Opus One is made from 78% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 7% petit verdot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% malbec .
The Opus One is remarkably elegant and bright offering sumptuous aromas of fresh red and blue fruit, baking spices and vanilla, and a delicate fragrance of spring florals. The initial bouquet is augmented by more nuanced notes of sage, rosemary, and black olive. Juicy flavors of black cherry, blackberry and cassis flood the palate and creamy, fine-grained tannins deliver a delightfully round structure. Harmonious and lively, the flavors linger to create an enduring finish with touches of dark chocolate and espresso.
Of the great European wine families, the Rothschilds are perhaps the best known. And Baron Philippe de Rothschild is perhaps the best known of this great family. At the age of 20, Baron Philippe took on the management of Château Mouton Rothschild from his father Baron Henri. Philippe’s vision changed the world of wine: he invented Château bottling, commissioned great artists to illustrate his wine labels – and, in partnership with Robert Mondavi in 1979, created Opus One.In the 1980s, after her father’s death, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild left a stage career that included the Comédie Française and the Renault-Barrault Theatre Company, bringing her own exquisite style and creativity to the design, construction, and operation of Opus One.Among great New World wine pioneers, Robert Mondavi is an international icon. Bringing a passion for excellence to everything he did, Robert Mondavi led a renaissance in California fine wine for over six decades. Among other accomplishments, he introduced temperature-controlled fermentation, French oak barrel aging, and high-density viticulture to a fledgling American wine industry. But life was not only wine for Robert Mondavi: he broadened the American cultural palate by marrying fine wine to food, music, and the arts. One of few Americans to have received the French medal of the Legion of Honor, Robert Mondavi showed extraordinary vision as co-founder of Opus One.
Review:
The purity of fruit is really something else here, with currants and fresh flowers, such as violets and roses. Flower stems as well. Fantastic length and structure to the wine, with tightness and focus. Wonderful fruit. Graceful. A blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 7% petit verdot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% malbec. Try after 2028.
-James Suckling 99 Points
Opus One is made from 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec, 1% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot
Opus One 2021 is made from 93%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 2%, Merlot 0.5%, and Malbec 0.5%.
The Opus One 2021 effuses seductive, dark-fruit aromas of crushed cassis, blackberry, and black cherry with subtle hints of violet, vanilla, and baking spices. Bright and fresh on the attack, concentrated flavors mirror the aromas and are coupled with an exceptionally plush, creamy texture in the mid-palate from the fine-grained tannins. Poignant notes of black tea, licorice, and dark chocolate lead to
Of the great European wine families, the Rothschilds are perhaps the best known. And Baron Philippe de Rothschild is perhaps the best known of this great family. At the age of 20, Baron Philippe took on the management of Château Mouton Rothschild from his father Baron Henri. Philippe’s vision changed the world of wine: he invented Château bottling, commissioned great artists to illustrate his wine labels – and, in partnership with Robert Mondavi in 1979, created Opus One.In the 1980s, after her father’s death, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild left a stage career that included the Comédie Française and the Renault-Barrault Theatre Company, bringing her own exquisite style and creativity to the design, construction, and operation of Opus One.Among great New World wine pioneers, Robert Mondavi is an international icon. Bringing a passion for excellence to everything he did, Robert Mondavi led a renaissance in California fine wine for over six decades. Among other accomplishments, he introduced temperature-controlled fermentation, French oak barrel aging, and high-density viticulture to a fledgling American wine industry. But life was not only wine for Robert Mondavi: he broadened the American cultural palate by marrying fine wine to food, music, and the arts. One of few Americans to have received the French medal of the Legion of Honor, Robert Mondavi showed extraordinary vision as co-founder of Opus One.
Review:
An enticing aroma of violets, cherry blossoms, fresh blue and black fruit and great structure define this beautiful, age-worthy wine. Subtle layering of fruit and oak spices between firm, fine-grained and supportive tannins gives it a calm intensity. So elegant and polished. Hints of cinnamon and graphite accent blackcurrant and blueberry flavors that linger and grow in a long finish. Already attractive to drink, but best after 2029.
