Opus One 2023: A Superb Vintage, An Exceptional Wine

Opus One is a name that needs little introduction to wine people. The joint venture between two legendary wine names of their generation, Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, is at the aristocratic pinnacle of Californian wines. There is an excellent history of the origins of this partnership to be found on JaneAnson.com.  

My first experience of Opus One was on my first trip to the Big Apple in the early 90s, a brash, but thankfully generous, Wall Street trader firmly informing this was America’s finest wine and that it had set him back seventy-five bucks (quite a lot of money in those days – $185 in today’s money, according to Claude, but in an era when fine wine prices were much, much lower). 

 At the end of that night, as we flew across the Manhattan’s massive grid in a big yellow, to the sound of Sinatra’s New York, New York blaring on the radio, I remember thinking that the wine was pretty bloody good, especially for an American!  

Even after the success of Californian wines in Steven Spurrier’s  famous Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976, American wines were still struggling to find their feet internationally back then, as evidenced by Jancis in her recent piece.  

It was in 2004 that Opus One began to distribute their wines internationally via La Place de Bordeaux, which brought about the global recognition and success it enjoys today. That distribution channel continues to this day and the release of the latest vintage, 2023, is set for Monday 7th September, Opus One and Masseto being the most anticipated releases of the September calendar. 

Yesterday, in the sweltering London heat, Charlie Matthews, Export Director for the company, introduced this wine and its baby brother, Overture, to Team Vinum in the cool and naughty corner at 67 Pall Mall.  

2023 was an uncomplicated growing season in Napa and, as a result, is a very highly acclaimed vintage.  

We were not disappointed. Made up of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, Cabernet Franc 6%, Petit Verdot 5% and 1% Malbec, the wine spent nineteen months in French Oak. 

Our in-house MW, Matthew Hemming, wrote the following tasting notes and awarded it 96 of his hard-won points: “Aromatically this has much more presence, authority and intensity than Overture.  The fruit is much more clearly blackcurrant in profile – very classic and pronounced with fruit swamping any wood and some dried tobacco and spices at the edges.  13% alcohol, this really feels fresh and lifted on the palate, yet the core is richly concentrated.  Hit that weightless quality that everyone’s aiming for.  Mint and sage emerge with time in the glass.  Bright, sweet and lifted on the finish.  Has a great sense of finesse for its frame and finishes with elegance and length.  Tannins are fine and silky, giving a seamless texture throughout.” 

Miles Davis (non-MW) wrote: “Phwoar, stonking! And classy”. 

Opus tend to harvest earlier than most in the region, between mid-September and mid-October in this case, the wine comes in at a very acceptable 13.5% alcohol. 

Everyone really enjoyed the ready-for-business Overture also, with more than one colleague admitting to being tempted to drain the bottle there and then. 

Pricing is likely to be in line with last year which is a good thing given the status of the vintage and the wine’s ratings. 

Miles Davis, 30th July 2026