PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Opus One's origin story remains one of the most consequential in modern wine history. In 1970, Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild met Napa Valley vintner Robert Mondavi at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in Hawaii, and the two men began a collaboration that would eventually merge Old World Bordeaux tradition with New World California ambition into a single wine. The first vintage, 1979, was released in 1984 — for a time the most expensive wine ever produced in California, and it remains among the most expensive red wines coming out of Napa Valley today. The original vineyard parcels came directly from 35 acres Robert Mondavi already owned in the legendary Q block of the To Kalon vineyard, one of Napa's most historically significant sites.
Today Opus One farms 169 acres across four meticulously tended vineyard blocks, every cluster hand-harvested and handled with equal care from vine to winery. Winemaker Michael Silacci, guided by the founders' original vision, approaches each vintage with a single uncompromising goal — no shortcuts, no concessions to convenience. Based on early tasting reports, the 2023 vintage appears to be a genuinely successful year for the estate: a Sokolin listing comparing it directly to the 2022 noted that 2023 shows "more polished tannins" and a smoother mouthfeel by comparison — a promising early signal from a vintage that followed the notably celebrated, high-scoring 2021 (99-100 points from James Suckling) and preceded the well-reviewed 2022 (96 James Suckling, 95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).
Wine Spectator's own early tasting of the 2023, sampled directly from barrel, found it "florid with cassis and plum notes... succulent" — a genuinely promising early read, though the full review, complete rating, and recommended drinking window remain behind subscription access as of this writing. Given Opus One's exceptionally strong recent track record — the 2021 vintage alone earned a 100-point score, and virtually every vintage this decade has scored in the mid-to-high 90s across major publications — the 2023 arrives with real expectations attached, even before its full critical reception and retail release are complete.
Opus One was founded in 1979 as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, France, and Napa Valley vintner Robert Mondavi. Their partnership, formed after a chance meeting in 1970, set out to merge the winemaking traditions of Bordeaux with the innovation and terroir of Napa Valley into a single, uncompromising wine. The estate's first vineyard parcels came from 35 acres of vines Robert Mondavi already owned in the celebrated Q block of the To Kalon vineyard in Oakville. A dedicated winery was completed in 1989, with the first vintage produced entirely on-site being the 1991, released in 1994. Since 1993, the estate has also produced a second wine, Overture.
Opus One today comprises 169 acres (68.4 hectares) across four vineyard blocks, farmed with a consistency of planting, tending, and harvesting practices that the estate credits with giving each vintage its distinct, unwavering signature. Every cluster is entirely hand-harvested, with careful handling maintained from vineyard to winery. Winemaking is directed by Michael Silacci, who combines both viticultural and winemaking perspectives in pursuit of the estate's singular goal: producing an extraordinary wine without compromise. Average annual production runs more than 25,000 cases, with close to 50% of the wine exported internationally, Japan among its leading markets.
No fully confirmed numerical critic score is available for the 2023 vintage at this time — the wine appears to still be in an early release/barrel-sample stage as of this writing.
Wine Spectator (barrel sample, partial review):
"Florid with cassis and plum notes, this is succulent but..." (full review and score behind subscription access)
Sokolin Fine and Rare Wines (comparative note, referencing the 2022 vintage):
Describing the 2022 as having "a slightly open-knit, coarser mouthfeel than either the 2021 or 2023" — indicating the 2023 shows notably more refined, polished structure by comparison.
For context, recent vintages of Opus One have scored exceptionally well: the 2021 vintage earned 99-100 points from James Suckling and 95 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate; the 2022 vintage earned 96 points from James Suckling and 95 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
Full sensory detail for the 2023 vintage is not yet comprehensively available; the following reflects the confirmed early tasting note.
Nose
Florid, with cassis and plum notes leading — an early, promising read from barrel sample tasting.
Palate
Succulent, with tannins reported to show more polish and refinement than the preceding 2022 vintage.
Finish
Not yet fully documented in available critical sources.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Oakville, Napa Valley, California |
| Style | Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Winery | Opus One |
| Founded | 1979 — joint venture of Robert Mondavi & Baron Philippe de Rothschild |
| Winemaker | Michael Silacci |
| Estate Size | 169 acres (68.4 hectares), 4 vineyard blocks |
| Historic Vineyard Source | To Kalon Vineyard, Q Block |
| Harvest | 100% hand-harvested |
| Critics | Wine Spectator (partial barrel-sample note); full 2023 scoring not yet confirmed |
| Recent Vintage Track Record | 2021: 99-100 JS, 95 RP · 2022: 96 JS, 95 RP |
| Style / Identity | One of the most historically significant and consistently celebrated Napa Valley red blends |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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