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An approachable Opus one that is delicious to drink now, but a wine that gets a whopping 99/100 by James Suckling, will undoubtedly improve in the bottle if you're willing to wait.
The joint venture that started it all was between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi in 1979 continue to be one of the most sought after cult wines from Napa Valley. This 2018 is an extraordinary Bordeaux blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec and remains in EXTREMELY LIMITED quantities.
The Wine Advocate scored this 98 points describing the wine as "Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Opus One soars out of the glass with bright, bold boysenberries, warm cassis and ripe, juicy black plums notes, plus emerging nuances of lilacs, oolong tea, cinnamon stick, tilled soil and black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tightly wound layers of crunchy black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing with lifted fruitiness and on a lingering mineral note."
Decanter Magazine scored this 95 points saying "The 2018 Opus One is incredibly elegant and polished, right out of the bottle. Silky tannins and lifted, perfumed aromatics add to an impression of finesse that distinguishes the 2018 from some of the preceding vintages in a pretty big way. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 gains body with a bit of time in bottle. It is pretty rare for Opus One to be so approachable at this stage."
James Suckling 99/100
Wine Advocate 98/100
Jeb Dunnuck 97/100
Decanter Magazine 95/100
Opus One is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, ribs, hamburgers, barbecue, roasted, braised, grilled dishes and stews. The 2018, though approachable in such youth will benefit from some decanting. We suggest decanting the wine for 2 hours before service in a wide-bottomed decanter
