The wine, POP over four hours. So sold it was French, especially compared to the 07, that was oozing Napa Valley fruit. Slight hint on the attack its CA, but only after hour two it was more obvious. Crazy smooth texture and very well built. Hour three, pure bliss. Still young, but very drinkable if decanted. A classic. 95/96
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Dark fruit and chocolate. Better after decant and sitting in the glass for about an hour. Smooth and nice acidity. Everyone taking about the wine tonight.
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One of the most perfect drinking wines I have had. Opened 2-3 hours before decanting about 30 minutes before serving. Aroma opened up after decanting with classic cab fruit - dark berries, some cherry, some dusky tobacco. Wonderful. Color was deep purple with no signs of aging. I think this wine would be great for quite a while longer. On the palate silky smooth with acid and tannins both perfectly balanced and harmonious. A little unctuous even. Really special with long finish. Fabulous with grilled rib eyes, cooked by my brother-in-law chef, served medium rare with all the fixings and family. One to remember.
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This is a classic wine on first impression to last notes of musk, plum, blackberry, dark cherry, vanilla oak Virginia oriental and Latakia tobacco and earth along with worn out lather like it’s falling apart. Very long and beautiful.
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Not much experience with Napa Cab blends but thought this was elegant and vibrant. Melange of red and blue-fruit with smooth tannins. Was on top form today and no sign of decline imo.
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"Nose is still quite young but the secondary notes are starting to show more. Drying red fruits, leaves, dry tobacco, but still lots of freshness. Maybe some red rocks, if that makes sense. Palate is absolutely weightless. Plenty of acid and structure, but still carrying that red currants that have dried, rocky minerals, a little bit of cedar, maybe some vanilla, smooth chocolate. Finish still shows tannin, drying red fruit, gentle acid, fresh tobacco, subtle cherry. Plenty of life left. Finish lasts forever. Honestly really good for drinking now. "
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Slow ox for thirty minutes. This is stunning. Very pretty subtle nose of blackberry, violets and a little pipe tobacco. The wine is full bodied, beautifully integrated, and very elegant coming off with a cool sophistication. Everything just feels in place. This will continue to get better over the next ten years but it’s ready to drink now.
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Epic Napa Trip - Day 2: Drank at Opus winery - This was drinking best of all the wines in the lineup. Plenty of fruit and also plenty of polished tannins. This kept improving in the glass, with lots of dark and red fruit, some tobacco, anise and chocolate, with hints of earth and bramble. 95+ today and drinking well, although eating toward the hedonistic side right now, with tertiary flavors starting to emerge.
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Extremely disappointing bottle. Opened on Thanksgiving expecting something special, but sadly, no joy. Right from the start, the cork nose gave me some warning. No sign of corkage issues, but the aroma was foreboding. Both my wife and I tasted it, and although it had only been open with half the bottle decanted for only 30 minutes, the disappointment was evident. After only a few sips, we both set our glasses aside. I let it continue to breath after decanting the remainder of the bottle, and sampled it twice more across the evening and again twice the following day, and no improvement at any point. Down the drain. Hopefully it was just this bottle and that others of you out there have enjoyed this vintage better than we! I’m not giving it a score given the circumstances.
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Light garnet edge Ruby core. Very pretty perfume of red fruit, pure with hints of vanilla, spice, tobacco and prune. Mouthfeel is fine tuned, with medium body, moderate acidity and chalky tannin. This is wonderful. Young and expressive. Enjoy now or hold for another 5 years. It will last decades.
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Aging at a *glacial* pace. Some scents of cigar and cherries make a peep and after two hours some fresher notes of pomegranate, rocks and plum make way. The tannins are still present, and alive. Acid is still kickin’ and the finish is quite lovely. I think another 8 should this go somewhere
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Opened for 30 min then double decanted for 30 min and let it rest in the cellar for the next 2 hours…
Once at the restaurant we drank it from 5-7pm. At first it was still close, medium body, not much going on. It felt like an Italian Super-Tuscan.
After one hour and when better pairing food arrived (Gorgonzola Pear Ravioli) the wine loosened up, the body got fuller to Medium-Plus, notes of mocha with dark fruits, nice complexity and lingering finish.
This wine is drinking really good right now with lots of oxygen and will keep on providing joy for several more years…
Improving? Maybe not!
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Showing some age. Earthy on the first night. By the second night it has evolved to an easier drinking wine with slightly more fruit. Tannins still present.
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Quite earthy and very balanced for how fruity it smells. Rich cherry and blackurrant notes with cedar and some spice. Acid and tannins are in a nice spot, this was so smooth. Drank from 375ml.
Really wanted not to love this, bottle was a request from my wife. Will be tracking down some more for her.
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Decanted one hour but it needed three to show its stuff. My first of five bottles. This is still showing as backward and tannic although the Cabernet fruit is pure and delicious cassis and blackberry and the earth and fullness comes in after three hour decant. This is seeming to take longer than most to come around, as did the 2005. Delicious now with long decant if you don't mind the beastly tannins or hold for a smoother experience if it follows the 2005.
