2016 Opus One

99 POINTS

James Suckling

Fantastic aromas that are complex and complete with blackcurrants, blueberries and herbs, such as basil and bay leaf. But always subtle. Full-bodied yet linear and very refined with a very persistent finish. It shows drive and brightness. So refined at the end. Needs at least three to five years to come together.

98 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Opus One offers up bold, expressive black and blue fruits: warm black plums, black cherries, blackcurrants and wild blueberries with a beautiful undercurrent of lilacs, roses, fertile loam, underbrush and Indian spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is a tightly coiled spring ready to explode, with fantastic tension and wonderfully ripe, very fine-grained tannins, finishing very long with a mineral lift.

98 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Opus One bursts from the glass with ripe blueberries, black cherry jam and crème de cassis with hints of violets, dark chocolate, cedar chest and cardamom, plus a touch of charcoal. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the palate delivers layer upon layer of opulent stewed black fruit with amazing tension and firm, ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing long with a whole array of exotic spices coming through.

98 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

A blend of 77.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1.5% Malbec, the 2016 Opus One was recently bottled in July and August 2018. Very deep purple-black, the nose reveals profound notions of chocolate-covered cherries, crème de cassis, blueberry compote and licorice with touches of tobacco, cedar chest, Sichuan pepper, eucalyptus and violets. Full-bodied, super concentrated and packed with black and blue fruits, the palate is built like a brick house with firm, ripe, finely grained tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and perfumed. This a very decadent expression of Opus One with a provocatively effortless harmoniousness that is truly difficult to resist.

98 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

Love the juiciness of this, right off the bat, rich deep black cherry rippling with menthol and eucalyptus notes, and these beautiful floral aromatics that Opus gets in the best years. A very classic style, touches of baked vanilla, rosemary and olive. Harvest 9th September to 12th October (starting off slowly then speeding up as the heat rose). 1% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot completes the blend, 17 days skin contact.

96 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2016 Opus One is a wine of real breadth and power. Black cherry, plum, leather and spice flesh out effortlessly, but what stands out most is the wine's textural intensity and sheer power. Readers will have to wait a number of years until the 2016 is at its best, but it is clearly another in a line of gorgeous recent Opus Ones from Michael Silacci and his team.

96 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2016 Opus One has turned out beautifully. In this mini-vertical, the 2016 most closely resembles the 2014, although it has more mid-palate sweetness and overall depth, along with a slightly darker profile. I expect the 2016 will enjoy a long drinking window that will start to open relatively soon. Of the last four vintages, the 2016 is certainly the most open-knit in the early going. The blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec.

94 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2016 is shaping up to be another fabulous Opus One. Bright, focused and medium in body, the 2016 is all finesse. Freshly cut flowers, dark red berry and mocha all develop in the glass. The 2016 is an especially plump, juicy Opus One that still shows quite a bit of primary intensity. Usually Opus One is a bit more formed at this stage, which makes the 2016 a bit hard to read today. I suspect the wine will come together nicely over the next year and beyond. The blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Points: 93-96