About the Wine

"Call it a hat trick: Opus One knocks it out of the park with three excellent, if very different, takes on the last string of vintages: 2015, 2016, and 2017." ~Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

Opus One was founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, legendary proprietor of Château Mouton Rothschild, and renowned Napa Valley vintner Robert Mondavi. By combining the great winemaking traditions and innovations of both families, the founders’ singular goal was to create an exceptional wine in the heart of Napa Valley. Opus One, like any great work, arose out of passion. Dedicated to uncompromised quality, Opus One’s sole purpose is to express this vision and passionate spirit for generations to come.

The Opus One 2017 is remarkably elegant and bright offering sumptuous aromas of fresh red and blue fruit, baking spices and vanilla, and a delicate fragrance of spring florals. The initial bouquet is augmented by more nuanced notes of sage, rosemary, and black olive. Juicy flavors of black cherry, blackberry and cassis flood the palate and creamy, fine-grained tannins deliver a delightfully round structure. Harmonious and lively, the flavors linger to create an enduring finish with touches of dark chocolate and espresso.

Tasting Notes: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec.
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Reviews

The nose is elegant, aromatic and offers delicacy, deepness, complexity as well as a beautiful freshness. It reveals notes of pulpy Boysen berry, juicy/fresh violet plum, small notes of juicy/fresh raspberry associated with touches of violet, strawberry, lily, small ripe fruits as well as fine hints of juicy/fresh blueberry, touches of sweet spices, cuben pepper and discreet hints of fresh tobacco. The palate is fruity, fresh, mineral, well-balanced, full of control/delicacy, full of finesse and offers a beautiful definition, gourmandize, a certain unctuosity, a beautiful finesse of the grain, subtility as well as well as a beautiful freshness, energy and a beautiful balance. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, fleshy/pulpy blueberry, small notes of plum associated with touches of juicy/fresh red berries, cherry as well as hints of tonka bean, strawberry flowers, caramelization, toasted as well as very discreet hints of mild tobacco, vanilla, a subtle hint of almond and toasted oak. Good length and persistence. Tannins are precise, elegant, racy and very finely firm. A very powdered side in the finish. ~97 Vertdevin

A fist of late summer cherries, raspberry and bilberry fruits set out their stall, all with the juicy character that confirms, even in a hot vintage like 2017, Opus can deliver balance and sculpted elegance. Beautiful grip, creamy texture with a strikingly powerful tannic frame. As the wine stays in the glass the floral aromatics begin to bloom up. A brilliant Opus. 20 days maceration - around half what it would have been a decade ago. 54% native yeast, as part of their native yeast project. 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec complete the blend. Harvest spread out over September 5 to October 8, just before the fires, by which time they had less than 10% of the fruit still out on the vines.  ~96 Decanter

 A remarkable wine for the year, the 2017 Opus One is a dense, full-throttle beauty. Plush fruit and soft, silky contours give the 2017 its racy personality. Exotic, beautifully perfumed, and impeccable in its balance, Opus One is one of the most complete wines of the vintage. In 2017, Opus One has a distinctly red-toned fruit profile that distinguishes it from the surrounding vintages. ~95+ Vinous Media

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. ~95 James Suckling 

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 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This features currant and plum fruit, with tobacco, loam and singed savory notes, maintaining range and driving through the finish. The structure is fine-grained, delivering a lingering hint of acidity. A more subtle expression of Cabernet. ~93 Wine Spectator

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