Opus One

Is Opus One a wine or a winery?

Opus One is actually both! It is both a wine and a winery. What makes it special is that the wine came first. The first vintage dates back to 1979, while the company was not founded until 1980. The winery itself was not established until 1989. And to make it even more special, the wine did not even have a name at first. There was a working title, but the two founders knew from the outset that they had to find a name that would do justice to their project. They wanted to create a unique and great wine that could easily compete with all the icons of the world. Have we made you curious? Good! Because the exciting details are coming right up. It's worth reading on.

History

In 1970, the two wine legends Philippe de Rothschild (yes, the owner of Château Mouton-Rothschild) and Robert Mondavi met for the first time during an event in Hawaii. The two wine men hit it off so well that, on the very same evening, they came up with the idea of creating a red wine together that could compete with the world's greatest wines – and that should have a distinct Bordeaux soul. That was in 1970, mind you. Years before the infamous Judgement of Paris. At that time, wines from California were only reasonably well known in the United States. Mondavi and Rothschild did not yet take any concrete steps in Hawaii. But they did not forget their intention.

In 1978, a second meeting took place in Bordeaux. Within just one hour, Rothschild and Mondavi forged their final plan and created the complete framework. They didn't have a name for their wine yet, but ‘Napamédoc’ served as a working title for the time being, linguistically uniting the two wine regions of the joint venture idealists. Just one year later, the first harvest took place. It was in a vineyard owned by Robert Mondavi. Lucien Sionneau was present at the harvest for Château Mouton-Rothschild, while Robert Mondavi's son Timothy Mondavi was there for the Robert Mondavi Winery. The wine was vinified on site. Of course, as there was no winery of their own yet. And anyway, the Opus One company was not founded until 1980. It took some time to agree on a name. In the process, the two wine legends presented their joint venture to the public. It was the official birth of a legend.

The first vintage

The birth of the wine is another story altogether. Opus One Winery was indeed founded in 1980 and presented to the public. However, it had to wait another four years for its first wine. And actually, it wasn't just one wine, but two. In 1984, the 1979 and 1980 vintages were released simultaneously. Both vintages were available exclusively in the United States and were not exported. It wasn't until the 1985 vintage that the whole world was able to taste Opus One. But that didn't stop the world's wine critics from showering Opus One with rave reviews right from the start, turning it into an overnight wine superstar from California. No wonder it was the first wine ever to fetch over $100 a bottle at the traditional California wine auction. A price we can only dream of today, of course.

Winemaking of Opus One - something special

At first glance, the Opus One vinification process looks quite normal: after harvesting, the grapes are gently crushed and macerated for several days before undergoing temperature-controlled fermentation, followed by 15 to 25 months of ageing in new French oak barrels. But here's the key: Neither the grapes nor the must, and certainly not the wine, are pumped at any stage. This is because the winery was deliberately built on a slope to make exclusive use of gravity. When construction began in the late 1980s, this was an absolute novelty. A novelty that has since been copied by many wineries because it produces such a special, gentle wine.

How does Opus One taste?

It is always a challenge to put truly great wines into words. In general, one can say that Opus One combines the power of the Californian sun with the elegance of the left bank of Bordeaux. The nose is initially dominated by cassis and dark plums, but there are also notes of black tea and a very fine and pleasant herbal spice. On the palate, the wine is very juicy and forward in its youth, with a firm yet elegant tannin structure.

With additional maturity, the tannins become increasingly silky and refined. Here, herbal nuances of sage and rosemary come to the fore, paired with a hint of cedar wood and an almost vibrant minerality. All this together gives the wine a magnificent tension and deep complexity that is truly rare to find in a glass. The long finish makes you forget the passage of time. It's just like any great wine: one sip and time stands still. In short: a wine that deserves to be revered.

Is there a second wine from Opus One?

So if you ever have the chance to taste one or perhaps even several Opus One vintages, don't miss this opportunity. You will carry this memory in your wine-loving heart for the rest of your life. That's a promise. There is just one small catch: Opus One is very, very expensive – but it is not a bargain. For many years now, 100 dollars has been nothing but a dream. But as befits a French soul, there is also a second wine for Opus One. It is called Overture and was first released in 1993.

Only grapes from young vines or from the outskirts of the now 100-hectare estate are used here. The Overture lives up to its name. It may not be the great classic masterpiece that is the Opus One, but it is an excellent introduction to this great pleasure. In general, the wine is juicier, fruitier and easier to love, while remaining consistently at an astonishingly high level.

Who owns Opus One Winery today?

Until 2004, Opus One Winery was owned by Rothschild and Mondavi. That is why there were always two managing directors, each representing one of the two wineries. In 2004, these were Peter Ventura for Mondavi and Douglas Morton for Rothschild. In 2004, cellar master Michael Silacci became the sole managing director of Opus One Winery, thus bringing both interests under one roof.

There was an important reason for this major change, as just months earlier, Mondavi sold his entire wine empire (including his Opus One shares) for $1.36 billion to the wine and spirits company Constellation Brands, which converted the family business into a public limited company. However, this had no impact on Opus One. On the one hand, because the Rothschild family still holds its shares to this day. On the other hand, because winemaker and CEO Michael Silacci ensured the necessary continuity. 

The Best Vintages

Top vintages from Opus One are: 1990, 1997,2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.