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B-21 Top Recommendation
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Considered one of the wine world's most prestigious labels, Opus One is "more than just a pretty face," crafted with consistency and exceptional quality in recent vintages that transcend ratings - in the words of Vinous critic Antonio Galloni, "Opus One seems to have entered a newfound period of brilliance." Rarely available after its highly allocated release, B-21's long-term relationship with the legendary Opus One offers an opportunity for fans and collectors of exceptional, age worthy and yes, highly rated Napa reds to stock the cellar with these past and current vintages at best on the market pricing.
Launched in 1979 as a joint venture between two winemaking legends, Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Bordeaux First Growth Mouton-Rothschild and Napa Valley's iconic Robert Mondavi, four decades later the masterful Opus One remains a benchmark for Bordeaux-styled Napa blends, sourced from the Oakville AVA's top sites including 100 organically farmed acres in the famed To Kalon Vineyard. Having honed his craft with two of California's most demanding winemakers, Warren Winiarski at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, and the late André Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu Vineyards, long-time Opus winemaker Michael Sillaci leads the Opus One team to employ meticulous standards from the vineyard to the cellars, hand harvesting earlier than most in Napa with rigorous selection, vinifying each parcel separately with indigenous yeasts, and then aging the Opus One for 17-19 months in new French oak barrels from 14 different cooperages and holding it an additional 15 months in bottle until the annual Fall release.
Declared "a brilliant Opus" by Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson, the powerful 96 pt. 2017 Opus One is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec, described as "a dense, full-throttle beauty" and "one of the most complete wines of the vintage" by Antonio Galloni of Vinous. Boasting a "Pomerol-like elegance and purity," Jeb Dunnuck describes the finesse-driven 99 pt. 2018 Opus One as "concentrated and seamless, with serious length," while critic Galloni sums it up as "supremely elegant," a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cab Franc and 1% Malbec. Called "a truly magnificent Opus One in the making!" by the Wine Advocate's Lisa Perrotti-Brown, the impeccably balanced 99 pt. 2019 Opus One blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Petit verdot, 6% Cab Franc and 1% Malbec with virtually all the fruit from To Kalon, described as "a classic Opus with breadth, finesse and energy" by Decanter's Georgina Hindle.
Setting a high bar at its inception over four decades ago with its name referring to a composer's masterpiece, Opus One continues to exceed expectations, reflecting the uniqueness of each vintage while distinctly expressing the To Kalon terroir, an elegantly balanced blend with rich concentrated fruit hinting of minerality and highly polished, complex tannins promising decades of longevity. For Napa collectors and fans, a limited opportunity to acquire three epic vintages of Opus One at best on the market pricing and one not to be missed |
99JS #55 Top 100
98WA
97JD
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Extremely perfumed and floral with lavender, lilacs and violets to the sweet, ripe berries, such as blackberries and blackcurrants. Some slate and graphite, too. It’s full-bodied, yet ever so balanced and refined, with super fine tannins that last for minutes. Fresh herbs, such as bay leaf and lemon grass highlight the dark fruit. The quality of tannin is exquisite with wonderful polish and refinement. Lasts for minutes. So wonderful to taste now, but better after 2026.
99 points, James Suckling (Sep 2021)
#55 - James Suckling Top 100 of 2021
Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Opus One soars out of the glass with bright, bold boysenberries, warm cassis and ripe, juicy black plums notes, plus emerging nuances of lilacs, oolong tea, cinnamon stick, tilled soil and black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tightly wound layers of crunchy black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing with lifted fruitiness and on a lingering mineral note.
98 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Issue # 253 - Feb 2021)
The 2018 Opus One is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This deep purple-hued effort leans to lively, fresher side of the vintage but has a brilliant, utterly classic style in its crème de cassis and blue-tinged fruit as well as notes of lead pencil, candied violets, damp earth, and chocolate-like nuances. With a Pomerol-like elegance and purity, it's medium to full-bodied and has wonderful tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. It plays in the finesse-driven end of the spectrum yet is concentrated and seamless, with serious length. It offers pleasure today but should benefit from 4-5 years in the cellar, and my money is on it evolving for 30 years or more.
97 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2021)
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