![]() ![]() Because of the highly selective Opus One blending process, some lots, despite possessing outstanding qualities, are ultimately not selected for the final Opus One. In the tradition of many great Bordeaux estates, Opus One began crafting a second non-vintage wine, Overture, in 1993. It’s worth noting that the 2010 vintage received especially strong critical acclaim, described, for instance, as “picture perfect” by wine critic Antonio Galloni. Detailed information on each year’s growing conditions is available on the Opus One website. The 2010 vintage, for instance, consists of Cabernet Sauvignon 84%, Cabernet Franc 5.5%, Merlot, 5.5%, Petit Verdot 4%, and Malbec 1%. A winery famous for its Bordeaux-style blends (referred to as Meritage blends when from American soil), varietal percentages vary across Opus vintages to make the most of the year’s grapes and their flavor profiles. ![]() Another year and a half of aging in the bottle finishes the wine.īoulder Cork is pleased to offer Opus One in 2009, 2010, 20 vintages by the bottle as well as the 2011 vintage by the glass (a steal at $72). The elevated vats use gravity to release the juice, after which the wine is aged in French oak barrels for a year and a half. Opus dedicates each of its 50 elevated fermentation vats to a particular parcel of the vineyard, so the grapes grow and ferment together. Opus also employs the use of a highly advanced optical sorter, which recognizes a grape’s color, size and shape to ensure that only the most optimal grapes have been hand-selected. It begins with harvesting the grapes, transporting them carefully in small batches before sorting them by hand. To produce its world-class wine, Opus One relies on a gentle, unhurried process. Its popularity extends beyond even France and the United States Japan is one of its leading importers. Opus appears to have reached an astounding level of respect in both old and new worlds: close to 50 percent of its wine is now sold overseas, with a distribution office in Bordeaux. The vineyards have since come to span 170 acres, producing 25,000 cases annually. In 1981, a single case of Opus sold for $24,000 at auction, the highest price ever for a California wine. In the 1970s, Rothschild’s involvement was big news in the wine industry and added considerable respectability to an up-and-coming Napa Valley. Founded in Napa Valley in 1979, Opus One comes from the marriage of two countries, two continents, and two of the world’s most famous wine families: Robert Mondavi of California and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Mouton Rothschild, France. The dark fruit flavors are beautifully complemented by a well-integrated acidity, which predicts a fantastic potential for guard.If you’re a Cabernet fan who has trouble deciding between old world and new, consider Opus One, a blended Cabernet. On the palate, the tannins are velvety and well-rounded, coating the mouth with a silky texture and offering a pleasant hint of minerality. The Opus One 2010 is a beautiful vintage, with a nose revealing aromas of blackberry, rose petals, espresso beans and chocolate, along with earthy touches. After the harvest, the grapes were left to macerate with skin contact for 19 days and the final blend was aged for 18 months in new French oak. The Opus One 2010 is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, 5.5% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. Harvest began on September 23rd and concluded on October 23rd, yielding ripe fruit, perfect for the elaboration of an age-worthy wine. The 2010 vintage will be remembered as quite demanding, with plenty of variability in temperature, a late budbreak and unexpectedly hot days in August and September. By combining the winemaking philosophies of the New and Old Worlds, the pair has created a single, exceptional wine with the fruit and power of Napa Valley combined with the elegance and restraint of Bordeaux. ![]() A Demanding Vintage Yields a Wine with Velvety, Well-Rounded TanninsBorn from the union of Baron Philippe de Rothschild ( Chateau Mouton-Rothschild) and Robert Mondavi, a respected oenologist from Napa Valley, Opus One offers a pure expression of California's most prized terroirs created in a Bordeaux style. ![]()
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