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Tasting notes
Opus One picked on the early side in 2022, picking from 24th August. The resulting wine is elegant and pure – not showing the heat of the vintage. The nose is pretty, bright with ripe but fresh sweet fruit, blackcurrant and blackberry, with spicy notes and graphite. The palate is juicy and lithe, packed with vibrant red fruit, building to a defiantly savoury finish. Herbal and creamy layers complement a stony, earthy richness, the palate mouthwatering with powdered tannins that caress the tongue. With time in the glass, floral aromatics and even more spice emerge. A very impressive result. Aged 18 months in new French oak. Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 0.5% Malbec
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jim Gordon, jamessuckling.com
More reviews and scores
The 2022 Opus One shows the sunny, perfumed style of the vintage. Black raspberries, smoked tobacco, incense, and spicy wood notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, layered mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. I’ve been lucky enough to do many retrospectives of this wine, so I have no doubt it will evolve gracefully for a solid two decades.
Generous, with savory aromas of ripe blackcurrants and fresh black cherries and a gentle texture that shows a slight nip of tannin. It is well structured and a bit tight, which is normal for a young cabernet sauvignon-based red that’s a proven collectible. Gives up graphite and pencil shavings, some cocoa and espresso. Full-bodied. Spicy, toasty oak is really showing through right now. Best from 2028.
Smoky, fragrant and powerful, this has clear intensity with tightly-grained tannins. With coaxing, the body of the wine softens to show chalky tannins, crushed rose petals and violet flowers, impressive delicacy to the aromatics despite the heat of this vintage. Great stuff, once again showing how Opus knows when to take the foot off the pedal, how to sverve towards grace. Picking was exceptionally early, coming on August 24 for the Merlot, as they reacted to the forecast for a big heat dome. Michael Silacci director.
About the producer
Created by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Opus One is one of the most famous wines and estates in the Napa Valley. Its iconic Cabernet Sauvignon combines the elegance and freshness of Bordeaux with the natural ripeness and opulence of Napa.