Der Opus One 2018 bietet üppige Aromen von Brombeere, Cassis und Schwarzkirsche. Es folgen elegante Noten von Veilchen, weißem Pfeffer und Rosenblättern, die zusammen ein sehr verführerisches Bouquet ergeben. Die nahtlos geschichteten Aromen bilden ein Crescendo aus frischen und saftigen schwarzen Früchten, akzentuiert mit einem Hauch von Orangenschale, Lakritze und dunkler Schokolade. Wunderschön ausbalanciert, verbinden sich die sanften runden Tannine und die frische Säure zu einem weichen, cremigen Mundgefühl und erweitern die Aromen zu einem langen anhaltenden Finish. Cabernet Sauvignon 84%, Petit Verdot 6%, Merlot 5%, Cabernet Franc 4%, und Malbec 1%. 

Wine Advocate 
Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Opus One soars out of the glass with bright, bold boysenberries, warm cassis and ripe, juicy black plums notes, plus emerging nuances of lilacs, oolong tea, cinnamon stick, tilled soil and black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tightly wound layers of crunchy black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing with lifted fruitiness and on a lingering mineral note. 

James Suckling 
August 27, 2020. A fist of late summer cherries, raspberry and bilberry fruits set out their stall, all with the juicy character that confirms, even in a hot vintage like 2017, Opus can deliver balance and sculpted elegance. Beautiful grip, creamy texture with a strikingly powerful tannic frame. As the wine stays in the glass the floral aromatics begin to bloom up. A brilliant Opus. 20 days maceration - around half what it would have been a decade ago. 54% native yeast, as part of their native yeast project. 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec complete the blend. Harvest spread out over September 5 to October 8, just before the fires, by which time they had less than 10% of the fruit still out on the vines. 3.7pH. 

Jane Anson 
As is so often the case with Opus, the wine expands slowly but surely, seducing you with the quality of tannins and the depth of the fruits that are wrapped around them. Silky at first, but as the wine expands you feel a grainier, slate texture that holds your interest. Rosebud, black cherry, cassis purée, espresso, juicy and elegant finish, extremely moreish. Similar vintage style to the 2005, a wine that I loved during a vertical of Opus I did in 2019, and the result of a mild and moderate growing season. They have eliminated green harvest as of 2020, and instead anticipate how to balance the crop earlier in the season during shoot thinning. 18 days skin contact in the cellar, another sign that this is a gentle vintage where everything came naturally so no need to macerate too long (over the years maceration has varied between 9 days and 43 days). Tasted twice.