Now in its prime, the 2005 vintage captures the elegance of a long, cool growing season—Opus One’s longest to date. A deep garnet in the glass, it opens with complex aromas of dried rose, bay leaf, cassis, and forest floor, evolving toward truffle, cedar, and fine spice. The palate is layered and polished, featuring supple tannins, savory olive and blackcurrant, and hints of licorice and dark chocolate. A silky texture and poised structure lead to a long, savory finish. Mature yet vibrant, this vintage still has years ahead of graceful evolution.

Decanter | D 96
Published: Sep 14, 2019
Drink: 2019-2034

Low yield and clear concentration, at 15 years old we can just start to see some early bottle ageing notes as it relaxes into itself, with dried rose aromatics and gorgouesly tight, bright olives, rosemary, grilled cedar and black pepper. Opens up beautifully in the glass, this has excellent persistency and is a clear success. 1% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 29 days skin contact. Cool temperatures and slow ripening in this year, longest recorded growing season at Opus, with harvest finishing on November 2.

The Wine Advocate | RP 95
Published: Jun 29, 2015
Drink: 2015-2030

This famous wine, first created by the late Baron Philippe de Rothschild and the late Robert Mondavi, started off life as a very good, but rarely exceptional wine. Over the last ten or more years, the administration at Mouton Rothschild, particularly the team led by Philippe Dhalluin, has truly pushed the level of quality to the point where this is clearly one of the great wines of Napa. And after so many years, it represents the pinnacle of French viticultural knowledge combined with that of California and Napa’s Shangri La-like microclimate. The 2005 Opus One, a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec, has a ruby/purple color and a beautiful, sweet nose of créme de cassis and spring flowers. Complex and medium to full-bodied, with silky tannin and superb purity and balance, this is exactly what Opus One was meant to be when it was first proposed. Of course, it is a popular wine to criticize, but the quality has never been better, and certainly 2005 is a beauty. It is reaching full maturity at ten years, but I think there is still another 10-15+ years of upside potential in this wine. It is full-bodied, opulent and, dare I say, delicious. Given its popularity and brand recognition, it’s nice to know that even at a major steak house you can probably find this wine and be thrilled to buy it and drink it.

James Suckling | JS 92
Published: Feb 16, 2011

Sage, bay leaf, mint, plum, and forest floor on the nose. Full bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a nice chewy finish. Let this rest until 2012.

Jancis Robinson | JR 17++
Published: Mar 11, 2025
Drink: 2015-2032

88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec. Aged for 18 months in new French oak.
Opaque garnet. Worlds apart from the 2018: mature mushroom, sous bois, beef and blackcurrant. Excellent texture: fine but present tannin; formal yet not austere. Still has the core fruit to last.

Opusonewinery.com

Frequent spring rains through the month of May— the wettest May on record— led to a year of cool temperatures and slow ripening. Counted from the day the grape flowers bloom to the first day of harvest, the ripening period was the longest on record for Opus One’s vineyards. The absence of heat spells from July through October allowed a late harvest that began on September 21st and ended on November 2nd— a full month later than the preceding vintage.

A voluptuous garnet, the 2005 Opus One offers concentrated aromas of blueberry, red roses, white truffle, licorice and nutmeg. A silky entry combines with a moderately soft mid-palate to express supple texture and a fine balance of fruit and acidity. Flavors of cassis, black olives, raspberry and dark chocolate culminate in a long and luscious finish.
Varietals

Cabernet Sauvignon 88%, Merlot 5%, Petit Verdot 3%, Cabernet Franc 3%, and Malbec 1%

29 days

18 months in new French oak