It would be disingenuous to ignore the role that the luxury experience plays for wine at this level. And even these prices are dwarfed by Liber Pater, whose 2015 vintage has been released at the laughable price of €30,000 per bottle.įurthermore, the £300 price tag for Opus One isn't just buying you the wine. Even so, that is nothing compared to Opus One's Napa neighbours Harlan and Screaming Eagle, whose Cabernet Sauvignons sell for around £1,200 and £2,000 per bottle respectively. As Jancis mentioned in her article, Penfolds recently released a new, unproven Shiraz for £850 per bottle, in bare-faced defiance of the criticism it has faced over ever-increasing prices for its top wines (The 2015 of Grange has an RRP of £591). Secondly, let's consider value and relativity. Our database contains 39 tasting notes covering 24 vintages of Opus One with a mean score of 17.5, and a mode of 18. The difference may seem marginal, but it is real, and it remains true that experiencing the truly greatest wines of the world is never cheap. Scores are important here, because it is almost unheard of for inexpensive wines to score above 17.5. I scored it 18++, and I see that Jancis was half a point ahead of me when she tasted it earlier this year (see Opus goes wild, which also reveals more about their winemaking philosophy). There is an impeccability to the fruit that sets such wines apart. It was like Pauillac in seductive soft focus: all the sun-kissed richness of Napa with all the savoury formality of Bordeaux. I tasted the newly released 2016 in Singapore in September and the impression was instant. The first is the quality of the wine itself. But surely readers of the world's best wine website are at least open to persuasion that Opus One is worth the asking price? Indeed, for the majority of British wine drinkers, anything above the average bottle price of around £6 must seem excessive. Since Jancis recently asked if wine is becoming a luxury, observing that 'it is becoming increasingly difficult to find wines of real interest under £25 a bottle', a typically well-informed and thoughtful debate has been running on our Members' forum, citing many examples of the way prices for fine wine have increased so dramatically in recent years.įor many people, £300 for a bottle of wine is absurdly expensive, offensive even. Opus One, the famous Californian Cabernet, is neither in need of greater exposure nor, at £300 per bottle, of interest to the bargain hunter. Most wines of the week are chosen with the bargain hunter in mind, bringing lesser-known bottles to the attention of those who would most appreciate them. The fine-grained, plush tannins evolve into a long, supple finish.If value is relative, then Opus One most definitely qualifies (as does a Sonoma Zinfandel at a somewhat lower price).įrom $299, €329.90, £296.68, SG$450 and widely available around the world. This seductive wine shows flavors of black cassis, black cheerry and a hint of cocoa powder. The juicy entry offers a round, silky mouthfeel with just enought acidity to complement the satin texture. The Opus One 2017 offers a harmonious aromatic balance of rich dark fruit, stems of roses and earthy forest floor. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
The structure is fine-grained, delivering a lingering hint of acidity. This features currant and plum fruit, with tobacco, loam and singed savory notes, maintaining range and driving through the finish. Medium-to full-bodied, round and savory with creamy, juicy tannins. Lots of currant and floral notes on the nose. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. In 2017, Opus One has a distinctly red-toned fruit profile that distinguishes it from the surrounding vintages. Exotic, beautifully perfumed and impeccable in its balance, Opus One is one of the most complete wines of the vintage. Plush fruit and soft, silky contours give the 2017 its racy personality. A remarkable wine for the year, the 2017 Opus One is a dense, full-throttle beauty.
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