Arden Fine Wines’ Founder & MD Stuart George talks about Opus One 2006, recently sold to an Arden Fine Wines client.
In his song “Show Me what You Got”, Jay–Z raps, “I’m just getting better
with time/I’m like Opus One”.
Opus One was the first “designer”/”boutique” winery in Napa. Robert
Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild first met in 1970 in Hawaii.
Eight years later, they met again in Bordeaux. It took one hour for them
to agree to a joint venture in California.
When the 1979 and 1980 vintages were simultaneously released in 1984,
they were priced boldly at $50 per bottle when most other highly
regarded California Cabs were selling in the $15 to $20 range. The
cachet of the of the Rothschild name, combined with the pioneer
reputation of the Mondavi family, ensured that there were plenty of
buyers even at that vaunted price.
It took a few vintages for Opus One to find its feet, but it then
settled into a distinctive style that married fruit grown in the
California style with winemaking à la bordelaise.
It could never be mistaken for a Bordeaux wine – it’s too ripe and
alcoholic for that – but it’s a good deal more savoury and less
alcoholic (these things are relative) than the completely OTT California
Cabernets that have emerged in recent years.
#OpusOne #ArdenFineWines #Californiawine #Napa #NapaValley #London
#Mayfair #finewine #vintage2006
Opus One 
Opus One 
Opus One