1979 Opus One, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) [Rare First Vintage]

JA96'The first vintage of Opus One, still with plenty of colour at 43 years old. Tawny on the rim with a rose-red core, faring better than I expected, juicy and delicate, with an energy that builds through the palate. Opens with a focus on autumnal fruit and dried flowers, crushed roses and raspberry leaf, and only after a few beats does the clearer undergrowth and campfire smoke tertiary notes follow up. This is a high score, but wow can you tell that something magical was happening - it just feels complete, even now, with a core of brightness and tension. There is more bottle variation with this vintage than with the 1980, but if you get one as good as this, prepare to be blown away. What a triumph for the first vintage of Opus to still be tasting like this after so many decades. Winemakers were jointly Lucien Sionneau from Mouton and Robert Mondavi's son, Timothy Mondavi, who had just graduated from UC Davis at the time. 10 days skin contact." Jane Anson for Inside Bordeaux Jun 2022

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