WA: 96+
The 2021 Opus One is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, with the remaining 1% made up of Malbec and Merlot. Svelte and silky in feel, it boasts sedate, controlled aromas of cherries, cedar and sandalwood. It's medium- to full-bodied, restrained and poised, its softly dusty finish speaking to carefully managed extraction in a vintage concentrated by drought.
VM: 97+
The 2021 Opus One is one of the most elegant, polished Opus Ones in recent memory. Pliant and supple, with super-refined tannins, the 2021 has a ton to offer. It boasts gorgeous textural depth and resonance, not to mention superb balance. Dark red/purplish fruit, flowers, spice and mint caress the palate, framed by silky, ripe tannins that are the hallmark of a superior vintage. I can't wait to see how the 2021 develops. This is a stellar showing, certainly the best so far.
WS: 95
Basically pristine, with sleek cassis and damson plum fruit racing through atop mouthwatering apple wood, violet and iris notes. Youthful, ever so slightly tight and seriously long, with a bright twang of iron resonating beautifully through the finish, where a subtle leathery strap of grip awaits. There’s a long way to go. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. -- Non-blind Opus One vertical (July 2025). Drink now through 2048. 25,800 cases made.