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Two and a half years on, drinks much better. Typically dark purple color, intense aroma. First taste is smooth almost silent but then bursts in that familar Opus mix of fruits, chocolate, hint of leather with a long lingering finish. Finish is much oakier than before and lasts longer - I guess thats what the extra time does. Now I know - wait 10yrs, not 6 for these wines.
Really good right now. Stored perfectly upon release. Dark purple with faintly noticeable hints of brick edge. It smelled like a napa winery when opened with a lively perfume. Opened for 4 hours - lots of primary black fruit with hints of crushed stone. Perfectly balanced with great mid pallet weight and integrated tannin. Mulit-layered and textured with a lingering finish. This is one of the best Opus wines I've had in quite some time. It still has years and years ahead of it.
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Consumed at Marche Moderne. Rich with lots of complexity. Tastes like how a winery smells. Pencil lead. Wine barrel. Some cola. I could have mistaken this for Bordeaux.
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We drank this on a cruise ship over two dinners and it was a bit underwhelming- thinking of its heritage and prestige and what we thought it should have been...
For its price we expected a stunner- a Don Melchor or RWT type experience, perhaps even Bin 707. When you add to that, the fact that we were on vaca, amongst friends and new friends, we thought we'd be bowled over.
But no.
Nothing bad about it. Had the floral, inviting nose, nice legs, great, rich opulent color and offered the layered palate of complexity, seemed to be trying to punch its way out, but... guess we just expected a bigger, bolder, more of a statement wine. Perhaps for us, another decade in the racks would have made the difference...
We were not compelled to keep refilling our glasses and that's never a good sign for us, as it relates to our interest in a beverage.
Anyway, we've had better, and we've had a lot worse, too...
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"Cult Cali" Night at Garth's Apartment in Philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA): One of the wines brought to the "Cult Cali" Night at Garth's in Philly. Medium to dark garnet with herbal, oaky nose. Palate was soft with fairly low tannin and moderate acidity and flavors of blackberry and blueberry. The finish seemed quite short to me. Some liked this a lot, I thought it good but was "non-plussed", given the price and 95+ ratings by some pro's.
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Decanted for CA Cult night at Garth’s. I wasn’t expecting this to be as good as it was given the hype. But it was excellent, and continued to improve throughout the dinner. One of my favorites for the evening. Naturally outstanding with filet.
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This is an excellent cab. Very structured and tightly wound at this point, but there is gorgeous dark fruit here that is fresh and well balanced. 92-94+ probably best in 10-15 years
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Inky dark and soft aroma. Classic big full body - flowers, blackberry, licorice and hints of dark chocolate. Ending in an oaky, barnyardy and dry finish. While I love Opus one, this is not my favourite vintage - 2000, 05, 09 so far better based on previous tastings.
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Decanted for 3 hours. Very little impact. Much like 2 years ago ( Papies 91) the wine is still very young and in that one dimensional side of it. Its buttoned down, full o energy and getting to unleash its goodness, but not yet. This is a wine to drink at age 20. 91 still for now but really the wine is not ready.
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Ruby red color Decanted 1.5 hrs Chocolate, brown sugar, bruised apple, raspberry, pepper, Asian spice, all nose. Chocolate, raspberry, strawberry flavors. Good balance Acid medium plus, weight medium. Good 15 second finish. still overpriced in my opinion.
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I usually add an extra level of scrutiny with famous or cult wines. I pride myself in finding little-known, small production wineries that offer great value. Having said that, this wine floored me. I can't find any criticism other than I wish it cost less so I could drink it everyday. This wine defines the term "velvety". Complexity is off the charts: ripe red and purple fruits, hints of earth and dark chocolate, smooth tannin, and well-integrated oak and acidity... and much, much more. Drinking this wine is an event... each sip evolves into something slightly different than the last. If someone can't find something to love about this wine, then maybe wine isn't your beverage, and stop drinking bottles away from the rest of us.
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Wine & Dine with Robert Mondavi Winemaker Richard Arnold (Restaurant 5, Stuttgart): Glass: Gabriel Universal machine-blown Deep, ruby red color. Clean, low intense nose, quite closed, some oak, very few fruit, and almost no tertiary aromas. Medium acidity, medium+/high soft and ripe tannins, medium+ body. Long and mouthfilling finish. It has a big potential, but is quite closed at the moment. It is really unfair to rate this wine at this stage as it is far too young. It can and certainly will evolve and will earn 3-5 more points in the coming decades.
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I found it exquisite. Cassis, blackberry, incredibly well mannered and structured. Paired with rack of lamb and mint jelly. Next to last bottle. Wish had another case.
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Dark fruit, espresso, cocca, spice pepper, cassis, pepper, smokey oak on the finish. This wine is super tight, very young, but starting to show some beauty. A.
