The 2002 vintage in particular caused consternation when Stephen Tanzer awarded it a meagre 86 points compared to Antonio Galloni’s 95. The label has, at times, divided critics. In November 2013 a buyer from mainland China spent $165,000 on a 100-case ‘instant collection’ of vintages ranging from 1997 to 2005. There’s an appetite among collectors, too. Prices have risen steadily higher: the average bottle price in 2007 was £100, in mid-2018 it was almost three times that at £284. Not that this detracts from its value, of course. Still, it’s a good thing, then, that unlike many other Napa wineries, the estate has ample production (25,000 cases/year) to keep its fans satisfied. Interestingly, it wasn’t until relatively recently, in 2012, that Opus One opened a sales and distribution office in Bordeaux – a surprisingly late development considering joint owner Mouton Rothschild operates a major Bordeaux negociant company. Opus One enjoys global appreciation, with a keen following in particular in Japan and France. Nowadays the estate it is owned jointly by Constellation Brands and Baronne Philippe de Rothschild S.A., and continues to enjoy worldwide acclaim. Four years before Robert Mondavi’s death in 2008, he relinquished his share in Opus One and sold it to wine conglomerate Constellation Brands. The brand quickly established itself as a leading Californian label, both at home and abroad.Īfter a long career at the helm of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Philippe de Rothschild died in 1988 at the age of 86, succeeded by his daughter Baroness Philippine de Rothschild. Its immediate success showed the founders their partnership had legs, and in the same year more acres were added to the Opus One venture, and design began on their architecturally-progressive winery. Released in 1984, it was the most expensive Californian wine of the time, costing a then-unprecedented $50 per bottle. Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe Rothschild became friends in 1970, and combined their winemaking nous in 1979 to create a vintage that was an instant hit with wine lovers on both sides of the Atlantic. From there we went down to the room that houses over 1,000 barrels.Like so many Napa wineries, the history of Opus One is short, but it packs a punch, born of two legendary winemaking families: Mondavi and Mouton Rothschild.
Most tours go through the vineyard but since it was raining during our visit we continued the tour past the winemaker’s laboratory onto the winemaking area. While enjoying our wine she explained the history and the joint partnership between Bordeaux’s Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. Aliye who’s a seasoned expert welcomed us with our first tasting of Overture, Opus’s second wine. After we checked in, we were escorted to wait in the Salon. This very first release of Opus One cost. Ryan and I had the Double Vintage Tour & Tasting. The wine was made from the very best parcels of Mondavis estate, the famous 35-acre Q block of the To Kaylon vineyard. If you’re only interested in a tasting, the Partners’ Room is open daily from 10am to 4pm by appointment only. Max party in this tour is 4 people and runs for 120 minutes.
Ryan and I heard great things about Opus One Winery and decided to book a tour to experience it ourselves. Opus One 2018 Bordeaux Red Blends from Oakville, Napa Valley, California JS99 RP98 JD97 WW97 D95 WS94 750ML 2017 D96 RP95 JS95 2016 JS99 RP JS98 RP97 WS93 All Vintages Currently Unavailable 369. I spent a weekend in wine country a few weeks ago and visited one of the best wineries in Napa Valley.