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318.00 CHF
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An icon of Napa Valley, Opus One unites the Bordeaux heritage of Mouton Rothschild with the pioneering spirit of Robert Mondavi in a refined, structured and age-worthy Californian red.
United States • California • Napa Valley • Oakville AVA • Opus One • Cabernet Sauvignon
Opus One — The legendary alliance between Bordeaux and Napa Valley
Opus One is one of the most prestigious estates in Napa Valley. Born from the visionary partnership between Robert Mondavi, a defining figure of Californian wine, and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, owner of Château Mouton Rothschild, it embodies a rare encounter between Bordeaux precision and Californian generosity.
Located in Oakville, at the heart of Napa Valley, Opus One produces a great red wine dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented according to the vintage by the other Bordeaux varieties. The style seeks balance, depth, texture and ageing potential, with an immediately recognisable signature.
The spirit of the estate
Opus One embodies a vision of great Californian wine shaped with Bordeaux discipline: ripe yet controlled fruit, polished tannins, precise élevage, deep structure and lasting elegance. The wine seduces as much through its prestige as through its balance between power, refinement and length.
History
The story of Opus One began in the late 1970s, when Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild decided to create together a great Napa Valley wine inspired by Bordeaux excellence. This alliance between two major wine personalities gave birth to one of California’s most celebrated projects.
From its earliest vintages, Opus One established itself as an international symbol of fine Californian wine. The estate still retains this unique aura today: that of a collectible wine, sought after for its consistency, precision and ability to evolve gracefully.
Terroir
The vineyards of Opus One are located in the Oakville AVA, one of Napa Valley’s most renowned sectors for Cabernet Sauvignon. Gravelly and loamy, well-draining soils encourage even ripening and a natural concentration of substance.
Oakville’s climate combines morning fog, generous afternoon sunshine and favourable day-night temperature variation. This alternation allows the grapes to achieve intensity and structure while preserving the freshness essential to the wine’s balance.
Viticulture and vinification
Viticulture is based on precise parcel management, with close attention paid to ripeness, grape health and the balance of each lot. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the wine, complemented depending on the vintage by Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
Vinification favours controlled extraction, precise blending and careful ageing in French oak barrels. The aim is to craft a deep and harmonious wine, where Napa’s natural richness is carried by a fine structure, silky tannins and impressive length.
Wine style
Opus One is defined by a style that is generous, structured and elegant. The wine generally offers aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry, cedar, graphite, blond tobacco and fine spices, supported by a velvety texture and perfectly integrated tannins.
With time, the finest bottles gain complexity, developing nuances of fine leather, undergrowth, cocoa, liquorice, dried herbs and balsamic notes. It is a wine that can offer pleasure relatively young, while the best vintages reveal their full dimension after several years of cellaring.
Emblematic cuvées
Opus One: the estate’s grand vin, a Bordeaux-style blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, structured, deep, refined and built for ageing.
Overture: the estate’s second wine, more accessible in expression, crafted in the same spirit of blending, texture and balance.
Cellaring and food pairings
Opus One offers excellent ageing potential, depending on the vintage and storage conditions. The finest years can evolve for several decades, gaining aromatic complexity and textural refinement.
At the table, it pairs beautifully with grilled or roasted red meats, aged beef, lamb, duck, delicate game, wine-based sauces, mushrooms, herb-scented dishes and mature hard cheeses such as Comté or Parmigiano Reggiano.
Key information
Country: United States
Region: California, Napa Valley
Appellation: Oakville AVA
Estate: Opus One
Founders: Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild
Main grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Other grape varieties: Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec depending on the vintage
Style: structured, velvety, profound, refined, Californian in ripeness and Bordeaux-inspired in architecture.
In summary: Opus One is one of the great symbols of Napa Valley, born from a historic encounter between Bordeaux and California.
For lovers of fine American reds, Opus One is an essential reference: a prestigious, deep and harmonious wine capable of uniting Californian power, classical elegance and long ageing potential.
Dominant aromas
Fruit: blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry, plum and ripe dark fruit.
Nuances: cedar, graphite, blond tobacco, cocoa, liquorice, fine spices and dried herbs.
Evolution: fine leather, undergrowth, balsamic notes, cigar box, silky texture and a long elegant finish.
Current selection
Discover our selection of Opus One wines, subject to availability: Opus One, Overture, mature vintages, great years and bottles sought after by lovers of fine Californian wines from Napa Valley.