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Tasting Group Holiday Party (Lee Road): This is a wine that sometimes get dissed by hipster wine lovers. Fact is, this is a great wine whose pricing is not as out of line as it used to be. It drinks California, but does have some Bordeaux qualities. The nose has cassis, cedar, spice and some licorice. There is a fair amount of oak but I think that integrates easily with some time. It is feminine and layered on the palate, but still has plenty of power. Long finish. An excellent wine that should improve a bit from here.
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Had 2 very consistent bottles, decanted for 30 minutes. Very young and primary with the oak on the oak on the forefront, but the wine owns the oak and with time this will develop into something special. Currently it is a bold, rich wine, big bodied. Still elegant with good aromatics. Just needs time to evolve and for the complexity to break through the surface. 91 for now but full of promise. Wait.
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Wow this was amazing. Open and decanted for about 90 minutes prior to serving. Very smooth and velvety with plenty of black fruits. Would also say this was on the zesty side. Lots of spices with gave the wine some "panache". I have to admit I was surprised based on my prior experiences with Opus but it was pleasant. Paired it with filet mignon and would say that the spiciness of the wine made the steak even more soo enjoyable.
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My first time having any Opus One. Wow. I miss it already.
Big black fruit, plenty of earthy notes and tannins for days. All just so good together. Enjoyed with a black-haired wagyu sirloin - quite a way to enjoy it.
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Enjoyed with veal chops. Wonderful nose and sweet tannins. I let the wine breath for about 1 hour. Good finish. Berries, hint of leather and vanilla. Of the recent vintages, i would put this one right behind the 05.
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Strong, slightly hot but nonetheless impressive wine with a core of openess to its flavour despite being on the big size. Distinct finish satisfies as a counter balance to the strength. A good drink.
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Decanted this wine for an hour. Paired with with a 2007 Stag's Leap Fay. Dinner consisted of baked red snapper, oven roasted vegetables and filet mignon. I must say the bottle was memorable. This was the first one that I have drank since buying a few years back. Great nose of fruit with robust flavors and a subtle finish. Drinking well now.
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The bouquet of this wine leaps from the glass the moment it is poured; dark cherries, kirsh, and current. The wine is incredibly well structured; layers of flavor beginning with bright red cherries, and cranberries; firm, well integrated tannins with near perfect balance. No alcohol flavor. The finish is long and complex; culminating with an essence of coconut I have never tasted in a red wine. Next day: Wine is still layered and nicely complex; mellowed a little, beautiful legs. Has lost the coconut aspect. Lighter body than first day; very smooth. Will age beautifully; but is absolutely drinkable now!
In the nose overextracted, complex, a bit floral, herbs and lot's of dark fruits like cherries, cassis, blackberries, blueberries, some vanilla. On the palate very fruity nontheless elegant, complex, fine. Finish long, medium bodied. To our taste overextracted, too masculine and by far too expensive.
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Nice, but needs more time in bottle. The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Medium. The body is Medium. The wine has Narrow texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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Tasted as part of a 2003-2009 vertical. Ripe, sweet red fruit on nose. Ripe, red fruit, olive, oak on the palate. Well balanced acidity. Tart cherry, olive and tannins on the medium-to-long savory finish.
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I am UNIMPRESSED! I had this around the mid point of a long day in Napa, I tasted 10 other wines before this and other 8 after. It ranked remarkably in the middle but came only second to a Sin Qua Non in cost. It is extremely well balanced with many many flavor profiles unfortunately none stands out. Frankly there are dozens of wines in the $50 range that delivers this kind of nose. In the mouth is where Opus One performs with a wide array of flavors and layers. Unfortunately none them stands out more than the others. In the tasting room, more like lounge, the participants savored it like it was holy water, I sipped, chewed, spit, and poured the rest into the bucket (which was only available upon request). Finished a but flat for something north of $200.
I admit I haven't had too many wines more than $200 and in my cellar I have less than 5 cases on them but I've had plenty of great wines between $100-150 and the Opus one bare qualifies for that group. I also admit that I like my pricier wines to be BIG, oil tanker like big, so it not surprising that Opus One did not impress.
The 2008 delivers loads of rich concentrated black fruits, currant, sweet cassis, spice box, leather and anise. This is full-bodied with silky plush tannins and a long luscious finish. The final blend is composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec. (Drink 2012-2022)
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Honeymoon Wine Tasting; 6/25/2012-7/3/2012 (California - Napa & Sonoma Counties): Tasted at Winery. 86% Cab Sauv, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 1% Cab Franc, and 1% Malbec. Very dark purple in color, with a nose of bright red fruit, blackberry, and oak. The tannins are already silky smooth and in balance with the acidity, although both are slightly overpowered by the fruit at this stage. The finish is of moderate length and complexity, which could improve with ageing. Overall this wine is drinking very well now but should improve greatly with just a couple years age.
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I really appreciated the balance between the fruit, earth, and tannins. This is not a fruit bomb. I'm surprised how well this is drinking already. Would love to see how it develops
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AHA Hearts Delight - USA Wine Tasting: The 2008 has significant more body than the 2005 with dark graphite and dark berry finish. Smooth and seductive but a big brother to 2005
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Opus One Vertical (Watson's, Hong Kong): Similar nose to the '07 but a bit closed. Quite dark still but very easy to drink now, with open fresh fruit on the palate. Firm tannins. Nice length. Obviously lots of evolution to go.
