Opus One 2018

Opus One 2018 is a 750ml Bordeaux-style red blend from Oakville, Napa Valley, bottled at 14.0% ABV. This vintage earned 99 points from James Suckling and 98 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, placing it among the most acclaimed releases in the winery's history.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.0%  |  Origin: Oakville AVA, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2018  |  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 of Château Mouton Rothschild, bringing together Napa Valley ambition and Bordeaux tradition. The 2018 blend comprises 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec — all estate-grown in the Oakville AVA. A defining shift in the 2018 vintage was the introduction of 80% ambient (wild) yeast fermentation, a significant departure from the winery's prior reliance on cultured yeast, followed by an 18-day maceration and 17 months of aging in 100% new French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with profuse blackberry, warm cassis, and ripe boysenberry. Elegant floral layers of violets, lilacs, and rose petals emerge alongside subtle notes of graphite, cinnamon stick, and damp earth.

Taste: The entry is immediately juicy, with tightly wound layers of crunchy black fruit — blackcurrant, black plum, and blueberry — building through the mid-palate. At its peak, accents of dark chocolate, orange zest, licorice, and oolong tea add complexity. The structure is medium to full-bodied, with firm yet refined grainy tannins and striking freshness throughout.

Finish: Long and persistent, with smooth, round tannins that create a soft, creamy mouthfeel. Lingering notes of cassis, dark chocolate, and lead pencil carry for minutes, supported by vibrant acidity that sustains every layer.

How to Drink Opus One 2018

This wine is at its finest served neat in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass at around 62–65°F; decanting for 60 to 90 minutes allows the wild-yeast complexity and floral aromatics to fully unfold. While this caliber of wine is best appreciated on its own, it pairs naturally with food rather than cocktails — consider it alongside seared filet mignon with a red wine reduction, where the tannin structure matches the richness of the protein; roasted rack of lamb with rosemary and garlic, which echoes the wine's earthy herbal undertones; or aged hard cheeses such as a 24-month Comté, whose nuttiness complements the chocolate and cassis notes.

Best For

• Gifting a serious wine collector or celebrating a milestone vintage year
• Anchoring a Napa Valley vertical tasting alongside other Opus One vintages
• Pairing with a multi-course steak or game dinner
• Cellaring for long-term aging — the 2018's structure and acidity suggest significant development potential

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Opus One 2018 taste like? Opus One 2018 delivers concentrated layers of blackcurrant, boysenberry, and black plum with supporting notes of dark chocolate, violets, and licorice. The tannins are fine-grained yet firm, balanced by lively acidity and a creamy, persistent finish.

How does Opus One 2018 compare to Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are iconic Napa Valley Cabernet-based wines, but they occupy different tiers; Opus One is a multi-varietal Bordeaux blend aged in 100% new French oak with an estate-focused Oakville AVA pedigree and near-perfect critical scores (99 points James Suckling, 98 points Wine Advocate). Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a single-varietal wine at a lower price point, typically riper and more fruit-forward in style with less structural complexity.

Is Opus One 2018 good for cellaring? Yes — the combination of firm grainy tannins, fresh acidity, and concentrated fruit suggests this vintage has the structure to age gracefully for 20 or more years. It is also drinking well now with extended decanting.

Where is Opus One 2018 made? Opus One 2018 is produced at Opus One Winery in the Oakville AVA of Napa Valley, California. The winery's estate vineyards sit on the western benchland of Oakville, one of Napa Valley's most prized sub-appellations for Cabernet Sauvignon.

What foods pair well with Opus One 2018? Seared filet mignon benefits from the wine's tannic backbone; roasted rack of lamb draws out the earthy, herbal aromatics; grilled portobello mushrooms with truffle oil mirror the wine's damp earth and black truffle notes; aged Comté or Gruyère cheese complement the chocolate and cassis; and dark-chocolate-based desserts echo the finish without overwhelming it.

What sizes does Opus One 2018 come in? Opus One 2018 is available in the standard 750ml bottle as well as 375ml half-bottles, 1.5L magnums, 3L double magnums, and 6L imperials, depending on allocation and availability.

Is Opus One 2018 worth the price? Opus One 2018 positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley wine, and the 2018 vintage is widely considered one of the strongest releases in the estate's history. With five major critics scoring it between 95 and 99 points, it represents a benchmark vintage that justifies its standing among the most sought-after American wines.

Why Opus One 2018?

The 2018 marks the first vintage in which Opus One employed 80% ambient yeast fermentation, a pivotal winemaking decision that introduced a new dimension of aromatic complexity and textural nuance to the blend. The critical response has been extraordinary — 99 points from James Suckling, 98 from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 from Jeb Dunnuck, 96 from Wine Spectator, and 95 from Decanter. That near-unanimous consensus across five major publications is rare for any wine, American or otherwise. For collectors and serious drinkers, the 2018 stands as a defining release from one of Napa Valley's founding estates, combining structural longevity with immediate drinking pleasure in a way few California wines achieve.