![]() We never really make huge changes,” he told us. That was my mantra.” His first goals in the glass were to increase the wine’s concentration and length in the finish-things to be approached through pruning and barrel selection.Ĭhange, according to Silacci, never comes quickly at Opus One. Silacci has been on the job for nearly two decades, and when we spoke in June, he told us his original goal at Opus: “I wanted to enhance tradition and maintain innovation. From vineyard to tank, the journey rarely takes more than 12 hours. At harvest, the fruit goes directly into the pristine winery, where 175 acres’ worth of grapes are judged, one by one, as worthy or unworthy of Opus One. It grows on four unique vineyard plots: the Ballestra and River Parcels, which flank the winery, as well as To Kalon North and South, located across Highway 29. Last summer’s visit with winemaker Michael Silacci was an indispensable glimpse into the process by which Opus One becomes one of the great wines of the world. Antonio Galloni was effusive about this wine, calling it a “dense, full-throttle beauty” that’s “exotic, beautifully perfumed and impeccable in its balance.” He summed it up as “one of the most complete wines of the vintage.” The plush mouthfeel shows supple, tightly woven tannins laced with ripe black cherry and blueberry flavors, and harmonious notes of fresh herbs, black olive, cocoa powder, and toast singing in the background, building to a crescendo on the long finish. Opening, pouring, and indulging in Opus One is a singular pleasure, and the 2017 is showing beautifully young, with ripe black currant, black raspberry, and cherry aromas enmeshed in baking spice, fresh herbs, and violet notes. We invite you to celebrate by claiming the sublime 2017 Opus One, straight from the winery’s cellar to yours. Best from 2022 through 2036.Touring Opus One and tasting with winemaker Michael Silacci was an honor that couldn’t be equaled-and we’re thrilled that, because of our members’ response to our first Opus One offer, the winery has reached out to us with an allocation of their 2017 Opus One Red Wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. ![]() The structure is fine-grained, delivering a lingering hint of acidity. This features currant and plum fruit, with tobacco, loam and singed savory notes, maintaining range and driving through the finish. ![]() Medium-to full-bodied, round and savory with creamy, juicy tannins. Lots of currant and floral notes on the nose. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. Harvest spread out over September 5 to October 8, just before the fires, by which time they had less than 10% of the fruit still out on the vines. 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec complete the blend. 54% native yeast, as part of their native yeast project. 20 days maceration - around half what it would have been a decade ago. As the wine stays in the glass the floral aromatics begin to bloom up. Beautiful grip, creamy texture with a strikingly powerful tannic frame. The fine-grained, plush tannins evolve into a long, supple finish.īlend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 1% MalbecĪ fist of late summer cherries, raspberry and bilberry fruits set out their stall, all with the juicy character that confirms, even in a hot vintage like 2017, Opus can deliver balance and sculpted elegance. This seductive wine shows flavors of black cassis, black cherry and a hint of cocoa powder. The juicy entry offers a round, silky mouthfeel with just enough acidity to complement the satin texture. The Opus One 2017 offers a harmonious aromatic balance of rich dark fruit, stems of roses, and earthy forest floor.
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