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Tasted at winery Very different From the '06 fruitier with cherries, blackberries and cassis notes that are clean and pure. Sassafras notes chime in and are met with good acidity and tannins. Should age quite well.
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Still in a primary phase of black currant, toast and vanilla. Youthful and chunky palate with similar flavours as the nose. Compact finish. 3.5/5 One to re-review in the future as I expect the 2008's to age well.
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On the 2008 Opus One, I got greener notes (funky growing season? Or the Petit Verdot/Cab Franc?), cassis, a little anise. The mouth was surprisingly tannic and drying with leather, sandalwood, deep black currant, and considerable heat (alcohol content?).
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Sampled 2/4/12. Nice black fruit, tobacco, leather up front but then it gets a little weedy and thin on the finish which knocked it down a couple points for me.
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Drank at premier event for vintage. Very concentrated, with spice box and lots of cedar on the nose. A bit thinner on the palate, with cassis, blackberry, hints of spice, cedar and some vegetal notes. Not nearly as concentrated on the palate or as oaky as other opus ones I've tried. Seemed a little tired. Asked folks who hosted the tasting why, and they said it had been double decanted, and run through a vinturi, and had just arrived from California hours before. So I'm hoping the mistreatment with the venturi and the bottle shock stifled the flavor. Give it a 91 now but hope for a 94 or so when things settle down, and under better conditions.
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3/24/2024 - JS199 wrote: 95 Points
The wine, POP over four hours. So sold it was French, especially compared to the 07, that was oozing Napa Valley fruit. Slight hint on the attack its CA, but only after hour two it was more obvious. Crazy smooth texture and very well built. Hour three, pure bliss. Still young, but very drinkable if decanted. A classic. 95/96
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1/6/2024 - KimberJ Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dark fruit and chocolate. Better after decant and sitting in the glass for about an hour. Smooth and nice acidity. Everyone taking about the wine tonight.
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9/8/2023 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted briefly. Easy drinking, relaxed tannins, delicious but not particularly palate-filling.
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9/3/2023 - WineDoctors Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very easy drinking seems one dimensional Lots of purple fruit Med - acid low tannins. Likely largely soft press Merlot dominant
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5/28/2023 - NickP Likes this wine: 96 Points
One of the most perfect drinking wines I have had. Opened 2-3 hours before decanting about 30 minutes before serving. Aroma opened up after decanting with classic cab fruit - dark berries, some cherry, some dusky tobacco. Wonderful. Color was deep purple with no signs of aging. I think this wine would be great for quite a while longer. On the palate silky smooth with acid and tannins both perfectly balanced and harmonious. A little unctuous even. Really special with long finish. Fabulous with grilled rib eyes, cooked by my brother-in-law chef, served medium rare with all the fixings and family. One to remember.
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5/10/2023 - Chris Keller wrote: 95 Points
This is a classic wine on first impression to last notes of musk, plum, blackberry, dark cherry, vanilla oak Virginia oriental and Latakia tobacco and earth along with worn out lather like it’s falling apart. Very long and beautiful.
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4/27/2023 - Shum Likes this wine: 95 Points
Not much experience with Napa Cab blends but thought this was elegant and vibrant. Melange of red and blue-fruit with smooth tannins. Was on top form today and no sign of decline imo.
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2/9/2023 - Alimali wrote:
Bad bottle
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12/24/2022 - nkirsch Likes this wine: 90 Points
OK cab but I think past its prime. Some fruit, a little dry, decent tannins. Fine enough but nothing amazing
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4/29/2022 - Quiet Lion wrote: flawed
Badly corked
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3/14/2022 - willthethrill wrote: 93 Points
Nice
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1/21/2022 - Rbhan12 Likes this wine:
Soul-searching in Napa. Beta-Jasud, Roy Piper, Detert, Elyse, Diamond Creek, Favia, Opus, Gargiulo, among others!; 1/17/2022-1/22/2022: Tasted at the winery, note copied below.
"Nose is still quite young but the secondary notes are starting to show more. Drying red fruits, leaves, dry tobacco, but still lots of freshness. Maybe some red rocks, if that makes sense. Palate is absolutely weightless. Plenty of acid and structure, but still carrying that red currants that have dried, rocky minerals, a little bit of cedar, maybe some vanilla, smooth chocolate. Finish still shows tannin, drying red fruit, gentle acid, fresh tobacco, subtle cherry. Plenty of life left. Finish lasts forever. Honestly really good for drinking now. "
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1/16/2022 - mclanew Likes this wine: 97 Points
Slow ox for thirty minutes. This is stunning. Very pretty subtle nose of blackberry, violets and a little pipe tobacco. The wine is full bodied, beautifully integrated, and very elegant coming off with a cool sophistication. Everything just feels in place. This will continue to get better over the next ten years but it’s ready to drink now.
