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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
July 28, 2017 - Certainly past its peak, but this wine held up better than I thought it would. Notes of cedar; rounded edges.
May 3, 2017 - Disappoint. Many much better years.
June 27, 2015 - Total disaster of a wine. Good grief. Bitter, weak, and tasting of tomatoes and vegetable stock. Just a crappy wine.
May 29, 2015 - Melville Clone Tasting AND pre-2000 California Cabernet: Light and elegant black currant fruit with a fair amount of acidity to balance things out.
It is a good wine but I had expected more intensity and complexity.
October 1, 2014 - Bordeaux, Aged Cali Cabs and Burgundy with the Benchmark Wine Group in Port Chester (Il Sogno, Port Chester, NY): Kind of similar to the 1982 but slightly better. Tad more substance at this point but not going to blow you away with it's opulence or structure at this point in it's life. All things considered not a bad wine though.