-James Suckling 99 Points
Opus One 2022 is made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 0.5% Malbec
Opus One 2022 exudes charm and sophistication from the glass. Primary aromas of blueberry, cassis, and dried rose petals with underlying notes of olive, cigar box, and graphite create a rich and inviting bouquet. On the palate, bright red-fruit flavors, cocoa, and fresh orange peel waltz together into a harmonious and balanced profile. Long and elegant, the finish delivers touches of wet stone, vanilla, and a hint of coffee. Fine-grained tannins and juicy ripeness signal the promise of a long future in the cellar.
Review:
Chocolate, cherry and rose petal aromas on the nose. Very open and alive - this has a great energy from the aromatics alone with soft cedar shavings, vanilla bean and bramble fruit. Juicy and lively, this is full of fun - fruity and concentrated. The tannins are just wonderful, creamy and slightly grippy, extending the flavours vertically. Tons of juicy, succulent fruit - this feels quite modern but still with that flash of sunshine and ripeness. Long lasting with purity and delicacy that make it so enjoyable. A wonderful creation from Michael Silacci. This is not your typical blockbuster at all, this is a darling of a wine. 0.5% Malbec completes the blend. The Opus team chose to pick early and quickly given the heat spikes in 2022, starting with the Merlot on 24th August. Ageing 18 months in French oak.
-Decanter 97 Points
Orin Swift 'Slander' Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Staying humble and letting the grapes do the talking is how we get better at winemaking every vintage. Pinot Noir requires even more humility, especially in the vineyards – when the grapes are ready, they’re ready. Requiring a gentler approach with punchdowns rather than pumpovers, Pinot Noir expresses itself when it is lead manipulated. Slander is the union of California Pinot Noir made in the Orin Swift signature style delivering a bold and expressive wine.
There are several fantastic growing regions in California bes t suited to Pinot Noir—from down in Santa Barbara County to up north in the Anderson Valley to everywhere in between. We’ve been fortunate to source Pinot Noir from across the state in many of these ideal locales for years . Finnick y, sensitive and with lots of personality, the varietal requires a long growing season and relatively mild weather to ripen and develop its beautiful flavors , all while retaining its brightness . Sourced from the Rancho Real, Annapolis, Del Rio, Laguna and a few other vineyards, this vintage of Slander is an example of the sum being greater than its parts. WINEMAKER’S NOT
The 2022 Slander delivers a medium ruby core with a lucid rim that-s almost translucent. Aromatically, Bing cherry, briar fruit and some raspberry give way to ripe strawberry and associated red fruits. Bright and enveloping on the entry, notes of fresh strawberry, watermelon, thyme and a hint of funk come through. Spicy on the finish, the wine closes with a flash of blue fruits and lift.
This Pinot Grigio is grown at the foot of the remains of what was once the stunning villa of the della Scala family, one of the most influencial families in Verona from the early 1200's to the late 1300's. The much admired ruler of Verona, Cangrande I della Scala, summered at this villa. Cangrande I was a great warrior, diplomatic prince and an important patron of the arts. He championed the works of Dante, Patrarch and Giotto. He created beautiful architecture throughout the city in the ornate, gothic style of his time. This label is a reproduction of the design taken from a fragment of the ornate and intricate art that once covered the ceilings of the villa. In Italian, Ornato means ornate or adorned. This label celebrates the beautiful, complex taste of the Della Scala family and the Gothic art of that period.
Color: Brilliant straw colored wine with golden reflections.
Bouquet: Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas blended with the intense aroma of acacia flowers.
Taste: Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the aftertaste.
Vineyard: Rich in limestone the soil is of alluvial origin. The vineyards are located in the province of Verona. The agricultre is sustainable. No chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides are used. The vineyards are South facing at 300 meters above sea level.
Harvest: September – by hand. The grapes are picked as they ripen to keep the acidity high. The grapes are brought to the cellar and refrigerated within a half hour of picking to keep oxidation to a minimum.