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1/5/2022 - Tony Ling Likes this wine: 94 Points
2008 was regarded as “vintage of the decade”. Hot and dry, smallest production ever. 17,000 cases.
Riedel Bordeaux glass (“Root” to “Flower” day): Medium garnet to the eyes.
Rich mushroom and ripe plums. Savory, pencil shavings. White spices, inky.
Salt plums. Minerality is really high. Indeed the most enjoyable wine in the flight now.
93-94 points.
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12/6/2021 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Epic Napa Trip - Day 2: Drank at Opus winery - This was drinking best of all the wines in the lineup. Plenty of fruit and also plenty of polished tannins. This kept improving in the glass, with lots of dark and red fruit, some tobacco, anise and chocolate, with hints of earth and bramble. 95+ today and drinking well, although eating toward the hedonistic side right now, with tertiary flavors starting to emerge.
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12/6/2021 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Napa trip day 2 (Napa): Drank a small glass over 45 minutes at the winery. Floral, beef blod, rose petals, herbal. The best of the lineup.
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11/25/2021 - SABRCW wrote:
Extremely disappointing bottle. Opened on Thanksgiving expecting something special, but sadly, no joy. Right from the start, the cork nose gave me some warning. No sign of corkage issues, but the aroma was foreboding. Both my wife and I tasted it, and although it had only been open with half the bottle decanted for only 30 minutes, the disappointment was evident. After only a few sips, we both set our glasses aside. I let it continue to breath after decanting the remainder of the bottle, and sampled it twice more across the evening and again twice the following day, and no improvement at any point. Down the drain. Hopefully it was just this bottle and that others of you out there have enjoyed this vintage better than we! I’m not giving it a score given the circumstances.
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11/22/2021 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Light garnet edge
Ruby core.
Very pretty perfume of red fruit, pure with hints of vanilla, spice, tobacco and prune.
Mouthfeel is fine tuned, with medium body, moderate acidity and chalky tannin.
This is wonderful. Young and expressive. Enjoy now or hold for another 5 years. It will last decades.
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11/13/2021 - apg23 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just an excellent Napa cab. Great structure. I think the balance of fruit is excellent, the acidity is right - just all around great wine.
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10/19/2021 - Order66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Aging at a *glacial* pace. Some scents of cigar and cherries make a peep and after two hours some fresher notes of pomegranate, rocks and plum make way. The tannins are still present, and alive. Acid is still kickin’ and the finish is quite lovely. I think another 8 should this go somewhere
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8/27/2021 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened for 30 min then double decanted for 30 min and let it rest in the cellar for the next 2 hours…
Once at the restaurant we drank it from 5-7pm. At first it was still close, medium body, not much going on. It felt like an Italian Super-Tuscan.
After one hour and when better pairing food arrived (Gorgonzola Pear Ravioli) the wine loosened up, the body got fuller to Medium-Plus, notes of mocha with dark fruits, nice complexity and lingering finish.
This wine is drinking really good right now with lots of oxygen and will keep on providing joy for several more years…
Improving? Maybe not!
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6/7/2021 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Showing some age. Earthy on the first night. By the second night it has evolved to an easier drinking wine with slightly more fruit. Tannins still present.
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5/29/2021 - ANWW89 Likes this wine: 94 Points
decanted 3h +. very good. blackberries/currant, spice. velvety smooth and well integrated. long long finish. will see where this goes.
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1/2/2021 - Scar510 Likes this wine: 100 Points
Love love loved it! 1-2-2021. Echo West Palm for Laura’s bday. Crazy good jammy nose, palate. Super velvety finish. So good. Best opus in forever!
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12/25/2020 - BritishTexan wrote: 95 Points
Smells like a blackberry pie, incredible.
Quite earthy and very balanced for how fruity it smells. Rich cherry and blackurrant notes with cedar and some spice. Acid and tannins are in a nice spot, this was so smooth. Drank from 375ml.
Really wanted not to love this, bottle was a request from my wife. Will be tracking down some more for her.
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9/12/2020 - MLR Likes this wine: 96 Points
What an awesome wine! Tar, old leather, tobacco, dark fruits. Tannins still present but not overpowering.
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7/10/2020 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted one hour but it needed three to show its stuff. My first of five bottles. This is still showing as backward and tannic although the Cabernet fruit is pure and delicious cassis and blackberry and the earth and fullness comes in after three hour decant. This is seeming to take longer than most to come around, as did the 2005. Delicious now with long decant if you don't mind the beastly tannins or hold for a smoother experience if it follows the 2005.
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5/25/2020 - doug374 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Memorial Day with grilled lamb, decanted 45 minuites before pour. Excellent structure and silky mouth feel. Still plenty of life in this one.
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7/27/2019 - ShangGuy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Two and a half years on, drinks much better. Typically dark purple color, intense aroma. First taste is smooth almost silent but then bursts in that familar Opus mix of fruits, chocolate, hint of leather with a long lingering finish. Finish is much oakier than before and lasts longer - I guess thats what the extra time does. Now I know - wait 10yrs, not 6 for these wines.
