![]() ![]() The barrel room (Chai) - 1,000 barrels (at a cost of $1,300 each) - is a thing of beauty, with grape-red center-stained oak barrels stretching in an arc around 1/2 of the underground cellar. Guests will be escorted through an immersive tour of the winery, beginning in the Salon and concluding in the Private Library with a formal seated tasting of two vintages of Opus One. 2) Library Tour & Tasting - 120 minutes/$140 per person The Library Tour & Tasting offers a more intimate exploration of Opus One. This hosted visit includes a tour of the winery and culminates in the Grand Chai, where guests may taste the current vintage of Opus One. Tours are by appointment only, as follows (with website description): 1) Estate Tour & Tasting - 90 minutes/$85 per person The Estate Tour & Tasting offers insight into Opus One’s history, aesthetics, vineyards and winemaking. Production is limited to 25,000 cases per year, which explains the wine's lofty price. Opus One wines (there are only two - Opus One and Overture) do honor to the winery's architecture - beautifully balanced and memorable. Driving in on the lane to the front entrance makes you feel that you are arriving somewhere very special. Located just behind Napa's famous Oakville Grocery, Opus One rises from the earth in a manner that calls to mind Space Odyssey 2001. The coming together of these two visionaries has resulted in one of the most iconic wineries in the world. When modern techniques benefit the winegrowing process, they are researched, evaluated and integrated into practice.Opus One is a collaboration between two legends of the wine world - Robert Mondavi of Napa Valley and Baron Phillipe de Rothschild of Bordeaux's Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. In the vineyards, hand-harvesting and other traditional approaches are taken wherever they work best. These are complemented by the combined 70 acres of the Ballestra and River parcels, which envelop the winery. Two parcels, totaling 100 acres, are within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard. The estate vineyards of Opus One, comprised of four parcels, sit in the western portion of the famed Oakville AVA in Napa Valley. It remains an ongoing testament to the founders’ vision of a singular wine that transcends generations. Rising gracefully from the vineyards, Opus One winery stands in subtle celebration of the land and the open space that surrounds the estate. Guided by the vision of our founders, winemaker Michael Silacci combines intuition and technical acumen with the dual perspective of viticulturist and winemaker. From tasting berries to careful sorting and extended aging in new French oak barrels, each stage of the winemaking process is afforded the same meticulous consideration and attention. After 18 months, the Opus One wine is bottled and held an additional 15 months until release on October 1st each year. Place, often defined as terroir, represents the geography, the climate and the essential human element which is captured in the wine’s balance between power and finesse, structure and texture. ![]() The essence of time is expressed in Opus One wine by the character of each vintage. The facial profile of the two founders is visible on their iconic label. Producing luxury wines from its Napa Valley vineyards, the partnership made its first vintage in 1979 and has made wine at Opus One since 1991. Opus One is a partnership founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, France, and renowned Napa Valley vintner, Robert Mondavi. Beautifully balanced, the smooth round tannins and fresh acidity combine to create a soft, creamy mouthfeel and extend the flavors into a long persistent finish. The seamlessly layered flavors build to a crescendo of fresh and juicy black-fruit, accented with hints of orange zest, licorice and dark chocolate. Elegant notes of violets, white pepper and rose petals follow and together they deliver a very seductive bouquet. The Opus One 2018 offers profuse aromas of blackberry, cassis and black cherry. Grapes: 84% Cabernet, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |