This was my first experience with Opus One. I was anxious to make my own assessment of the wine as I have heard much about it. It obviously is somewhat of a "status wine" and seems to meet with some scorn from more "serious" wine lovers as being not worth the money. These observation were the background to my tasting this wine. we took the bottle with us to Basil's Trattoria and Wine Bar in Greensboro, NC. Was decanted for about 30 minutes before first tasting. Color was deep and dark with no signs of age on the rim. Rich aromas of cedar, pencil lead and spice burst from the glass. Nose was very big! Flavors of black cherry, cloves, cedar and currants were in wonderful balance with very fine tannins. Medium length finish. I don't know what the blend is for this wine but I found it to be very "Bordeaux-like". The bottle disappeared way too quickly and paired wonderfully with my veal chop. Easily 95 points in my book. After tasting this, I think some of you need to back off on Opus One. This is a wonderful wine and cost's less than the first growth Bordeaux. Basil's had the '99 Opus on the menu for $140. Yes, I think this is ridiculously expensive wine...but if you contend that any wine is worth $100+ per bottle, then I contend that this is too.
The modest water, awed by power divine, beheld its God and blushed into wine. - John Dryden
[This message was edited by merris on Feb 10, 2003 at 08:45 PM.]
Posts: 887 | Location: Virginia | Registered: Mar 25, 2002
The '95 and '96 Opus Ones are both brilliant wines IMHO, the '97 still needs a few years to adequately acess its success or failure to follow these two wonderful vintages. Sling away...
Posts: 1761 | Location: Folsom, CA | Registered: Oct 20, 2001
I think the 95 and 96 Opus wines were excellent and still need more time. The 97 was very disapointing to me upon release. I haven't tasted it since. Maybe it's improved but I wouldn't buy any....
Posts: 831 | Location: The OC | Registered: Oct 18, 2001
Vintage 95 The 1995 vintage was ideal in almost every respect. A long, cool growing season yielded a mature and balanced crop. Harvest began in late September and finished in mid-October, a period of dry, warm days and cool nights. Spicy and rich, the wines offer exquisite balance and a persistently long finish.
Vintage 96 Spring rains in 1996 led to a decrease in vineyard yields, particularly in the Merlot and Malbec grape varieties. The cool spring was followed by a very warm summer and a short, compact harvest. Showing hints of violets and mint on the nose, this wine is at once plush and firmly structured.
Well, this is obviously an Opus lovers thread, but I really agree with merris-----this is a status wine! I think it is far overpriced and if compared to a Bordeaux 1st growth, for the same price, I'll take the Bordeaux! However, I can't, because Bordeaux is so overpriced, I'm boycotting Bordeaux! Anyway if I'm boycotting Bordeaux, you should really be able to understand my feelings about Opus One!
...the 1994, which I rated 95 on release. The 1995 I gave 92 points. Still, this is very expensive juice for the price.... And unless you have tried some of the top 2000 Bordeaux reds, you don't know how much better things can get. At $50 to $100, many 2000 Bordeaux wines blow this away. And this is spoken by one who really likes California Cabs.
highdesertwine
Posts: 1669 | Location: Victorville, California | Registered: Nov 09, 2001
