Opus One, Napa Valley,

A classical vintage that perfectly suits the Opus style. A gorgeous vivid plum colour, sculpted, balanced, with a ton of lift, waves of rose petals, iris and peony, with soft grilled cumin, sage and white pepper spice. Love the hidden power here and the supple tannins that are structured in their archicture with a precision and carved quality. Precise, layered and stretched out, one of my favourite Opus for years, concentrated and yet delicate, carved and almost chalky. Feels like a pared back Napa that reaches back to heights of early Opus, when it moved forward the conversation of what Napa could be. Michael Silacci director, 100% new oak for ageing but extremely well integrated even now.

The 2021 Opus One is composed of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% each of Merlot and Malbec. It was bottled in July 2023. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes barreling out of the glass with gregarious notions of creme de cassis, wild blueberries, and redcurrant jelly followed by hints of cedar chest, sassafras, vanilla pod, and dark chocolate plus a waft of lilacs. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers shimmery red, black, and blue fruit layers with a firm texture of rounded tannins and impressive tension, finishing long and fragrant.

The 2021 Opus One is dark, powerful and super-concentrated. Lavender, rose petal, dark cherry, plum, mocha and gravel race across the palate. Still very much a youngster, the 2021 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. All the elements are so well balanced for a young Opus One out of barrel. There's real palate presence and weight here.