Founded in 1979 as a partnership between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Opus One has become Napa Valley’s most iconic Bordeaux blend. Fruit comes from the estate’s meticulously farmed vineyards in Oakville, planted on gravelly, well-drained soils that give both concentration and elegance. The 2018 vintage is widely regarded as near-perfect, offering purity and balance. The nose is layered with cassis, blueberry and black cherry, lifted by violet, graphite and subtle tobacco. On the palate, it is rich yet refined, with seamless integration of ripe fruit, polished tannins and judicious new oak. Notes of dark chocolate and spice emerge on the long, harmonious finish. Structured and precise, it shows the classic Opus balance of Napa power with Old World restraint. Drinkable now with decanting, but capable of ageing gracefully for 20–30 years.
