Opus One 2017

Opus One 2017 is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Oakville, Napa Valley, bottled at 14.0% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 96 points by Decanter's Jane Anson, the 2017 vintage earned additional scores of 95+ from Vinous (Antonio Galloni), 95 from Wine Advocate, and 95 from James Suckling — making it one of the most critically acclaimed recent releases from this iconic estate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.0%  |  Origin: Oakville, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2017  |  Winery: Opus One

Production & Heritage

Opus One was founded in 1979 as a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild, merging Napa Valley ambition with Bordeaux winemaking philosophy. The 2017 blend is composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot, and 1% Malbec. Notably, the estate has shifted to a shorter maceration period of roughly 20 days — approximately half the extraction time used a decade prior — and 54% of the 2017 fermentations employed native yeast as part of an ongoing vineyard-specific yeast project. These changes reflect a deliberate move toward restraint and site expression over heavy extraction.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated black currant and black cherry, layered with stems of roses and earthy forest floor. As the wine breathes, graphite, fresh sage, and a dusting of warm spice emerge, adding complexity and depth.

Taste: The entry is juicy and round, immediately revealing a silky, satin-like mouthfeel. Mid-palate flavors of black cassis, dark plum, and ripe blackberry develop with striking density, while just enough acidity keeps the texture poised. Hints of cocoa powder and young peppercorn surface toward the peak, reinforcing the wine's layered structure.

Finish: Fine-grained, plush tannins carry the wine into a long, supple finish that lingers with dark berry and subtle graphite. The tannic frame is strikingly powerful yet creamy, giving the 2017 significant aging potential.

How to Drink Opus One 2017

This is a wine built for contemplative drinking — serve it slightly below room temperature (around 64–66°F) in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass, ideally after 30 to 60 minutes of decanting to allow its aromatics to fully unfurl. Opus One 2017 is best enjoyed neat and without embellishment. Its depth and structure reward patience; pairing it with food is preferable to using it in cocktails. For wine-based drinks, it could anchor a refined red wine Sangria, though doing so with a wine of this caliber is uncommon. The 2017 is most at home on the dinner table alongside serious cuisine.

Best For

• Cellaring for a milestone occasion — wedding anniversary, retirement, or birth-year wine
• Gifting a serious Napa Valley or Bordeaux-blend collector
• Hosting a comparative tasting of premium Oakville Cabernet-based wines
• Pairing with a multi-course steak or game dinner

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Opus One 2017 taste like? Opus One 2017 delivers rich black currant, dark cherry, and blackberry flavors wrapped in a silky, full-bodied texture with fine-grained tannins. Subtle notes of cocoa powder, graphite, and peppercorn add complexity through a long, supple finish.

How does Opus One 2017 compare to Joseph Phelps Insignia? Both are premium Napa Valley Bordeaux-style blends built around Cabernet Sauvignon with supporting varietals like Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Malbec. Insignia tends toward bolder, more fruit-forward extraction, while Opus One 2017 — with its shortened 20-day maceration — leans toward finesse, silky texture, and restrained elegance.

Is Opus One 2017 good for cellaring? Yes — the wine's dense tannic structure, balanced acidity, and concentrated core suggest strong aging potential over the next 15 to 25 years. Multiple critics have noted its capacity for long-term development.

Where is Opus One 2017 made? Opus One 2017 is produced at the Opus One winery in the Oakville district of Napa Valley, California. The estate was established in 1979 as a partnership between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild.

What foods pair well with Opus One 2017? Grilled prime ribeye or filet mignon allows the wine's tannins and dark fruit to shine. Braised lamb shanks with herbs complement its earthy, savory undertones. Duck breast with a dark cherry reduction mirrors the wine's fruit core. Aged hard cheeses like Comté or Gruyère match well with the wine's structure and subtle cocoa notes. Dark chocolate truffles echo the finish without overwhelming its elegance.

What sizes does Opus One 2017 come in? Opus One 2017 is available in the standard 750ml bottle, as well as 375ml half-bottles, 1.5L magnums, and larger formats including 3L double magnums, though availability of larger sizes varies.

Is Opus One 2017 worth the price? Opus One 2017 positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley wines, competing directly with the most sought-after Bordeaux-style blends in California. With four major critic scores at 95 points or above, and Decanter awarding it 96 points, the 2017 vintage delivers critical validation that aligns with its price bracket.

Why Opus One 2017?

The 2017 vintage represents a meaningful evolution in the estate's winemaking philosophy. A deliberate reduction in maceration time to 20 days — roughly half the duration used in previous decades — combined with the integration of native yeast in over half the fermentations, signals Opus One's shift toward precision and vineyard expression over extraction. The result is a wine that, even from the warm 2017 growing season, delivers sculpted elegance and balance rather than sheer power. With 96 points from Decanter and 95 or above from Vinous, Wine Advocate, and James Suckling, the 2017 stands as one of the most uniformly praised Opus One vintages in recent memory.