![]() ![]() Irrigation is also a big question in the Napa. This has two key advantages: firstly, the wave of cool air keeps the grapes from burning, and secondly, the evaporation that follows these chilly nights creates a humidity that, in turn, refreshes the vines. Then, at night, even in the summer, they cope with temperature drops of at least 20☌, a particularity of Opus One’s location not far from the San Francisco Bay. ![]() Very little rain falls on the Napa Valley, and the vines are grown tall and in high density to protect the grapes from the intense sun. And the environment they’ve adapted to is quite something. Far from home, the Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec plants have nonetheless learnt to thrive. Counting 90,000 visitors a year at its peak, a world-class winery, and 69 hectares of highly diverse terroir, it’s clear that planting Bordeaux vines in foreign soil was a risk worth taking. Opus One’s first vintage was the 1979, though, and the estate seems to be doing rather well so far. Philippe de Rothschild once said that “making a great wine is easy it’s just the first 100 years that are difficult”. We wouldn’t want it any other way, either! The result of this hybrid culture is a meeting of minds and methods that produces truly special wine. Yet, however much the traditional, ‘old-world’ approach could be imitated, such a project was bound to grow legs (or roots!) of its own. Teaming up with Robert Mondavi, the Baron de Rothschild’s mission was to bring Bordeaux’s viticulture to life on totally new ground, which meant initially importing Bordeaux’s classic grape varieties, oak barrels for the same kind of ageing, and more than a suitcaseful of ancestral know-how. When Philippe de Rothschild took a liking to California’s character, the idea of bringing his vast wine-making experience over the Atlantic was self-evident. Opus One has been an ambitious project since the day it was thought up. Here’s what we learnt with Gwendoline La Burthe, Export Manager France for Opus One. Such a quick shift in the climate sets the scene nicely for a Californian domain born of contrasting cultures, and whose wines we were lucky enough to taste as a team last June. During harvest season, the workers at Opus One don their woolly hats and scarves to pick the estate’s all-precious fruit by night, so far does the temperature plummet. When the sun sets behind this immense landscape, though, what’s revealed is a different world. We’re thrilled to have earned the opportunity to bring this singular wine to your cellar.The hues and contours of California’s Napa Valley are infused with bright sunshine, framed by a broad backdrop of hills and an expanse of vineyards that stretch far, far further than the eye can see. After spending 17 months in new French oak and a year in bottle, it’s one of the premier editions the winery has produced in the 40+ years since the Bedroom Summit. The 2018 vintage contains all five Bordeaux varieties, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (84%). From vineyard to tank, the journey rarely takes more than 12 hours. At harvest, the fruit goes directly into the immaculate winery. Opus One grows on four celebrated vineyard plots in the choicest section of Oakville: the Ballestra and River Parcels, which flank the winery itself, and To Kalon North and South, located across Highway 29. ![]() The wine is broad and beautifully balanced, with chewy tannins that will help it age for decades. Showing a brooding shade of purple, it’s got powerful and forward aromas of black currant, blueberry, violets, cocoa powder, dried herbs, licorice, and cinnamon rising from the glass. It only takes one sip to realize that this wine is something special. ![]() Wine Advocate gave it 98-matching bottles from the legendary 20 seasons-calling it “a triumph.” Grown in one of the top vintages of the past decade, the wine earned a near-perfect 99-point score from James Suckling and. There’s no doubt that we are currently in Opus One’s Golden Age, and with the 2018 winemaker Michael Silacci has given us one of the finest bottles of all time. ![]()
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