Opus one 1994 rating skin#

Rising gracefully from the vineyards, Opus One winery stands in subtle celebration of the land and the open space that surrounds the estate. Guided by the vision of our founders, winemaker Michael Silacci combines intuition and technical acumen with the dual perspective of viticulturist and winemaker. From tasting berries to careful sorting and extended aging in new French oak barrels, each stage of the winemaking process is afforded the same meticulous consideration and attention. After 18 months, the Opus One wine is bottled and held an additional 15 months until release on October 1st each year. Place, often defined as terroir, represents the geography, the climate and the essential human element which is captured in the wine’s balance between power and finesse, structure and texture. The essence of time is expressed in Opus One wine by the character of each vintage. The facial profile of the two founders is visible on their iconic label. Producing luxury wines from its Napa Valley vineyards, the partnership made its first vintage in 1979 and has made wine at Opus One since 1991. Opus One is a partnership founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, France, and renowned Napa Valley vintner, Robert Mondavi. Learn about Opus One, it’s history, the winery and the wine.

Opus one 1994 rating skin#

During fermentation and maceration, component lots received an average of 20 days of skin contact prior to 19 months of barrel aging in new French oak. The 2007 Opus One is composed of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. The wine will age effortlessly for decades. Polished, supple and harmoniously precise, the 2007 fuses a seamless mid-palate with soft yet sinewy tannins. Reminiscent of the generous 2001 vintage in style and structure, the 2007 shows very high color intensity with aromas of cassis, nutmeg, raspberries, cola, fresh oats, dark chocolate and forest floor. During the 21 days of crush, the crews worked 12 night harvests, delivering the first fruit on September 4th and the last on October 17th. A heat spell, unseasonably cool temperatures, rain and the threat of frost posed an unusual challenge for Opus One's harvesting crews. Although it is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, Opus One makes use of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec in smaller percentages.Providing ideal weather for both budbreak and veraison, the 2007 growing season was picture perfect until late August, when a unique combination of extremes subverted the prospect of a quick and early harvest. After an additional year and a half in bottle, Opus One is released to the market. The wine is then aged in new French oak for a year and a half, during which time blending takes place. The grapes are hand-harvested, and gravity flow is used to get the fruit from the destemmer into stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Opus One is a single wine, a Bordeaux Blend sourced from the estate vineyards in Oakville, which include blocks of the famous To Kalon vineyard. Opus One's brand grew considerably in the 1990s, particularly in markets outside of the United States, and in 2005, when Robert Mondavi Winery was acquired by Constellation Brands, Opus One also became part-owned by the multi-national company. It was released to the public in 1984, but had already attracted attention, as a single case of the wine had sold for $24,000 at the first Napa Valley Wine Auction in 1981. The collaboration was conceived in the 1970s and then first realised in 1979, when the first vintage of Opus One was created. It continues to be one of the most expensive Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines produced in Napa Valley. It was the first premium California wine sold in Europe. Opus One is one of the world's most famous wines, and is a partnership of two of the most respected figures from Bordeaux and Napa Valley, Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi.