Opus One 2022 is an exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux-style red wine from the celebrated Oakville appellation of Napa Valley, California. Born from the partnership between Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi, Opus One unites Bordeaux winemaking traditions with the distinctive character of Napa Valley.

The 2022 vintage reflects a demanding yet ultimately rewarding growing season. Early winter brought substantially greater rainfall than the preceding year, followed by dry conditions later in winter. An intense heat event during harvest required careful vineyard management and precise fruit selection to preserve freshness and quality.

Despite these challenges, the resulting wine displays remarkable balance between concentrated, ripe fruit and vibrant freshness. A complex bouquet of blueberry, cassis and dried rose petals is complemented by savoury nuances of olive, cigar box and graphite.

The palate reveals bright red-fruit flavours alongside cocoa and fresh orange peel, supported by fine-grained tannins and a beautifully balanced structure. Subtle impressions of wet stone, vanilla and coffee contribute to a long, elegant finish.

Composed of five traditional Bordeaux grape varieties, the 2022 blend was given 20 days of skin contact and matured for 18 months in new French oak barrels. The resulting wine combines sophistication, expressive fruit and the structural potential for extended cellaring.

The 2022 Napa Valley growing season began with welcome early-winter rainfall, delivering approximately 12 inches more precipitation than the previous year. This was followed by unusually dry conditions during the latter part of winter.

Unsettled weather in late spring presented additional challenges, although flowering and fruit set proceeded without significant disruption.

During the harvest period, extreme temperatures demanded particularly careful vineyard management. The Opus One team responded proactively by harvesting fruit that had reached the desired ripeness ahead of the heatwave and applying selective irrigation according to individual vineyard requirements.

These measures helped preserve the freshness and flavour integrity of the grapes, resulting in fruit with exceptional ripeness and distinctive aromatic expression.

Harvest commenced on August 24, 2022, and concluded on September 26, producing a vintage distinguished by ripe fruit character, freshness and structural balance.

Aroma: Expressive notes of blueberry, cassis and dried rose petals form the primary aromatic profile. Underlying nuances of olive, cigar box and graphite contribute savoury complexity and refinement.

Palate: Bright red-fruit flavours are complemented by cocoa and fresh orange peel. The wine displays a harmonious interplay between ripe fruit concentration, freshness and structural elegance.

Texture: Fine-grained tannins provide a refined mouthfeel, while the wine's juicy ripeness lends depth and generosity without sacrificing balance.

Finish: Long and elegant, with lingering impressions of wet stone, vanilla and a delicate hint of coffee.

Structure: Concentrated yet balanced, combining fresh fruit, finely textured tannins and seamlessly integrated oak influence.

Ageing Potential: The winery highlights the vintage's fine tannic structure and ripe fruit character as indicators of excellent long-term cellaring potential.

Opus One 2022 is composed of five traditional Bordeaux grape varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon forming 80% of the final blend.

• Cabernet Sauvignon: 80%
• Petit Verdot: 8%
• Cabernet Franc: 6.5%
• Merlot: 5%
• Malbec: 0.5%
• Skin Contact: 20 days
• Barrel Ageing: 18 months
• Oak: New French oak

The greater proportion of Petit Verdot in the 2022 composition contributes to the vintage's distinctive varietal balance. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec complete the five-variety blend.

Following 20 days of skin contact, the wine underwent 18 months of maturation in new French oak, supporting the development of its structure and layered complexity.

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 16–18°C to showcase the wine's complex aromatics, freshness and structure.
• Glassware: Serve in a generous Bordeaux-style wine glass to allow the layered aromas to develop.
• Decanting: Taste upon opening. For a young bottle, consider approximately 30–60 minutes of aeration, adjusting according to the wine's condition and development.
• Cellaring: Store horizontally in a consistently cool, dark and vibration-free environment, ideally around 12–15°C.
• Ageing Potential: Suitable for extended cellaring under proper storage conditions, with the potential for additional complexity as the wine matures.
• Serving Occasion: Particularly suited to fine dining, milestone celebrations, wine collecting and special tasting experiences.

These recommendations are provided by Barrels & Beyond PH and supplement the winery's official vintage information. Actual bottle condition and ageing performance depend on provenance and storage history.

With its generous fruit, savoury complexity and finely structured tannins, Opus One 2022 pairs particularly well with flavourful meat dishes, roasted vegetables and mature cheeses.

• Prime Rib and Ribeye: Grilled or roasted premium beef, especially dry-aged cuts with rich savoury flavours.
• Beef Tenderloin: Roasted tenderloin with porcini mushrooms, truffle or a classic red wine reduction.
• Braised Beef Short Ribs: Slow-cooked beef in a rich reduction with thyme, rosemary and aromatic vegetables.
• Roasted Lamb: Herb-crusted rack of lamb or slow-roasted lamb shoulder with garlic and rosemary.
• Duck Breast: Pan-seared duck accompanied by a restrained cherry or blackberry reduction.
• Venison and Game: Refined game preparations complemented by juniper, mushrooms and earthy herbs.
• Wild Mushrooms and Truffle: Porcini risotto, roasted mushrooms or truffle-infused savoury dishes.
• Aged Cheeses: Mature Comté, Gruyère, aged Cheddar and Parmigiano Reggiano.

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

• Producer: Opus One Winery
• Official Product Name: Opus One 2022
• Vintage: 2022
• 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: 80%
• Petit Verdot: 8%
• Cabernet Franc: 6.5%
• Merlot: 5%
• Malbec: 0.5%
• Skin Contact: 20 days
• Barrel Ageing: 18 months
• Oak: New French oak
• Harvest Period: August 24 – September 26, 2022
• Winemaker: Michael Silacci
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Cellaring: Suitable for extended ageing under proper storage conditions

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

Their shared vision was to create an exceptional Napa Valley wine by bringing together the traditions of Bordeaux and the distinctive terroir of California. The collaboration established one of the world's most internationally recognised fine wine estates.

Opus One's estate vineyards comprise four parcels in the western portion of the Oakville appellation. Two parcels are situated within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard, while the Ballestra and River parcels surround the winery.

Under the direction of winemaker Michael Silacci, the estate combines meticulous vineyard management, careful fruit selection and thoughtful vinification, drawing on both established traditions and continuing technical innovation.

Every vintage is guided by the founders' enduring pursuit of quality, balance, elegance and the distinctive expression of the estate's terroir.