1979 & 1980 Opus One, Napa Valley, Case of 6 btls [Rare First Vintage Mixed Case] [2 btl 1979 & 4 btl 1980]
Price On Request
95DR99DR
Critic key
DR = Decanter
- Rating
- DR95/DR99
- Producer
- Opus One
- Vintage
- 1979
- Region
- California
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Country
- United States
- Format
- Case
- Volume
- 750mL
- Type
- Still
- Color
- Red
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Product Description
1979 - DR95 "At 40 years old, the colour here is still exceptionally dark, surprisingly so. On the palate, the more expected signs of evolution are certainly there in the form of incense, soft truffle and forest floor notes, but there is a richness to the spine, and this was one of the most enjoyable wines of the tasting. It held up over five hours in the glass, gaining in layers. Remarkable when you think this was the first ever vintage, made in a far more classic Bordeaux-type winemaking style than would be typical today, with just 10 days of skin contact to extract colour and tannins. Helped by the fact that 1979 was a perfect growing season until rains arrived in September during harvest. A clear sign that something special was underway. (Drink between 2019-2030)" JA for DR Sep 2019
1980 - DR99 "This wine was stunning when I tried it in June 2018, and delivers again here. Just a wonderful nuanced wine rippling with flavour. Richer and more layered than the 1979, with dense black cherry and black truffle, finishing on softer forest floor notes. Opened up and kept surprising over hours in the glass. No Merlot in this vintage. One of the coolest growing seasons on record, long and slow with two weeks of hot weather just before harvest that brought the grapes to perfect ripeness. Just 10 days skin contact during the winemaking, but still inky in colour and still going strong almost 40 years on. (Drink between 2019-2034)" JA for DR Sep 2019
1980 - DR99 "This wine was stunning when I tried it in June 2018, and delivers again here. Just a wonderful nuanced wine rippling with flavour. Richer and more layered than the 1979, with dense black cherry and black truffle, finishing on softer forest floor notes. Opened up and kept surprising over hours in the glass. No Merlot in this vintage. One of the coolest growing seasons on record, long and slow with two weeks of hot weather just before harvest that brought the grapes to perfect ripeness. Just 10 days skin contact during the winemaking, but still inky in colour and still going strong almost 40 years on. (Drink between 2019-2034)" JA for DR Sep 2019