Opus One 2023 Red

Opus One 2023 Red stands as a compelling expression of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, combining the sophistication of Bordeaux with the richness and precision of California’s most celebrated winegrowing region. Created through the vision of Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Napa Valley pioneer Robert Mondavi, Opus One has earned its reputation as one of the world’s most prestigious collectible wines. The 2023 vintage continues this remarkable legacy, delivering a beautifully composed red wine that marries aromatic complexity, polished tannins, and impressive structural depth with the freshness and energy that distinguish an exceptional growing season.

The 2023 growing season began with welcome winter and early spring rainfall, delivering 36.12 inches of precipitation and replenishing vineyard soils. Budbreak arrived on April 12, followed by flowering on May 30 and veraison on August 11. A notably cool summer without significant heat events allowed the fruit to develop gradually, preserving its freshness and balance. Harvest commenced on September 14 and concluded on October 16, with fruit arriving at the winery at an even pace. These conditions helped shape a vintage defined by precision, harmony, and vibrant fruit expression, qualities that make the 2023 Opus One particularly compelling for serious collectors and discerning Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon enthusiasts.

The blend consists of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec, bringing together the classic Bordeaux varieties in a seamless, sophisticated composition. Following 22 days of skin contact, the wine matured for 19 months in French oak, developing additional complexity while preserving the purity of its fruit. The resulting profile reflects the signature Opus One approach, balancing concentrated flavors and structural seriousness with elegance and remarkable attention to detail.

The aromatic profile opens with expressive red fruit, delicate cherry blossom, and dried violet, complemented by graceful vanilla notes. As the wine develops in the glass, graphite, forest floor, and tobacco introduce savory complexity, suggesting the layered character that makes great Cabernet Sauvignon so captivating. The palate reveals a harmonious progression of elderberry and cassis, accented by freshly ground black pepper and chocolate covered orange peel. Silky tannins provide a refined framework, allowing the fruit and savory elements to unfold with impressive definition. Red plum and sweet oak carry through the finish, bringing the experience to a polished and satisfying conclusion.

For collectors seeking a sophisticated Napa Valley red with both immediate appeal and long term potential, Opus One 2023 delivers an especially attractive proposition. Its youthful brightness is balanced by serious structure, while its layered aromatics and refined texture reward thoughtful appreciation. This is a wine for memorable dinners, distinguished cellars, and occasions that call for something exceptional. With its celebrated heritage, carefully constructed Bordeaux inspired blend, and harmonious balance, the 2023 Opus One reinforces its standing among the most desirable luxury wines produced in Napa Valley.

Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cab Franc, 5% petit Verdot, & 1% Malbec

98 POINTS - "The bouquet is utterly enticing, offering cool blue-fruit notes and a dusting of cocoa-powder freshness that stirs anticipation for the first sumptuous sip. On the palate, satiny richness unfolds, imbued with crunchy red cherry and juicy blackberry fruit, alongside refined sagebrush and tobacco nuances. There is a sense of intricately fine-knit tannins, compact yet impressively integrated at this youthful stage, framed by subtle, refined oak spice. The finish is long and mineral, marked by graphite and a touch of black sea salt. The wine was fermented entirely with native yeasts in stainless steel, with a portion aged in amphora in this vintage, before maturing for 19 months in 95% new French oak. The blend is rounded out by small additions of Malbec and Petit Verdot. In 2023, the vines were farmed regeneratively for the first time, with harvest completed by mid-October." - Decanter

98 POINTS - "Another absolute gorgeous wine from this team, the 2023 Opus One offers up cassis, black raspberries, spicy wood, flowers, and graphite in a beautifully layered, complex, nuanced bouquet. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a pure, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and integrated acidity, this ultra-classic, elegant Opus One will keep for 30-40 years. It's at the same level as the 2010, 2016, and 2021. Drink 2025-2065." - Jeb Dunnuck

96 POINTS - "Hand-bottled from the blending tank (the wine went through the bottling line one week prior to my visit), the 2023 Opus One looks to be the most complete of the last three vintages. It weighs in at just 13.5% alcohol but comes across as medium- to full-bodied, featuring a mix of cassis and black cherries on the nose, gently touched by hints of sage and pencil shavings, plus an exquisitely silky mouthfeel supported by a base of fine-grained tannins that linger elegantly on the extended finish. Picked from September 14 through October 16, this vintage is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec." - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

95 POINTS - "This shows a high-pitched hint of lilac in front of a loganberry, cherry and red currant compote core stitched with savory and tobacco details. Flashes of cool earth and chestnut leaf ripple underneath on the fine-grained, cedar-tinged finish. A lovely expression of the savory style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec." - Wine Spectator

Opus One 2023 presents a complex profile with notes of red fruit, cherry blossom, and dried violet. Aromas of vanilla lend grace; while notes of graphite, forest floor, and tobacco portend structure. On the palate, the wine is balanced, framed by silky tannins. Elderberry and cassis, unfold, accented by black pepper and chocolate covered orange peel. The finish carries notes of red plum and sweet oak. A wine of harmony, Opus One 2023 balances structural seriousness with youthful brightness to provide superb aging.