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Red

1983 Opus One

Red Bordeaux Blend

  • USA
  • California
  • Napa Valley
Drink between 2010 - 2017 (Edit)
CT88.5 26 reviews
1983
1983
1983
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Community Tasting Notes 25

  • Cailles wrote: 90 points

    December 31, 2023 - 20 Top Wines of the 1983 Vintage: Dominus vs Opus 1983. The Dominus (93pts) is as Bordeaux-esque as a wine can be, though it is not showing that much complexity. Nevertheless, its debut vintage is noteworthy, especially considering 1983’s challenges in Napa Valley. The Opus (90pts) couldn‘t hide the difficult vintage that well, showing a bit simple, albeit without fault.

    TN: The nose was muted and even with air didn’t display much. A bit more open on the palate some faint fruit notes, a bit of earthy minerality, but without much depth or anything exciting. Still intact structural frame, good freshness but with a rather short finish. Not a bad wine, but nothing to write home about either. 89/90pts

    Decanting: Double decanted a few hours before consumption. Maybe more air would have unlocked a bit more aromas. I would try it with two+ hours in a decanter.

  • G_H wrote: 89 points

    November 25, 2023 - 40 years on: A global 1983 retrospective: This had a bit of a tough standing, given how well the bordeaux served previously showed.

    A bit muted, slightly vegetal with a bit of fruit left. Perfectly pleasant but nex to the other wines it wasn't fun to drink.

  • sirpat00 wrote: 90 points

    November 25, 2023 - 1983 vintage horizontal with >20 wines, mostly from Bordeaux. Key observations: 1/ Acceptable vintage for Champagne with DP over-delivering, 2/ Laville Haut Brion is a masterpiece among the whites, 3/ Bordeaux is going strong at 40 years of age with stand-outs Latour and Margaux. 4/ No need to chase any Napa’s from the vintage, 5/ off-piste Italians kept up impressively with Soldera an undisputed medalist.

    Tasting note:
    Double-decanted. Lots of earthy notes, a restrained dark cherry fruit as well as a bit of confit. But also petrol and vegetal notes. On the palate adding darker mineral notes. Tannin still rather mouthcoating, otherswise decent balance and sufficient fruit. Good, but bested by the Dominus ’83.

  • WineGoblin Likes this wine: 90 points

    May 18, 2018 - I've drank 4.5 out of 6 bottles that I acquired on auction with a very reputable company. I've noted a fair amount of bottle variation but not drastic. This is definitely wine that is past its peak, but I still enjoy it and I still find it notably Opus for a domestic. Would I buy it again? No. Am I happy to have had the opportunity to drink it? Yes. Can it be improved? Yes. Just add about 1 parts 10-15 year old left bank Bordeaux to 2 parts Opus and it's unique and readily holds up well to a nice filet mignon. Don't let an old wine that you think is weak cause you to cast it aside! Give it some life with something else you like, experiment a little. Have fun!

  • jgh123 Likes this wine: 93 points

    March 4, 2018 - From some of the other notes, I think there must be bottle variation. I bought several bottles of this on release. The last one I had was 2 years ago and I thought it was beginning to decline but still OK. I just had my last bottle and thought it was really nice. Fully resolved tannins but still good undercurrent of fruit. Medium complexity and lingering. Drink up!

1 - 5 of 25 More notes

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Decanter

  • By Jane Anson
    Opus One vertical, 9/13/2019 (link)

    (Opus One, Napa Valley, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

  • By Antonio Galloni
    Opus One – Past, Present and Future: 1979-2012 (Jun 2013) (link)

    (Opus One Opus One) Subscribe to see review text.

Vintage Tastings

  • By John Kapon
    Tasting of the Year, Part I, 8/1/2012

    (Opus One) Subscribe to see review text.

Wine Definition

  • Vintage 1983
  • Type Red
  • Producer Opus One
  • Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
  • Designation n/a
  • Vineyard n/a
  • Country USA
  • Region California
  • SubRegion Napa Valley
  • Appellation Napa Valley
  • UPC Codes 753604062027, 753604062034, 753604062041, 753604062126

Community Holdings

  • Pending Delivery 2 (0%)
  • In Cellars 386 (70%)
  • Consumed 162 (29%)

Food Pairing

No food pairings available.

Who Likes This Wine

86% Like It  7 votes

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