Opus One 2013 is one of the most celebrated vintages in the estate's history, achieving two perfect 100-point ratings from James Suckling and Decanter's Jane Anson, alongside 98 points from The Wine Advocate. Distinguished by exceptional balance, concentrated dark fruit, refined tannins and remarkable longevity, this landmark vintage represents one of the finest expressions of Napa Valley winemaking.

James Suckling famously described the 2013 release as "The greatest Opus ever." Jane Anson subsequently awarded the wine a perfect 100 points during her 2019 Decanter retrospective, recognising its extraordinary harmony of fruit concentration, freshness and complexity.

Produced in the prestigious Oakville appellation of Napa Valley, Opus One 2013 is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux-style red wine born from the historic partnership of Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. Their shared vision brought together Bordeaux winemaking heritage and the distinctive terroir of California.

The 2013 vintage benefited from an exceptionally favourable growing season. A dry and unusually warm winter encouraged an early start, followed by excellent conditions during flowering and fruit development. Moderate summer temperatures allowed the grapes to achieve remarkable concentration, aromatic expression and balance.

Opus One 2013 reveals an expressive bouquet of blueberry, cassis and blackberry, complemented by delicate rose petals, anise and baking spices. The wine combines generous dark-fruit character with floral elegance and sophisticated aromatic depth.

A creamy entry unfolds into a beautifully layered mid-palate, where velvety tannins surround concentrated black-fruit flavours. Lively acidity provides freshness and precision, while hints of dark chocolate contribute to a long, persistent and harmonious finish.

Composed of five traditional Bordeaux grape varieties, Opus One 2013 underwent 18 days of skin contact followed by 17½ months of maturation in new French oak barrels.

With two perfect 100-point critic ratings, outstanding structural balance and exceptional ageing potential, Opus One 2013 stands among the estate's most distinguished collector vintages. It offers a compelling opportunity to experience the depth, elegance and enduring prestige of this celebrated Napa Valley wine.

The 2013 growing season began with exceptionally dry and unusually warm winter conditions, encouraging the vines to begin their annual growth cycle earlier than usual.

Flowering occurred under near-perfect conditions, resulting in excellent fruit set throughout the Opus One estate vineyards in Oakville.

These favourable conditions supported a generous crop, although total yields remained slightly below those of the preceding year.

Moderate temperatures prevailed throughout the summer, providing an extended period for the grapes to develop concentrated flavours and aromatic complexity.

The consistently favourable growing conditions helped preserve the balance between ripeness, acidity and tannic development, contributing to the vintage's refined structural character.

Harvest began shortly after midnight on September 5, 2013, with the vineyard team selecting fruit as it reached the desired maturity.

Despite occasional interruptions caused by weather conditions, harvest progressed relatively quickly and was completed on October 8, 2013.

The combination of ideal flowering, moderate summer temperatures and careful harvest decisions contributed to an extraordinary vintage distinguished by concentration, freshness, elegant tannins and lasting structural harmony.

Aroma: Splendid aromas of blueberry, cassis and blackberry are complemented by delicate rose petals, anise and baking spices, revealing both concentrated dark fruit and floral elegance.

Palate: A creamy entry opens into successive layers of complexity, with concentrated black-fruit flavours supported by refreshing acidity and beautifully integrated structure.

Texture: Velvety, polished tannins surround the wine's dense fruit core, creating a sophisticated, luxurious mouthfeel.

Finish: Long, elegant and persistent, with lingering impressions of concentrated dark fruit and subtle dark chocolate.

Structure: Exceptionally balanced, combining concentrated fruit, vibrant acidity, refined tannins and remarkable depth.

Ageing Potential: The winery's original assessment identifies the 2013 vintage as capable of developing over several decades under appropriate cellaring conditions.

Mature Vintage Development: With bottle age, additional savoury complexity may emerge, including developed notes of tobacco, leather, herbs and earthy undertones. Their expression depends on the condition and storage history of each bottle.

The primary characteristics reflect Opus One's original 2013 vintage description. Mature tasting observations supplement the winery's published profile.

Opus One 2013 holds a distinguished place among the estate's highest-rated vintages, receiving two perfect 100-point scores from internationally recognised wine critics.

The vintage has been particularly celebrated for its exceptional fruit concentration, remarkable freshness, refined tannins and extraordinary balance between power and elegance.

• 100 Points — James Suckling: Described as "The greatest Opus ever." The review highlights its expressive blackcurrant and blueberry fruit, floral aromatics, fine tannins, vibrant acidity and exceptional persistence.
• 100 Points — Decanter, Jane Anson: Awarded during a September 2019 retrospective tasting. Anson recognised the wine's remarkable fruit concentration, floral nuance, refreshing acidity and impressive depth, with savoury notes of rosemary and black olive adding complexity to its long, expressive finish.
• 98 Points — The Wine Advocate: Lisa Perrotti-Brown's February 2021 assessment highlights its powerful dark-fruit expression, complex secondary aromas, plush tannins and beautifully integrated freshness, leading to an exceptionally long, perfumed finish.
• 96 Points — Vinous, Antonio Galloni: The December 2024 review recognises the wine's concentrated fruit, leather, spice and tobacco characteristics, alongside its considerable texture and developing maturity.
• 95 Points — Wine Spectator: Further recognition of the vintage's quality and standing among Napa Valley's acclaimed Bordeaux-style red wines.

The double 100-point distinction is particularly significant. James Suckling's perfect rating reflects his assessment of the vintage in 2016, while Jane Anson's perfect Decanter rating came from a later retrospective tasting in 2019.

