Opus One 2019

Opus One 2019 is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Oakville, Napa Valley, bottled at 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This vintage earned 99 points from James Suckling and 97–99 points from Wine Advocate, placing it among the highest-rated releases in the estate's history.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14%  |  Origin: Oakville AVA, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2019  |  Winery: Opus One Winery

Production & Heritage

Opus One Winery was founded in 1979 as a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild—a partnership that married Napa Valley ambition with Bordeaux tradition. The 2019 vintage is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec, fermented across 50 individual stainless steel vats that allow each vineyard parcel to be vinified separately for maximum precision. The wine then aged for 19 months in 100% new French oak barriques sourced from 12 different coopers, with elevated fermentation vats enabling juice to move entirely by gravity—minimizing rough handling and preserving fruit purity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intense black plum and blueberry lead into layers of black currant and dried rose petals. Mineral undertones and a thread of violet emerge as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is immediate and generous, packed with juicy black and blue fruit that spreads across the mid-palate. Savory herbs, espresso, and cocoa develop as the wine builds, framed by velvety, well-integrated tannins. There is a persistent freshness beneath the density that keeps the wine from feeling heavy despite its concentration.

Finish: Long and layered, with a compelling earthy-mineral quality that anchors the fruit. A delicate dark chocolate bitterness lingers alongside currant and floral echoes, pulling you back for another sip.

How to Drink Opus One 2019

This wine is best served neat in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass at around 60–65°F, ideally after decanting for 60 to 90 minutes to let its layered aromatics fully unfold. Given its structure, complexity, and price tier, Opus One 2019 is not a cocktail wine—it rewards patient, focused drinking and gains additional nuance over several hours in a decanter.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone anniversary, promotion, or retirement
• Gifting a serious wine collector a cellar-worthy Napa Valley vintage
• Anchoring a multi-course dinner party with a show-stopping red
• Adding a 99-point vintage to a long-term cellar collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Opus One 2019 taste like? Opus One 2019 delivers concentrated black plum, blueberry, and currant fruit layered with espresso, cocoa, and savory herbs, all supported by velvety tannins and a mineral-driven finish. A delicate dark chocolate bitterness and floral notes of violet and rose add complexity throughout.

How does Opus One 2019 compare to Dominus Estate? Both are elite Napa Valley Bordeaux-style blends rooted in French winemaking philosophy—Opus One through Baron Philippe de Rothschild, and Dominus through Christian Moueix of Château Pétrus. Opus One 2019 tends toward more overt fruit richness and floral lift at 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, while Dominus typically expresses a darker, earthier character with higher Cabernet Franc influence.

Is Opus One 2019 good for cellaring? Yes—the 2019 vintage's concentrated fruit, firm tannic structure, and balanced acidity suggest a drinking window that extends well into the 2040s, though it already shows beautifully with proper decanting today.

Where is Opus One made? Opus One is produced at the Opus One Winery in Oakville, within the heart of Napa Valley's renowned Oakville AVA in California. The estate draws fruit from its own vineyards in this sub-appellation, widely regarded as one of Napa's premier Cabernet Sauvignon growing sites.

What foods pair well with Opus One 2019? Grilled prime ribeye steak complements the wine's savory depth and tannic structure. Braised short ribs with a red wine reduction mirror its dark fruit and cocoa notes. Roasted lamb rack with rosemary echoes its herbal undertones. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese highlights its mineral character. Dark chocolate truffles tie into the wine's lingering bittersweet finish.

What sizes does Opus One 2019 come in? Opus One 2019 is available in the standard 750ml bottle, and the winery has historically released select vintages in 375ml half-bottles, 1.5L magnums, and larger formats, though availability varies.

Is Opus One 2019 worth the price? Opus One positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley wines, and the 2019 vintage—with 99 points from James Suckling and near-perfect marks from Wine Advocate—represents one of the strongest critical performances in the estate's history, reinforcing its value within that elite category.

Why Opus One 2019?

The 2019 vintage stands out even within Opus One's consistently lauded lineup. Its 99-point James Suckling score and 97–99-point Wine Advocate rating mark it as one of the estate's peak achievements across four decades of production. The precision afforded by 50 individual fermentation vats and gravity-flow winemaking translates directly into a wine of remarkable clarity and depth—each parcel contributing a distinct thread to the final blend. For collectors and serious drinkers seeking a benchmark Napa Valley Bordeaux blend from a historically strong California vintage, the 2019 delivers on both immediate drinking pleasure and long-term cellaring potential.