's expert tasting notes on this Napa Valley powerhouse, including the first ever vintage, 1979.
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.
Later in the same decade, Robert Mondavi gave 14 hectares of his famous To Kalon vineyard, in the Oakville AVA, over to the new venture.For the inaugural vintage in 1979, Château Mouton Rothschild winemaker Lucien Sionneau joined forces with Robert Mondavi’s son, Timothy. Mondavi and Rothschild made the decision to hold back their first two vintages from the market.
See all of Decanter’s Opus One tasting notes & scores
Pioneer
According to Beverley Blanning MW, writing for Decanter in 2010, ‘In 1981 a case of the first vintage of Opus One became the most expensive California wine sold to date, at $24,000.’ The sale took place at the Napa Valley Wine Auction, although the 1979 and 1980 vintages were not officially released to the market until 1984.
Opus One is generally recognised to have been the first California wine consistently sold at $50-a-bottle. In this way, it was one of the pioneers of today’s ‘cult wine’ movement in Napa Valley.
The Robert Mondavi Winery’s 50% share in the company passed to Constellation Brands following a takeover deal in 2004. Today, Opus One remains jointly owned by Constellation and Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, despite initial speculation that one party might take full control.
Since then, Opus One has become a mainstay of collectors. The estate produces around 25,000 12-bottle cases of wine per year, although production can vary according to the vintage, of course.
Making Opus One
Grapes for Opus One wines are hand-harvested and sorted, followed by long maceration periods in stainless steel tanks.
The blend is generally created using 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, which is barrel-aged in new French oak for 18 months then bottle-aged for the same period of time before its release.
Top Opus One wines, rated by Decanter experts:
Updated 2/5/2019
See all Opus One wine reviews
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Opus One, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 1980
This wine was stunning when I tried it in June 2018, and delivers again here. Just a wonderful nuanced wine rippling with flavour. Richer and...
1980
Opus OneNapa Valley
Opus One, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2010
Very much a young wine in its primary stage, this is silky and powerful and tasted excellent during this vertical, despite 2010 being an extremely...
2010
Opus OneNapa Valley
Opus One, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 1991
The first year in their own winery, with a winemaking team that still had input from both Bordeaux and Napa, with Patrick Léon and Tim...
1991
Opus OneNapa Valley
Opus One, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2001
Small concentrated berries from a long harvest that lasted from 1st September 1 to 19th October. Michael Salacci arrived as winemaker this year, taking over...
2001
Opus OneNapa Valley
Opus One, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2015
The hottest vintage since 2008, this is full of spice and still an absolute baby. Touch of heat through the mid-palate, but it's seductive and...
2015
Opus OneNapa Valley
Opus One, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2012
A near-ideal vintage, where all parts were perfect. Here we are at full peak Opus; satin-like in texture, packed with cassis, bilberry and crushed raspberry...
2012
Opus OneNapa Valley
Opus One, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2017
August began cool but September saw record temperatures, followed by a cooler, rainy spell. So a mixed year overall. Although not yet bottled, this 2017...
2017
Opus OneNapa Valley
Opus One, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, 2013
I love the 2012, but honestly the 2013 just has the edge, because it is just as concentrated and full of fruit but acidity and...
2013
Opus OneNapa Valley
