Frequent spring rains through the month of May led to a year of cool temperature and slow ripening with an extended harvest that ended on November2nd. A voluptuous garnet, the 2005 Opus One offers concentrated aromas of blueberry, rose petals, white truffle, liquorice and nutmeg. Flavours of cassis, black olives, raspberry and dark chocolate.


The opaque purple-hued 2005 exhibits an extraordinary nose of violets, creme de cassis, charcoal, and spring flowers. Gorgeously pure, opulently full-bodied, with sweet tannins, superb concentration, and a low acid, ripe, tannic finish, it tastes like a top-notch vintage of ripe Bordeaux, but made in California. It can be drunk now and over the next 20-25 years. Bravo! (Wine Advocate # 180, Dec 2008 Robert Parker )


With a new winemaking team in place, and no longer any influence from the Mondavis, it is ironic that Opus One appears to have produced its greatest trilogy of vintages to date. This wine has always been more about sizzle than substance. While some top wines have emerged, others have been riddled with brett as well as lacking in concentration. That accusation can not be made against any of these three vintages.