Definitely Californian on the palate, though the acidity is starting to dominate. Lucien Sionneau of Mouton oversaw the blend.Ĭabernet Sauvignon 80%, Cabernet Franc 16%, Merlot 4%

Debut vintage, from To-Kalon vineyard, made at Mondavi winery. And they certainly don’t belong to the school of overripe, over-alcoholic, over the top California Cabernets of which we have seen so much in recent years. And yet they have a much drier, tauter, more French accent than most of their peers. I don’t think you would ever mistake these wines for a top bordeaux – they’re too ripe and sweet for that.

And then during the 1990s we see the formula settling down to a harmonious blend of the best of Bordeaux with the best of California. Then the 1986, and indeed most wines of the late 1980s from Opus, demonstrate the very particular character of a wine made from fruit grown California style but vinified à la bordelaise. But something had to be released because the announcement had been made. Lucien Sionneau came over from Bordeaux but he was too late to have much impact on the final wine, except for identifying some potential lots of press wine which in the end were not used. The first vintage, 1979, was pure California – California fruit and California winemaking, of that era. This was a fascinating tasting through history. See inside information for lots of techie stuff on Opus One.

Opus one tasting