At a glance

Producer

Opus One Winery

Region

Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA

Grape variety

Bordeaux Blend (primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec)

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Bold

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$340-$500 USD per 750ml bottle (global average as of 2024)

Tasting profile

Intense aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, violets, graphite, and subtle oak. Palate shows depth, ripe black fruit, espresso, and a fine mineral edge.

Evolution: Fresh fruit and floral notes transitioning to leather, tobacco, cedar, and dried herb with age; tannins round out.

At peak: Will offer powerful fruit, supple tannins, savory complexity, and finesse at maturity.

Structure

Acidity

Fresh, lively and balanced

Tannins

Firm, fine-grained, well-integrated

Alcohol

14.5% ABV

Aging potential

20-25 years from vintage, depending on storage

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2025 to 2035

Optimal window

2023 to 2040

Current status

Drink or Hold

Current condition

Youthful, structured, and expressive but developing secondary complexity

Opus One 2017 is crafted for long-term cellaring, with robust structure, high-quality fruit, and careful élevage. Its best drinking window aligns with integration of tannin and full aromatic maturity, typically 8-18 years from vintage.

Food pairing

Best with rack of lamb, ribeye steak, beef Wellington, duck breast, or mature hard cheeses. Avoid overly spicy or acidic foods.

Serving

Serving temperature

16-18°C / 61-64°F

Decant

Yes (1-2 hours) — Decanting softens youthful tannins and aerates the wine, revealing secondary aromatics.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 7/10

Opus One employs sustainable viticulture: solar energy (covering ~50% of energy needs), low-input farming, extensive water conservation (reclaimed water for vineyard and landscaping), owl and bat boxes for natural pest control, cover cropping, native plants for erosion control, recyclable and lightened packaging (select bottlings), and rigorous waste reduction.

Opus One is a Napa sustainability leader, emphasizing ecosystem health, renewable energy, water stewardship, and biodiversity. Certified Napa Green Winery and Fish Friendly Farming underline environmental commitment. Operational carbon footprint is lowered via solar, local grape use, eco-conscious packaging, and landscape integration. However, global shipping to collectors does add transportation emissions, slightly reducing the overall sustainability score. Not organic or biodynamic certified; mainstream (integrated) but rigorous sustainable farming. The estate strives for continuous improvement toward lower-impact luxury wine production while balancing production scale and quality requirements.