CRITIC REVIEWS
Antonio Galloni
The 2014 Opus One is not as showy or obvious as some of the other surrounding vintages, but it will have its day. Stylistically, the 2014 is bright and also a touch linear, with a construction built more on focus rather than opulence. Readers should plan on giving the 2014 another few years in bottle at a minimum. The mid-weight style is a bit Old World-leaning in this striking, super-classic Opus One.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Deep garnet colored, the 2014 Opus One opens with youthful notes of warm blackberries, chocolate-covered cherries, redcurrant jelly and blackcurrant pastilles with hints of bay leaves, tobacco leaf and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with a lively backbone and tightly wound black and red berry layers, it finishes with a compelling herbal lift.
JancisRobinson.com
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Malbec. Aged for 18 months in new French barriques. Savoury nose. Very lifted and almost leafy - very far from a fruit bomb. Very much a food wine. Very, very different from wine bar syrup. Not obviously high alcohol. After pretty ripe cassis some black olive flavours dominate. Rather bordeaux-like build but with a richer finish than a bordeaux would have. Obviously there's a fair amount of tannin here but it's well handled and dominated by the fruit. Good peacock's tail finish. I could imagine some Americans asking 'where's the beef (stew)?' but this should definitely appeal to (well heeled) Europeans.