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3/24/2019 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine:
Really good right now. Stored perfectly upon release. Dark purple with faintly noticeable hints of brick edge. It smelled like a napa winery when opened with a lively perfume. Opened for 4 hours - lots of primary black fruit with hints of crushed stone. Perfectly balanced with great mid pallet weight and integrated tannin. Mulit-layered and textured with a lingering finish. This is one of the best Opus wines I've had in quite some time. It still has years and years ahead of it.
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3/19/2019 - vinodonpedro wrote: 94 Points
Nice and soft. A very nice prop blend from Opus. Smooth and creamy with a moderate finish. Always enjoyable. Berries, vanilla essense, cassis
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10/26/2018 - SlimShaney wrote: 92 Points
Aged chocolate mountain stone.
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9/23/2018 - nkirsch Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice cab but nothing special. Not a lot of fruit, I would drink sooner rather than later
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8/25/2018 - Toley wrote: 94 Points
Excellent!!!
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6/27/2018 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Consumed at Marche Moderne. Rich with lots of complexity. Tastes like how a winery smells. Pencil lead. Wine barrel. Some cola. I could have mistaken this for Bordeaux.
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5/20/2018 - Bin707LoversDetroit Likes this wine: 90 Points
We drank this on a cruise ship over two dinners and it was a bit underwhelming- thinking of its heritage and prestige and what we thought it should have been...
For its price we expected a stunner- a Don Melchor or RWT type experience, perhaps even Bin 707. When you add to that, the fact that we were on vaca, amongst friends and new friends, we thought we'd be bowled over.
But no.
Nothing bad about it. Had the floral, inviting nose, nice legs, great, rich opulent color and offered the layered palate of complexity, seemed to be trying to punch its way out, but... guess we just expected a bigger, bolder, more of a statement wine. Perhaps for us, another decade in the racks would have made the difference...
We were not compelled to keep refilling our glasses and that's never a good sign for us, as it relates to our interest in a beverage.
Anyway, we've had better, and we've had a lot worse, too...
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5/17/2018 - oldwines Likes this wine: 91 Points
"Cult Cali" Night at Garth's Apartment in Philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA): One of the wines brought to the "Cult Cali" Night at Garth's in Philly. Medium to dark garnet with herbal, oaky nose. Palate was soft with fairly low tannin and moderate acidity and flavors of blackberry and blueberry. The finish seemed quite short to me. Some liked this a lot, I thought it good but was "non-plussed", given the price and 95+ ratings by some pro's.
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5/17/2018 - skurtz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for CA Cult night at Garth’s. I wasn’t expecting this to be as good as it was given the hype. But it was excellent, and continued to improve throughout the dinner. One of my favorites for the evening. Naturally outstanding with filet.
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4/8/2018 - JS199 wrote: 93 Points
Mini Opus vertical(07, 08, 12). This was the bruiser of the three. Big, brash and needs more time. 93+?
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7/8/2017 - EricLi wrote: 92 Points
Full body. Typical opus profile. But a little short on the finish. Mouthful of tannins.
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2/28/2017 - pifcho Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is an excellent cab. Very structured and tightly wound at this point, but there is gorgeous dark fruit here that is fresh and well balanced. 92-94+ probably best in 10-15 years
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12/17/2016 - ShangGuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Inky dark and soft aroma. Classic big full body - flowers, blackberry, licorice and hints of dark chocolate. Ending in an oaky, barnyardy and dry finish. While I love Opus one, this is not my favourite vintage - 2000, 05, 09 so far better based on previous tastings.
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11/8/2016 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Very little impact.
Much like 2 years ago ( Papies 91) the wine is still very young and in that one dimensional side of it. Its buttoned down, full o energy and getting to unleash its goodness, but not yet. This is a wine to drink at age 20. 91 still for now but really the wine is not ready.
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1/18/2016 - RickyT12 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ruby red color
Decanted 1.5 hrs
Chocolate, brown sugar, bruised apple, raspberry, pepper, Asian spice, all
nose. Chocolate, raspberry, strawberry flavors. Good balance
Acid medium plus, weight medium. Good 15 second finish. still overpriced in my opinion.
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6/10/2015 - Vino Nomad Likes this wine: 95 Points
I usually add an extra level of scrutiny with famous or cult wines. I pride myself in finding little-known, small production wineries that offer great value. Having said that, this wine floored me. I can't find any criticism other than I wish it cost less so I could drink it everyday. This wine defines the term "velvety". Complexity is off the charts: ripe red and purple fruits, hints of earth and dark chocolate, smooth tannin, and well-integrated oak and acidity... and much, much more. Drinking this wine is an event... each sip evolves into something slightly different than the last. If someone can't find something to love about this wine, then maybe wine isn't your beverage, and stop drinking bottles away from the rest of us.
