Dit is de Proprietary Red Wine van Opus One uit het oogstjaar 2019, een Bordeaux-blend uit de Napa Valley die voornamelijk bestaat uit Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), gecombineerd met 8% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc en 1% Malbec.
In het voorjaar van 2019 viel er overvloedige regen, bijna het dubbele van het jaargemiddelde; een vochtige winter en koel lenteweer zorgden voor uitstel van de knopvorming. Het weer was daarna warm en stabiel. De oogst begon op 10 september en duurde vier weken, waardoor wijnmaker Michael Silacci de tijd had voor een lange, rustige oogst. Decanter kende dit jaargang 4,5 sterren toe.
In de wijnkelder onderging de wijn 22 dagen schilcontact, waarna hij 19 maanden rijpte in Franse eikenhouten vaten, die allemaal nieuw waren. Het resultaat is een volle maar elegante wijn met fluweelzachte tannines en frisse, geconcentreerde kernaroma’s die een lange afdronk achterlaten.
Als de wijn jong wordt geopend, wordt decanteren aanbevolen. De wijn komt het best tot zijn recht tot en met 2058.
Robert Parker (98)
Winemaker Michael Silacci commented that usually the blends are finished in January or February after the vintage. This year, with the 2019s, he was still tweaking the blend, but he did mention that this is "pretty close to the final blend."
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Opus One leaps from the glass with notes of Black Forest cake, Morello cherries, mulberries and fresh blackcurrants plus hints of licorice, wilted roses, Sichuan pepper and iron ore. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with juicy black, blue and red fruits, framed by velvety tannins and background freshness, finishing on a compelling earthy/mineral note. Tasted as a barrel sample, this is a truly magnificent Opus One in the making!
James Suckling (99)
The purity of fruit is really something else here, with currants and fresh flowers, such as violets and roses. Flower stems as well. Fantastic length and structure to the wine, with tightness and focus. Wonderful fruit. Graceful. A blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 7% petit verdot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% malbec.
Jancis Robinson (18)
Abundant spring rains, nearly double the annual average, saturated the soil and provided ample water for the growing season. The first signs of budbreak were observed in the vineyard on 27 March, a full 15 days later than usual. This delay led to later bloom and veraison. However, warmer temperatures towards the end of summer accelerated the fruit’s development and maturity so that picking began on 10 September, a couple of days earlier than average. The harvest lasted four weeks. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec. 22-day skin contact. 19 months in new French oak.Glowing crimson. Heady, a bit like 2009 although there’s an appetising minerality on the palate.
BOW (9)
Owen Bargreen (98)
The 2019 Opus One is really coming into its own right now. This is marvelously herbal offering bay leaf tones on the nose with orange bell pepper, tar, anise and tobacco leaf. The palate is lush and round with a refined texture and great sense of tension. Creme de cassis and violets mark the palate alongside mocha and a graphite edge.
Jane Anson (99)
Juicy, balanced, succulent, and is showing exceptionally well at this point, although has a long life ahead if you can hold back. I love the 2019 vintage in Napa and Tuscany, and here it shows its grace, balance and nuance, without compromising on depth and quality of ripe black fruits studded with sage, rosemary, pencil lead, mint leaf, eucalyptus, crushed rocks. Signature Opus, expressive and joyful but with a classicism that is hard to resist. Michael Silacci winemaker, 100% new oak for ageing.
