Wine Advisor
Opus One 2011
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Description
Opus One is the realized dream of two men: Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and Napa Valley vintner Robert Mondavi. Together, our founders set out to create a single wine dedicated to the pursuit of uncompromising quality. This singular mission shapes every vintage, today and for generations to come.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2011 Opus One is an elegant, lithe wine. Floral and savory aromatics lend freshness to this understated, classy Opus One. Sweet red berry fruit, dried herbs, blood orange and cinnamon lend notable complexity from start to finish. I imagine the 2011 will drink beautifully for another 10-15 years, maybe more. The 2011 has softened quite a bit over the last decade.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2011 Opus One comes across as quite powerful and intense. Raspberry jam, rose petals, savory herbs and mint, all come together beautifully in the glass. The tannins are going to need a few years to soften, but the 2011 continues to develop very nicely in bottle. This is a very strong showing, especially within the context of the year. The 2011 is dark and even a bit rough round the edges, particularly when tasted alongside the surrounding vintages. The lithe, mid-weight, savory style is at times more Old World than New, yet all the elements are in the right place.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2011 Opus One may turn out to be one of the surprises of the year. A brilliant, precise wine, the 2011 impresses for its energy. Sweet floral and spiced notes lead to expressive dark red berries, mocha, anise and new leather in a brilliant Opus One. Readers will note the lower than normal presence of Cabernet Sauvignon in the 2011, which is typical for a year in which blenders play an important role. The blend is 71% Cabernet, 11% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot/8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2011 Opus One naturally comes across as a bit slender next to its contemporaries. Still, there is quite a bit to admire. A distinctly floral-infused bouquet melds into sweet red fruit. The finish is graced with considerable aromatic intensity and lift. Overall, the 2011 shows quite a bit of potential, especially within the context of a year that was extremely challenging.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(14% alcohol): Deep ruby-red. Rather cool aromas of plum syrup, cocoa powder, licorice and fresh herbs. Spicier and leaner than the young 2012, with a strong impression of acidity and an herbal element giving a tart quality to the blackberry, graphite and leather flavors. Finishes brisk but a bit sour, with some spiky acidity and lingering pepper and herb notes. I can't imagine this distinctly cool wine blossoming in the bottle.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(just 13.7% alcohol, with a relatively low pH of 3.66; 71% cabernet sauvignon, 11% merlot, 9% petit verdot, 8% cabernet franc and 1% malbec): Good full ruby-red. High-pitched aromas of blueberry, cassis, licorice, leather, violet and mint. Juicy and tightly wound, showing limited flesh today. Quite dry and precise, with an almost tart quality to the penetrating flavors of crushed blueberry, minerals, violet, mint and dark chocolate. This rather uncompromising vintage of Opus One reminded me of a Mouton-Rothschild from a cooler year. Is it just a bit pinched?
About the Producer
The world-renowned Opus One was created in the 1970's as a result of a merger between two visionaries, Baron Philippe de Rothschild (lengendary Bordeaux wine magnate and owner of Château Mouton-Rothschild in Pauillac) and Robert Mondavi (an icon in the history of American wine with a namesake wine empire in California). It was their aim to develop a New World equivalent to a Bordeaux First Growth in the Napa Valley region of California. The exceptional style of Opus One resulted from the combination of their talent, their vision and the unique terroir of the Oakville AVA (an Eden for Cabernet Sauvignon). Today, this highly sought-after wine is produced from four different parcels, two parcels making up the famous 40-hectare To-Kalon vineyard, along with the River and Ballestra Parcels surrounding the Opus One winery. While the exact proportions depend on vintage, the blend is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec, reminiscent of Bordeaux's Left Bank. The wines are vinified separately before being matured in French oak barrels for a period of 18 months. They stay in the cellar, ageing in bottle for another 15 months, before being released on the market in October of each new year.
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