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3/19/2015 - NoTrollingerPlease wrote: 92 Points
Wine & Dine with Robert Mondavi Winemaker Richard Arnold (Restaurant 5, Stuttgart): Glass: Gabriel Universal machine-blown
Deep, ruby red color. Clean, low intense nose, quite closed, some oak, very few fruit, and almost no tertiary aromas. Medium acidity, medium+/high soft and ripe tannins, medium+ body. Long and mouthfilling finish. It has a big potential, but is quite closed at the moment.
It is really unfair to rate this wine at this stage as it is far too young. It can and certainly will evolve and will earn 3-5 more points in the coming decades.
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1/26/2015 - Mgraham49 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I found it exquisite. Cassis, blackberry, incredibly well mannered and structured. Paired with rack of lamb and mint jelly. Next to last bottle. Wish had another case.
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12/19/2014 - BigBoy_Sonoma wrote: 94 Points
Dark fruit, espresso, cocca, spice pepper, cassis, pepper, smokey oak on the finish. This wine is super tight, very young, but starting to show some beauty. A.
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12/17/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
Tasting Group Holiday Party (Lee Road): This is a wine that sometimes get dissed by hipster wine lovers. Fact is, this is a great wine whose pricing is not as out of line as it used to be. It drinks California, but does have some Bordeaux qualities. The nose has cassis, cedar, spice and some licorice. There is a fair amount of oak but I think that integrates easily with some time. It is feminine and layered on the palate, but still has plenty of power. Long finish. An excellent wine that should improve a bit from here.
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12/13/2014 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Had 2 very consistent bottles, decanted for 30 minutes.
Very young and primary with the oak on the oak on the forefront, but the wine owns the oak and with time this will develop into something special. Currently it is a bold, rich wine, big bodied. Still elegant with good aromatics. Just needs time to evolve and for the complexity to break through the surface. 91 for now but full of promise. Wait.
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11/16/2014 - TC16 wrote:
Black fruits with decently integrated tannins. Secondary earthen flavors. Well made wine. Can age for more years. Hint of sweetness at the end.
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8/31/2014 - vinodonpedro Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow this was amazing. Open and decanted for about 90 minutes prior to serving. Very smooth and velvety with plenty of black fruits. Would also say this was on the zesty side. Lots of spices with gave the wine some "panache". I have to admit I was surprised based on my prior experiences with Opus but it was pleasant. Paired it with filet mignon and would say that the spiciness of the wine made the steak even more soo enjoyable.
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7/27/2014 - CDarmanin Likes this wine: 94 Points
My first time having any Opus One. Wow. I miss it already.
Big black fruit, plenty of earthy notes and tannins for days. All just so good together. Enjoyed with a black-haired wagyu sirloin - quite a way to enjoy it.
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3/11/2014 - StageOneRacing Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent as always, big dark fruit, earth and tannins. Still seems young and should easily age for a long time.
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2/16/2014 - vinodonpedro wrote: 93 Points
Enjoyed with veal chops. Wonderful nose and sweet tannins. I let the wine breath for about 1 hour. Good finish. Berries, hint of leather and vanilla. Of the recent vintages, i would put this one right behind the 05.
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12/19/2013 - Hazevedo Likes this wine: 95 Points
terrific
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11/18/2013 - bengti wrote: 96 Points
Strong, slightly hot but nonetheless impressive wine with a core of openess to its flavour despite being on the big size. Distinct finish satisfies as a counter balance to the strength. A good drink.
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6/30/2013 - MemorialWineFan Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted this wine for an hour. Paired with with a 2007 Stag's Leap Fay. Dinner consisted of baked red snapper, oven roasted vegetables and filet mignon. I must say the bottle was memorable. This was the first one that I have drank since buying a few years back. Great nose of fruit with robust flavors and a subtle finish. Drinking well now.
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6/16/2013 - cbauer135 wrote: 94 Points
- Ruby color with a full body with a long finish.
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3/29/2013 - Cabrat Likes this wine: 96 Points
The bouquet of this wine leaps from the glass the moment it is poured; dark cherries, kirsh, and current. The wine is incredibly well structured; layers of flavor beginning with bright red cherries, and cranberries; firm, well integrated tannins with near perfect balance. No alcohol flavor. The finish is long and complex; culminating with an essence of coconut I have never tasted in a red wine.
Next day: Wine is still layered and nicely complex; mellowed a little, beautiful legs. Has lost the coconut aspect. Lighter body than first day; very smooth. Will age beautifully; but is absolutely drinkable now!
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2/28/2013 - nacfhong wrote:
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1/26/2013 - GFischer wrote: 90 Points
In the nose overextracted, complex, a bit floral, herbs and lot's of dark fruits like cherries, cassis, blackberries, blueberries, some vanilla. On the palate very fruity nontheless elegant, complex, fine. Finish long, medium bodied. To our taste overextracted, too masculine and by far too expensive.
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1/25/2013 - cdwinell Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinkable now. That said, it is still young and needs to open. Probably at it's best between 2015 and 2022.
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12/31/2012 - HowardsinSanDiego wrote: 90 Points
Nice, but needs more time in bottle.
