Opus One 2016 1.5L

Opus One 2016 1.5L is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Oakville, Napa Valley, bottled in magnum format at 14.5% ABV. This vintage earned 99 points from James Suckling, 98 points from both Wine Advocate and Decanter, and 96+ from Vinous — placing it among the most critically lauded releases in the winery's history.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Oakville AVA, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2016  |  Producer: Opus One Winery

Production & Heritage

Opus One Winery was founded in 1979 as a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild, uniting Napa Valley ambition with Bordeaux pedigree. The 2016 vintage is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, and 1% Malbec — grapes hand-harvested in small lots during early morning hours and sorted by an optical analyzer that selects individual berries by color, size, and shape. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks using a gravity-fed system that avoids mechanical pumping, followed by approximately 18 months of aging in new French oak barrels. The 1.5L magnum format provides a slower, more even maturation curve than a standard 750ml bottle, giving this wine exceptional cellaring potential.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with deep, expressive dark fruit — warm black plum, crème de cassis, and blueberry compote — before unfolding into layers of lilac, dried roses, and violets. Underneath, earthy notes of fertile loam, underbrush, cedar chest, and a whisper of tobacco emerge alongside Indian spices and Sichuan pepper.

Taste: The palate entry is remarkably juicy, flooding the mid-palate with black cherry, blackcurrant, and ripe blackberry. As the wine develops, secondary flavors of cocoa powder, licorice, and baking spice build over a medium-to-full-bodied frame. The tannins are wonderfully ripe and very fine-grained, creating a tightly coiled structure with fantastic tension throughout.

Finish: The finish stretches out at exceptional length, lifted by a distinct mineral thread that keeps the wine vibrant and precise. Lingering impressions of dark cassis, eucalyptus, and vanilla fade slowly, inviting the next sip long before the last one has fully resolved.

How to Drink Opus One 2016

A wine of this stature and format deserves to be served slightly below room temperature — around 62–65°F — in large-bowled Bordeaux glasses. Decanting for 60 to 90 minutes will allow the dense fruit and complex aromatics to open fully. Given the magnum's generous volume, it is ideal for sharing at a dinner table rather than drinking solo. Consider pairing with: a classic Beef Wellington, where the wine's tannic backbone mirrors the richness of the pastry-wrapped filet; herb-crusted rack of lamb, whose rosemary and thyme echo the wine's earthy, herbal undertones; or aged Gruyère or Comté, where the nutty, savory cheese amplifies the wine's cocoa and spice notes.

Best For

• Gifting a serious wine collector or marking a milestone anniversary
• Anchoring a multi-course dinner party with eight or more guests
• Long-term cellar investment — the magnum format ages more gracefully than standard bottles
• Commemorating a special 2016 birth year or wedding vintage

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Opus One 2016 taste like? Opus One 2016 delivers concentrated black cherry, blackcurrant, and blueberry flavors layered with cocoa, licorice, and baking spice, framed by fine-grained tannins and a long mineral-driven finish.

How does Opus One 2016 compare to Caymus Special Selection? Both are top-tier Napa Valley Cabernet-based wines, but Opus One leans toward a structured, Bordeaux-influenced style with restrained elegance, while Caymus Special Selection tends toward a richer, more fruit-forward and extracted profile. The 2016 Opus One also earned higher critical scores across major publications, including 99 points from James Suckling.

Is Opus One 2016 good for cellaring? The 2016 vintage's exceptional structure, fine tannins, and mineral backbone make it a strong candidate for long-term aging, and the 1.5L magnum format further extends its cellaring window — most experts suggest it will continue evolving through the 2040s and beyond.

Where is Opus One made? Opus One is produced at the Opus One Winery in Oakville, a sub-appellation in the heart of Napa Valley, California, widely regarded as one of the premier Cabernet Sauvignon growing areas in the world.

What foods pair well with Opus One 2016? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's dark fruit concentration and tannic grip. Braised short ribs with root vegetables mirror its earthy, loam-like undertones. Herb-crusted rack of lamb highlights the floral and spice aromatics. Duck confit brings out the wine's cocoa and licorice notes. Aged hard cheeses like Gruyère or Parmigiano-Reggiano amplify its savory finish.

What sizes does Opus One 2016 come in? Opus One 2016 is available in the standard 750ml bottle, this 1.5L magnum, and select large formats including 3L double magnum, depending on market availability.

Is Opus One 2016 worth the price? Opus One 2016 positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley wines, and its near-perfect critical scores from multiple major publications — including 99 points from James Suckling — place it among the most celebrated vintages in the winery's portfolio, offering strong justification for collectors and serious enthusiasts.

Why Opus One 2016?

The 2016 vintage stands as one of the highest-scoring releases in Opus One's four-decade history, with 99 points from James Suckling and 98 points from both Wine Advocate and Decanter. Its gravity-fed fermentation and optical berry sorting — a technology Opus One adopted earlier than most Napa producers — reflect a level of precision that translates directly into the glass. In magnum format, the wine benefits from a higher liquid-to-oxygen ratio that slows aging and preserves freshness over decades. For collectors seeking a benchmark expression of Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon from an exceptional California vintage, few bottles carry this combination of provenance, critical validation, and aging potential.