Opus One 2022

Opus One 2022 is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Oakville, Napa Valley, bottled at 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2022 vintage earned 97 points from Decanter and 96 points from James Suckling, placing it among the most critically acclaimed releases from this storied winery.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14%  |  Origin: Oakville AVA, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2022  |  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, uniting Napa Valley ambition with Bordeaux winemaking tradition. The 2022 vintage is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, and 0.5% Malbec, sourced from the winery's estate vineyards in western Oakville—including roughly 100 acres within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard, along with the 70-acre Ballestra and River parcels. After 20 days of skin contact, the wine was aged 18 months in new French oak barrels, then held an additional 15 months in bottle before its October 1st release—a total of over 33 months from harvest to market, an unusually extended maturation regimen that distinguishes Opus One from most premium Napa producers.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The bouquet opens with concentrated cassis and blueberry, followed by dried rose petals and cedar. Subtle undercurrents of graphite, cigar box, and olive add complexity, while hints of rosemary and sandalwood emerge with air.

Taste: The entry is plush and expansive, with ripe blackberry and bright red-fruit flavors forming the core. Mid-palate, layers of cocoa, espresso, and fresh orange peel unfold alongside fine-grained tannins that carry the wine with precision. A juicy ripeness and mineral edge keep everything in balance.

Finish: Long and elegant, resolving into wet stone, vanilla, and a subtle coffee note. The tannins, initially structured, settle into a velvety texture that lingers and signals significant aging potential.

How to Drink Opus One 2022

Serve at 60–65°F in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass. Decanting for 60 to 90 minutes allows the aromatics to fully open and the tannins to soften—particularly rewarding given the wine's youth. While built to cellar for decades, the 2022 already shows remarkable accessibility thanks to its extended bottle aging before release. For those who prefer to drink young, even 30 minutes of decanting provides noticeable improvement in aromatic expression.

Best For

• Cellaring as a long-term investment in a milestone vintage
• Gifting a serious wine collector or Napa Valley enthusiast
• Anchoring a multi-course dinner party with a statement pour
• Marking an anniversary, promotion, or once-in-a-decade celebration

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Opus One 2022 taste like? The 2022 vintage delivers concentrated cassis, blueberry, and cocoa flavors with espresso and graphite undertones, framed by fine-grained tannins and a long, mineral-driven finish. It balances power with elegance, showing both immediate appeal and clear cellaring potential.

How does Opus One 2022 compare to Screaming Eagle? Both are iconic Napa Valley Cabernet-dominant wines, but Opus One is produced in significantly larger quantities and blends five Bordeaux varietals, while Screaming Eagle is typically a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a much smaller estate. Opus One's Bordeaux joint-venture heritage gives it a distinctly Old World structural influence that contrasts with Screaming Eagle's more concentrated, single-varietal intensity.

Is Opus One 2022 good for cellaring? Yes—its fine-grained tannin structure, balanced acidity, and concentrated fruit suggest a drinking window that extends well beyond two decades. The 97-point Decanter score and 95-point Robert Parker rating both acknowledge the wine's long-term aging promise.

Where is Opus One 2022 made? Opus One is produced at the Opus One Winery in Oakville, Napa Valley, California, from estate-grown fruit across four vineyard parcels in western Oakville, including land within the historic To Kalon Vineyard.

What foods pair well with Opus One 2022? Grilled lamb chops benefit from the wine's herbal and graphite notes. Dry-aged ribeye steak mirrors its tannic structure and dark-fruit intensity. Duck breast with a blackberry reduction echoes the cassis-driven palate. Hard aged cheeses like Comté or Parmigiano-Reggiano complement the wine's savory undertones. Dark chocolate desserts with espresso accents harmonize with the cocoa and coffee finish.

What sizes does Opus One 2022 come in? Opus One is available in the standard 750ml bottle, as well as 1.5L magnums and 3L double magnums for collectors seeking optimal aging formats.

Is Opus One 2022 worth the price? Opus One positions as an ultra-premium Napa Valley wine with pricing consistent with first-growth Bordeaux and top California cult labels. Its critical scores—97 from Decanter, 96 from James Suckling, 95 from Robert Parker—place the 2022 among the highest-rated vintages in the winery's history, reinforcing its standing at this tier.

Why Opus One 2022?

The 2022 vintage stands out for the sheer breadth of critical acclaim it has received, with scores of 97 (Decanter), 96 (James Suckling), 95 (Robert Parker), and 94 (Jeb Dunnuck)—making it one of the most universally praised Opus One releases in recent memory. The blend's 80% Cabernet Sauvignon backbone draws from To Kalon fruit, one of Napa Valley's most celebrated vineyard sites, while the inclusion of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec adds aromatic lift and mid-palate complexity rarely found in single-varietal bottlings. The winery's commitment to 18 months of new French oak aging followed by 15 months of bottle rest before release means the 2022 arrives with a polish and integration that most wines at this level require years of additional cellaring to achieve. For collectors and enthusiasts, it represents a vintage where Opus One's Bordeaux-meets-Napa identity is expressed with particular clarity and finesse.