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Medium. The body is Medium. The wine has Narrow texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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11/3/2012 - j30 wrote: 93 Points
Elegent nose of cherry, cedar and raisin. Fruit forward but already has some complexity. Very balanced on palate with long, smooth finish.
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10/15/2012 - anonymoose12345 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted as part of a 2003-2009 vertical. Ripe, sweet red fruit on nose. Ripe, red fruit, olive, oak on the palate. Well balanced acidity. Tart cherry, olive and tannins on the medium-to-long savory finish.
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8/12/2012 - kietkopelli wrote: 87 Points
I am UNIMPRESSED! I had this around the mid point of a long day in Napa, I tasted 10 other wines before this and other 8 after. It ranked remarkably in the middle but came only second to a Sin Qua Non in cost. It is extremely well balanced with many many flavor profiles unfortunately none stands out. Frankly there are dozens of wines in the $50 range that delivers this kind of nose. In the mouth is where Opus One performs with a wide array of flavors and layers. Unfortunately none them stands out more than the others. In the tasting room, more like lounge, the participants savored it like it was holy water, I sipped, chewed, spit, and poured the rest into the bucket (which was only available upon request). Finished a but flat for something north of $200.
I admit I haven't had too many wines more than $200 and in my cellar I have less than 5 cases on them but I've had plenty of great wines between $100-150 and the Opus one bare qualifies for that group. I also admit that I like my pricier wines to be BIG, oil tanker like big, so it not surprising that Opus One did not impress.
Remember you don't dink the label.
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8/12/2012 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 94 Points
The 2008 delivers loads of rich concentrated black fruits, currant, sweet cassis, spice box, leather and anise. This is full-bodied with silky plush tannins and a long luscious finish. The final blend is composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec. (Drink 2012-2022)
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6/26/2012 - GoBlue2002 wrote: 93 Points
Honeymoon Wine Tasting; 6/25/2012-7/3/2012 (California - Napa & Sonoma Counties): Tasted at Winery. 86% Cab Sauv, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 1% Cab Franc, and 1% Malbec. Very dark purple in color, with a nose of bright red fruit, blackberry, and oak. The tannins are already silky smooth and in balance with the acidity, although both are slightly overpowered by the fruit at this stage. The finish is of moderate length and complexity, which could improve with ageing. Overall this wine is drinking very well now but should improve greatly with just a couple years age.
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5/24/2012 - miadelt Likes this wine: 94 Points
I really appreciated the balance between the fruit, earth, and tannins. This is not a fruit bomb. I'm surprised how well this is drinking already. Would love to see how it develops
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5/2/2012 - cab blends wrote: 92 Points
AHA Hearts Delight - USA Wine Tasting: The 2008 has significant more body than the 2005 with dark graphite and dark berry finish. Smooth and seductive but a big brother to 2005
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4/26/2012 - DonalOB wrote: 93 Points
Opus One Vertical (Watson's, Hong Kong): Similar nose to the '07 but a bit closed. Quite dark still but very easy to drink now, with open fresh fruit on the palate. Firm tannins. Nice length. Obviously lots of evolution to go.
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4/13/2012 - bjamesclark wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at winery
Very different From the '06 fruitier with cherries, blackberries and cassis notes that are clean and pure. Sassafras notes chime in and are met with good acidity and tannins. Should age quite well.
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3/31/2012 - Maizlish wrote: 93 Points
Lynda brought to canyons Martin Sexton epic wine!
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2/21/2012 - Double-A wrote: 88 Points
Still in a primary phase of black currant, toast and vanilla. Youthful and chunky palate with similar flavours as the nose. Compact finish.
3.5/5
One to re-review in the future as I expect the 2008's to age well.
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2/19/2012 - WineBec wrote:
On the 2008 Opus One, I got greener notes (funky growing season? Or the Petit Verdot/Cab Franc?), cassis, a little anise. The mouth was surprisingly tannic and drying with leather, sandalwood, deep black currant, and considerable heat (alcohol content?).
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2/5/2012 - mxpbuy wrote: 92 Points
Sampled 2/4/12. Nice black fruit, tobacco, leather up front but then it gets a little weedy and thin on the finish which knocked it down a couple points for me.
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10/13/2011 - ckinv368 wrote: 91 Points
Drank at premier event for vintage. Very concentrated, with spice box and lots of cedar on the nose. A bit thinner on the palate, with cassis, blackberry, hints of spice, cedar and some vegetal notes. Not nearly as concentrated on the palate or as oaky as other opus ones I've tried. Seemed a little tired. Asked folks who hosted the tasting why, and they said it had been double decanted, and run through a vinturi, and had just arrived from California hours before. So I'm hoping the mistreatment with the venturi and the bottle shock stifled the flavor. Give it a 91 now but hope for a 94 or so when things settle down, and under better conditions.
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10/8/2011 - lumpyelbow wrote:
Napa 2011; 10/6/2011-10/9/2011 (Napa Valley, California): Really pure and discreet. A welcomed change to the intensity of the day before.
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10/1/2011 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark fruit, blackberries, spice, black pepper, cassis, smokey oak. Good length on the finish. A-
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