The grapes are soft pressed and the juice is placed in stainless steel along with the skins for a brief maceration of 12 hours at 8-10° C. The must is then racked and lightly filtered. Fermentation then takes place with selected indigenous yeast under controlled temperatures. Of 16-18°C. The fermentation is slow and cool to emhance the natural aromas of the grapes. The finished wine is placed in stainless steel holding tanks until bottled.
Aging: 3-4 months in stainless steel.
Alcohol: 12%
Acidity: 5.30
Seafood dishes, risottos with scampi, spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine.
Ossian Quintaluna Verdejo is made from 100% Verdejo
Quintaluna is a young wine that is made exclusively from Verdejo in the province of Segovia. 60% is very old grape: pre-phylloxera (ungrafted). 40% is made of very young grapes on trellises, grown certified organic, with low yields. The key to success for the Verdejo grape is held in the soil. Ideal soil has a high content of sand and pebbles of different sizes. Some have higher proportions of clay and others have significant proportions of clay and limestone. As the pebbles and sand allow for good drainage, the clay holds enough moisture to allow the vines to thrive.
The color is a straw yellow with greenish reflections. On the nose, you will find aromas of white flowers, stone fruit (peach), and citrus (lemon, mandarin). It also displays tropical fruit aromas. The palate is complex. Natural acidity is evident in the freshness and length on the palate. Almond and ripe fruit flavors are found in the mid-palate with fresh grass and citrus on the finish.
It pairs wells with all kinds of appetizers, entrees and salads.
Review:
"The 2020 Quintaluna is pure Verdejo from small plots on sandy soils in the province of Segovia, fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts. They still use grapes from external suppliers but are working toward using 100% their own grapes (which they might achieve in 2023); therefore, the wine is not certified organic, because some of the vineyards from the growers are not certified. It has a balsamic nose reminiscent of bay leaf, dried yellow flowers, chamomile and pollen intermixed with pit fruit. It has a dry palate and a chalky texture, with balance and finesse, with moderate ripeness and 13.5% alcohol. 110,000 bottles. - Luis GUTIERREZ"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (January 31st 2023), 92 pts
Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita Altamira is made from 100 percent Malbec.
Deep red in color, the Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita Altamira expresses great fruity character with notes of red fruit. Grand structure and acidity on the palate with mineral with notes of wet stone and graphite and a long finish.
Review:
Quiet complexity that needs time in the glass. While it is brooding and deep, there is also a perfumed, floral and herbal aspect that makes it so attractive and unforgettable, even at such an embryonic stage. Freshly crushed blueberries, dried licorice, decadent violets, crushed stones and ash on the nose. Satin-textured tannins on the palate, which are tense, chalky and seamless. Powerful and juicy with impeccable balance. A great, cerebral and intrinsic malbec from Argentina. You can drink now, if you want, but it is a wine that you’d want to keep for the next two decades. A real charmer, especially for the wine nerds. Buy this and try!
-James Suckling 99 Points
Gosset Grande Reserve Brut is made from 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier.
The color is bright and golden, the nose open and expressive, and the palate is dominated by a refreshing mineral tension.
Gosset Grande Reserve is a truly faithful expression of the Gosset style. To achieve a cuvee of this quality, the cellar-master has blended the best of the various champagne crus at the grape- harvest with wines specially chosen from our reserve stocks for their richness and maturity.
This champagne is the perfect accompaniment to mild and subtly spiced dishes with cooked fruit, sweet/savory dishes or tajines. A blend of three vintages, the Grande Réserve Brut is adaptable by nature — from apéritif to dessert.
Review:
The nose opens with the fresh ripeness of yellow apple and highlights of Granny Smith. It has beautifully subtle autolysis on the palate, deepening into notes of creamy apple crumble, Golden Delicious and Mirabelle plum, while remaining utterly strait-laced. Elegance, length and absolute freshness are inherent and quietly convincing.
-Decanter 94 Points