2007 Opus One Napa Valley

About the Wine

Opus One was founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, legendary proprietor of Château MoutonRothschild, 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.

Picture perfect until late August, the 2007 vintage posed an unusual challenge, with a heat spell in September followed by rains and the threat of frost. Selective harvesting (the majority at night) produced a vintage recalling the generous 2001, with aromas of cassis, nutmeg, raspberries, cola, fresh oats, dark chocolate and forest floor. Polished, supple and harmoniously precise, the 2007 fuses a seamless mid-palate with soft yet sinewy tannins. The wine will age effortlessly for decades.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Petit Verdot 6%, Cabernet Franc 6%, Merlot 8%, and Malbec 1%

Critical Reviews 

There is so much to like about the 2007 Opus One. A wine that captures the essence of the year, the 2007 is exotic, flashy and striking. Kirsch, rose petals, pomegranates and spices form a fabric of compelling beauty. The 2007 is rich, sumptuous and generous, just as it should be. Threads of striking perfume are woven throughout, adding aromatic lift and pure sensuality. Readers who like more structured wines are likely to gravitate towards vintages such as 2010, but years like 2007 offer immense pleasure and an immediacy I find impossible to resist. A sumptuous, layered finish rounds things out in stunning style. The blend is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. ~96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Two of the strongest wines ever made at Opus One, the 2007 has terrific black currant fruit, licorice, incense, and subtle smoke, an opulent, even voluptuous mouthfeel, dazzling purity and texture, and a skyscraper-like mouthfeel. This is a sensational Opus One, with sweet tannin and impressive precision and depth. It can be drunk now or cellared for 25+ years. ~95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Blended of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec, the Opus One 2014 Proprietary Red Wine sports an inky purple color and nose of crushed black and red currants, black cherries and mulberries with touches of underbrush, sautéed herbs and pencil shavings plus a waft of spice box. Medium-bodied, finely crafted and with an energetic line lifting the red and black fruits, it has a bold frame of grainy tannins and a very long, earth and spice-layered finish. ~96 Wine Advocate

The 2014 Opus One is not as showy or obvious as some of the other surrounding vintages, but it will have its day. Stylistically, the 2014 is bright and also a touch linear, with a construction built more on focus rather than opulence. Readers should plan on giving the 2014 another few years in bottle at a minimum. The mid-weight style is a bit Old World-leaning in this striking, super-classic Opus One. ~96 Vinous Media