Opus One 2015

Opus One 2015 is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Oakville, Napa Valley, bottled at 15% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This vintage earned 98 points from James Suckling and 97 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, placing it among the most critically lauded releases in the estate's history.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15%  |  Origin: Oakville, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2015  |  Winery: Opus One

Production & Heritage

Opus One was founded in 1978 as a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild, uniting Napa Valley winemaking with Bordeaux tradition. The 2015 vintage is composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec. Grapes underwent 21 days of skin contact and were vinified parcel by parcel across the estate's 50 dedicated fermentation vats — each tank used only once during harvest — before aging approximately 18 months in new French oak barrels. This single-lot precision allows the winemaking team to isolate and refine each vineyard block before final blending.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe red and black fruits — cherry preserves, blackberry, and warm plum — layered with Asian spice, cinnamon stick, and clove. Deeper notes of leather, flowery incense, lavender, and cigar box emerge with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is vibrant, delivering a lush wave of cassis, plum, and blueberry. Mid-palate, the wine deepens with streaks of vanilla bean, cocoa, and singed cedar, supported by a full-bodied, rich structure. Ripe, velvety tannins frame the fruit without overwhelming it, and fenugreek and camphor add subtle complexity through the peak.

Finish: Long, polished, and layered, the finish carries dark fruit, warm spice, and cedar well beyond the final sip. The tannin resolution is seamless, leaving a lasting impression of depth and equilibrium.

How to Drink Opus One 2015

This wine is best served neat in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass at around 60–65°F, ideally after 30 to 60 minutes of decanting to allow the complex aromatics to fully open. Given its structure and concentration, the 2015 is built for contemplative sipping rather than cocktail use. Pairing it with a well-prepared meal is the most rewarding approach — let the wine be the centerpiece.

Best For

• Milestone celebrations such as anniversaries, retirements, or landmark birthdays
• Gifting a serious wine collector or Napa Valley enthusiast
• Anchoring a multicourse dinner party with prime cuts or aged cheeses
• Adding a benchmark Napa Bordeaux blend to a long-term cellar

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Opus One 2015 taste like? Opus One 2015 delivers rich, ripe dark fruit — cassis, blackberry, and plum — interlaced with warm baking spice, vanilla, cocoa, and cedar. It is full-bodied with velvety tannins and a long, polished finish.

How does Opus One 2015 compare to Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are iconic Napa Valley Cabernet-based wines, but Opus One is a five-varietal Bordeaux blend while Screaming Eagle is typically a near-pure Cabernet Sauvignon. Opus One is significantly more accessible in allocation and pricing, while Screaming Eagle commands extreme scarcity and higher secondary-market prices.

Is Opus One 2015 good for cellaring? Yes — the 2015's concentrated fruit, structured tannins, and balanced acidity give it strong aging potential; Robert Parker's 97-point review and Vinous's 96+ rating both signal a wine built for long-term development over the next 15 to 25 years.

Where is Opus One 2015 made? Opus One is produced at the Opus One estate winery located in the Oakville district of Napa Valley, California. The Oakville appellation sits on the valley floor and is widely regarded as one of Napa's premier Cabernet Sauvignon growing areas.

What foods pair well with Opus One 2015? Grilled or pan-seared prime ribeye steak complements the wine's full body and dark fruit. Braised short ribs mirror its richness and spice. Roasted lamb with herbs plays well against the Cabernet Franc and Merlot components. Aged Comté or Gruyère echo the wine's cedar and vanilla notes. Dark chocolate truffles with a hint of espresso align with the cocoa and camphor finish.

What sizes does Opus One 2015 come in? Opus One 2015 is available in the standard 750ml bottle as well as large-format options including 1.5L magnums and 3L double magnums, though availability of larger formats varies.

Is Opus One 2015 worth the price? Opus One 2015 positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley wine, and its 97- and 98-point critical scores from two of the world's most influential reviewers provide strong value justification relative to other wines at this level, particularly against scarcer cult Cabernets from the same region.

Why Opus One 2015?

The 2015 vintage stands out in the Opus One portfolio for its extraordinary critical reception — a 98 from James Suckling and 97 from Robert Parker rank it among the top releases since the winery's founding. The parcel-by-parcel vinification across 50 dedicated vats, each used only once per harvest, reflects a level of precision that few estates in the world can match. California's 2015 growing season produced wines of remarkable concentration and balance, and this bottling captures that quality in a blend that honors both its Napa Valley terroir and its Bordeaux philosophical roots. For collectors and serious enthusiasts, the 2015 represents one of the defining modern vintages from an estate that helped put American fine wine on the global stage.