Opus One is one of the most culturally significant wine projects in the history of California viticulture. Conceived as a collaboration between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild, the first vintage was produced in 1979 and the estate has built a global following of extraordinary loyalty ever since. The winery’s estate vineyards in the western portion of the Oakville AVA include two parcels within the celebrated To Kalon Vineyard.

The 2017 vintage in Napa Valley was complicated by wildfires in October, though the vast majority of Cabernet Sauvignon in Oakville had been harvested well before the fires took hold. Winemaker Michael Silacci blended the 2017 as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec, bottled in July 2019. The resulting wine drew praise for its freshness and balance, attributes the Wine Advocate described as a “hat trick” of three excellent consecutive vintages from 2015 to 2017.

Opus One’s position in the market is unique: it occupies the overlap between fine wine and cultural icon, commanding global recognition among collectors who may not engage with California wine more broadly. The magnum format adds rarity and ageing potential to an already well-regarded vintage. Scores of 96 from Decanter and 95 from the Wine Advocate, James Suckling and Vinous confirm the 2017 as a well-executed and rewarding release.

Baked black cherries, mulberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie on the nose, with nuances of spice cake, tapenade, liquorice and dusty soil. Medium-bodied with a lively, refreshing structure and ripe, plush tannins, the palate is juicy and well-balanced, finishing long and graceful. Well-suited to drinking now or cellaring to 2032.

A fist of late summer cherries, raspberry and bilberry fruits, with the juicy character that confirms, even in a hot vintage like 2017, Opus can deliver balance and sculpted elegance.  — Decanter