Opus One 2023
We have 3 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
Opus One is usually pictured as a single grand vineyard. It is actually four estate parcels on the western side of the Oakville AVA, and they do not share one soil. Two parcels, totaling 100 acres, sit inside the historic To Kalon Vineyard; the Ballestra and River parcels, 70 acres combined, surround the winery on Highway 29. Most blocks lie on gravelly alluvial fans washed down from the Mayacamas Mountains to the west. Closer to the Napa River the ground shifts to fluvial soils with more clay and silt and less gravel, laid down by centuries of flooding and better at holding water. The winery finds those eastern blocks give redder fruit and softer tannin, while the gravel delivers structure. The final blend is built from both, which is why this Napa Valley red blend reads as a portrait of Oakville rather than of one block.
The Wine
The Opus One 2023 is 81 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 7 percent Merlot, 6 percent Cabernet Franc, 5 percent Petit Verdot and 1 percent Malbec, aged 19 months in French oak, about 95 percent of it new. The vintage was one of the coolest and longest in recent Napa memory. A record wet winter delayed budbreak by roughly two weeks, June was the coolest since 1998, and summer passed without a serious heat spike. Opus One picked from September 14 to October 16, a slow harvest that kept acidity fresh and alcohol at 13.5 percent. Expect cassis, red plum, cherry blossom and violet, then graphite, tobacco and baking spice. Tannins are fine and silky, the finish long and mineral. Napa winemakers compare 2023 to 2001 and 2011.
The People
Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi first met in the early 1970s and agreed in 1978 to make one Bordeaux-style blend from Napa Valley grapes. The first vintage was 1979, made from To Kalon fruit and released in 1984 alongside the 1980. Their limestone winery opened in 1991. Michael Silacci joined in 2001 and has been the winemaker since 2003, leading vineyard replanting, cover crops, Napa River restoration and, beginning with this vintage, regenerative farming. He retires after the 2026 harvest. Meghan Zobeck, who trained under Philippe Melka, joined as director of winemaking in 2025, and Christopher Lynch is CEO. The winery is certified through the Napa Green program.
Food Pairing
Decant for at least an hour and serve around 62 to 65 degrees. A dry-aged ribeye seared in cast iron and basted with butter and thyme is the obvious match, the fine tannin cutting through the fat. Braised short ribs over creamy polenta pick up the wine's cassis and spice. Rack of lamb with a Dijon and herb crust plays to the graphite and tobacco. Wild mushroom risotto with aged Parmigiano meets the mineral finish. Opus One 2023 is the bottle for an anniversary dinner at home, or for laying down to open on a birthday a decade from now.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
Napa Valley, a narrow strip of land in Northern California, is one of the world's most renowned wine regions. Its history dates back to the mid-19th century, but its rise to international prominence began in the latter half of the 20th century, particularly after the famous 1976 "Judgment of Paris" tasting, where Napa wines triumphed over French counterparts. Geographically, the valley is roughly 30 miles long and a few miles wide, running north-south, bordered by the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Range to the east. The climate varies significantly from south to north: the southern end, near San Pablo Bay and including the Carneros region, is cooler, influenced by fog and breezes, while the northern end, near Calistoga, experiences much warmer temperatures. This gradient, along with the distinction between the fertile valley floor and the rugged mountain vineyards, contributes to a diversity of growing conditions, allowing for a wide range of grape varieties, though Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme.
California - Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon, originally hailing from Bordeaux, France, has triumphantly spread to become a cornerstone of vineyards worldwide, achieving particular renown in Napa Valley. This versatile grape variety adapts to a broad spectrum of climates, producing full-bodied wines that are rich in black cherry and blackcurrant flavors, with layered complexities of oak and spice. The grape's success in regions like Napa Valley is a testament to its global adaptability, where it benefits from the optimal blend of warm days and cool nights, coupled with diverse soil types, to express a unique balance of power and elegance that pays homage to its Bordeaux origins.