Decanter subsequently reaffirmed the importance of its 100-point assessment in a May 2026 collector feature, identifying Opus One 2013 as one of Napa Valley's outstanding vintages.

Its extraordinary critical reception, combined with the estate's reputation for precision and longevity, makes Opus One 2013 a highly distinguished choice for collectors, private cellars, milestone celebrations and fine wine vertical tastings.

Ratings are attributed to individual reviewers and publications. Different tasting dates and reviewers may produce different scores for the same vintage.

Opus One 2013 is composed of five classic Bordeaux grape varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon accounting for 79% of the final blend.

• Cabernet Sauvignon: 79%
• Cabernet Franc: 7%
• Merlot: 6%
• Petit Verdot: 6%
• Malbec: 2%
• Skin Contact: 18 days
• Barrel Ageing: 17½ months
• Oak: New French oak

Cabernet Sauvignon provides the wine's dominant dark-fruit expression and structural foundation. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec complete the composition, contributing to its aromatic complexity, texture and balance.

Following 18 days of skin contact, the wine underwent 17½ months of maturation in new French oak barrels.

The resulting wine combines concentrated fruit with polished tannins, freshness and remarkable structural harmony, reflecting the distinguished character of the 2013 vintage.

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 16–18°C to highlight the wine's dark-fruit aromatics, complexity and refined structure.
• Glassware: Serve in a generous Bordeaux-style wine glass to encourage the development of its layered bouquet.
• Decanting: Taste the wine upon opening. If sediment is present, decant gently. Additional aeration may be beneficial, but should be adjusted according to bottle condition and maturity.
• Cellaring: Store horizontally in a consistently cool, dark and vibration-free environment, ideally around 12–15°C.
• Drinking Maturity: A developing to mature vintage with significant ageing potential. Properly stored bottles may offer excellent drinking enjoyment now or develop further in the cellar.
• Serving Occasion: Particularly suited to fine dining, collectors' tastings, significant celebrations, private wine dinners and comparative Opus One verticals.

Because Opus One 2013 has undergone more than a decade of bottle evolution, consider allowing the bottle to rest upright before opening if sediment is suspected.

Evaluate the wine's condition and aromatic development after opening rather than relying on a fixed decanting period.

These serving and cellaring recommendations are provided by Barrels & Beyond PH and supplement the winery's official vintage information. Actual condition depends on provenance and storage history.

The extraordinary balance of concentrated dark fruit, vibrant acidity, velvety tannins and developed savoury complexity makes Opus One 2013 particularly suitable for refined meat preparations and earthy ingredients.

• Prime Rib and Ribeye: Grilled or roasted premium beef, particularly dry-aged cuts with pronounced savoury character.
• Beef Tenderloin: Roasted tenderloin with porcini mushrooms, black truffle or a restrained red wine reduction.
• Braised Beef Short Ribs: Slow-cooked beef complemented by aromatic herbs and a rich, balanced reduction.
• Roasted Lamb: Herb-crusted rack of lamb or slow-roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic.
• Duck Breast: Pan-seared duck accompanied by wild mushrooms or a delicate blackcurrant reduction.
• Venison and Game: Roasted venison with juniper, thyme and earthy mushroom preparations.
• Truffle and Wild Mushrooms: Porcini risotto, black-truffle pasta and roasted wild mushrooms.
• Aged Cheeses: Mature Comté, aged Gruyère, Parmigiano Reggiano and carefully matured hard cheeses.

To appreciate the vintage's aromatic complexity, favour dishes with balanced seasoning and avoid excessively sweet or spicy sauces that may overwhelm its developed character.

These food pairings are suggested by Barrels & Beyond PH and are not official Opus One recommendations.

• Producer: Opus One Winery
• Official Product Name: Opus One 2013
• Vintage: 2013
• Wine Type: Red Wine
• Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux Blend
• Country: United States
• State: California
• Region: Napa Valley
• Estate Vineyard Location: Oakville AVA
• Cabernet Sauvignon: 79%
• Cabernet Franc: 7%
• Merlot: 6%
• Petit Verdot: 6%
• Malbec: 2%
• Skin Contact: 18 days
• Barrel Ageing: 17½ months
• Oak: New French oak
• Harvest Period: September 5 – October 8, 2013
• Winemaker: Michael Silacci
• Alcohol: 14.5% ABV
• Recommended Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
• Drinking Maturity: Developing to mature; individual bottle condition dependent
• Storage: Cool, dark and vibration-free wine cellar

Opus One was established through the historic partnership between Baron Philippe de Rothschild, proprietor of Château Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux, and Robert Mondavi, a pioneering figure in modern Napa Valley winemaking.

Their shared ambition was to create an exceptional Napa Valley wine by combining the traditions of Bordeaux with the innovation and distinctive terroir of California.

Located in the celebrated Oakville appellation of Napa Valley, the estate encompasses vineyard parcels within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard, together with the Ballestra and River parcels.

Under the direction of winemaker Michael Silacci, Opus One has maintained a commitment to precise vineyard management, meticulous fruit selection and thoughtful vinification.

The estate's pursuit of harmony, complexity, elegance and ageing potential has established Opus One among the most internationally recognised names in American fine wine.

The 2013 vintage represents a defining achievement for the estate. With two perfect 100-point critical assessments, exceptional structural balance and outstanding longevity, it remains one of the most distinguished vintages in the history of Opus One.