Complex flavors on palate give Bordeaux-like cool climate impressions, then the black fruit aromatics take over from the herbaceous overtones in the glass. Mature black fruits have touch of sous bois in background and very faint touch of herbaceousness. Some signs of development with tertiary notes that are typical of cool climate extending to faint vegetal notes as counterpoise to the fruits. Overall a relatively restrained European style. Not ready yet, not because of tannins, but needs time to develop flavor variety. Aromatic black fruits come out slowly in the glass. Other vintages have been excellent after 20 years, so I anticipate a very long life for current vintages.ДЄn updated profile will be included in the 2022 edition of the Guide to Napa.Дў017 (Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Cabernet Franc 1%, Malbec 1%, Merlot 5%, Petit Verdot 9%)ДЇairly tight as it opens but promises elegance as it matures. The oldest vintage I have had was the inaugural 1979 (made from grapes from MondaviвЂ™s To Kalon vineyard) which at 30 years of age was still vibrant. All the wines show a restrained style in which flavor development steadily accentuates with age. The wine feels 4-5 years less developed rather than more developed by comparison with the 2010: it is just at the point of making the transition from fruity to savory. The 2006 growing season was also relatively cool, but had a heat wave earlier in the season, in July. Showing some tertiary notes, itвЂ™s perfect now. The wine impresses as ripe, but reflecting cool-climate conditions. The 2010 reflects a (relatively) cooler growing season until there were heat spikes at the end of August and in September. The 2010 is more developed than the 2006 in fact, in a blind tasting I would probably have reversed the vintages of this pair. The current release, the 2017, isnвЂ™t releasing a lot of fruit or aromatics yet coiled up tight, it is waiting to unwind. Taking the European aesthetic farther, the wines are extremely expressive of vintage. Opus One is easy to under-rate in its early years, when it tends to be somewhat dumb, with a touch of austerity, but it comes out, decade by decade, so my tasting at the winery of wines from three decades was the perfect way to assess it. Initially the blend started with Cabernet Franc and Merlot Malbec was added in 1994 and Petit Verdot was added in 1997. There are 70 acres of vineyard around the winery and another 100 acres split between To Kalon north and south.

The lowest Cabernet Sauvignon was 71% in the cool, wet year of 2011 the highest was 97% in 1989. The wine is labeled as a proprietary red, but usually has more than 80% Cabernet Sauvignon (enough to carry a varietal label). As one of the first collaborations between Bordeaux and Napa winemakers, it was assumed from the start that the wine would be a Bordeaux blend.

Opus one 2004