Elegant and expressive, the 2009 vintage of Opus One delivers a plush, polished take on Napa’s classic red blend. With 81% Cabernet Sauvignon at its core, it opens with inviting aromas of black olive, espresso, and dark chocolate, lifted by hints of cola and violet. The palate follows through with ripe blueberry, cassis, and licorice, framed by fine-grained tannins and a soft, mineral-driven finish. A warm growing season with cool nights gave this vintage both ripeness and aromatic finesse. Drink now or hold through 2040.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 93
Published: May 15, 2014

Aromas of black olive and minerals underlie more traditional notes of dark chocolate, cola and espresso. Showing flavors of ripe blueberry, cassis, and licorice, this age-worthy wine simultaneously offers a smooth finish and a slight grip of tannin at the close. 
Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 1% Malbec

Decanter | D 93
Published: Sep 14, 2019
Drink: 2020-2040

A more mineral, floral-tinged style in this vintage, with blueberry and blackberry fruits, beautifully aromatic if a little softer through the finish than some vintages. The Cabernet Franc was co-fermented with the Cabernet Sauvignon. 1% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 20 days skin contact. Warm days and cool nights made this perfect until the rain during harvest (which lasted September 21 to October 20). Opus picks relatively early for Napa, and so was lucky to have had most of the grapes in before the second round of rain came.
Closure: Natural Cork
Alcohol: 14.00%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 9% Cabernet Franc 81% Cabernet Sauvignon 1% Malbec 3% Merlot 6% Petit Verdot

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 16.5
Published: Nov 20, 2013
Drink: 2014-2022

Dense ruby colour. Sweet oak, sweet fruit – very juicy and opulent. Not too heavy, but certainly generous. Very nubile tannins. Primary and juicy – but not very complex.

Opusonewinery.com

After two years of consecutive dry spring months, Opus One’s vineyard received almost 150 mm of rain at the start of 2009. Cultivation and irrigation were adjusted to increase vine vigor and yield, striking a delicate balance in growing leaves adequate for photosynthesis but not so numerous as to mask fruit and overemphasize herbal characters. The 2009 vintage saw cool temperatures during bloom and maturation, with two short heat spells in September. The harvest began on September 21st and provided an exhilarating finish on October 20th after a record rainfall for October.

Aromas of black olive and minerals underlie more traditional notes of dark chocolate, cola and espresso. Showing flavors of ripe blueberry, cassis and liquorice, this age-worthy wine simultaneously offers a smooth finish and a slight grip of tannin at the close.

Cabernet Sauvignon 81%, Cabernet Franc 9%, Petit Verdot 6%, Merlot 3%, and Malbec 1%

20 days

17 months in new French oak